Letter to the editor: Biden, not bishops, should make his Communion decision

I would like to ask the United States Catholic Bishops something concerning the possibility of denying President Biden Communion at a Catholic Mass. Section 1415 of the Second Edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic Communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive Communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.”

Doesn’t this passage clearly state that the person who wants to receive communion is the one who decides whether or not they are worthy to receive it? That was what I was taught many years ago. There are no outside judges who determine whether anyone is worthy or not. The communicant alone makes that decision.

Please focus on many of the more important earthly matters like parish mergers, getting more priests, poverty, social and racial injustice, homelessness, hunger, and so on. It seems to me there is already enough on your plate.

Richard Patton

Franklin Township, Beaver County