Politicizing the Eucharist?

I thoroughly identify with the letter writer to Father Mike (“Bishops politicizing the Eucharist?” Aug. 26) If the Eucharist is truly efficacious, then it should be offered to all who seek it. Who is the Church to deny anyone access to Christ? I agree with Father Mike’s answer up to his final paragraph, in which he quotes the apostle Paul completely out of context. To anyone reading the text he is referring to (1 Corinthians 11:17-34), it seems obvious that what Paul was complaining about was that the Church at Corinth had started to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a party: “For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk.” It was this abuse of a solemn memorial meal that was upsetting him, not whether or not its participants were free of sin before partaking.

G.J. Mayer
St. Peter, Forest Lake

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