Angelus News | May 7, 2021 | Vol. 6 No. 9

NATION
■ How worthy must I be to receive you?
Whether to deny holy Communion to pro-choice Catholic
politicians has escalated into a (sort of) public debate
between two U.S. bishops.
The exchange on “eucharistic coherence” was prompted
by an April 14 essay from Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila
in America magazine asserting that receiving Communion
requires “a proper examination of conscience and proper
repentance if grave sin has been committed,” including the
sin of public support for legal abortion.
Four days later, Archbishop Aquila published a second article
in response to concerns raised privately by an unnamed
bishop.
The bishop suggested Archbishop Aquila had overlooked
that “the Eucharist is a gift, not an entitlement” and asked
him to clarify that the sacraments act “ex opere operato” —
by the power of God, rather than by the righteousness of the
participant or celebrant, a concept expressed by St. Thomas
Aquinas. The Denver archbishop responded by acknowledging
that he may have caused confusion, but wrote that
he also affirms another principle of sacramental theology,
that “right faith” is necessary “to reap properly the salvific
benefits of the sacrament.”
Sister, sister — Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella, a member of the Sisters of
St. Dominic of Amityville, New York, looks on as relatives and friends gather
outside the window of her East Williston, New York, apartment to celebrate her
108th birthday on April 20. Pictured with her is Sister Francis Daniel Kammer,
also an Amityville Dominican. According to searchable public data, Sister
Piscatella is the second-oldest living religious sister in the U.S. | CNS/GREGORY
A. SHEMITZ
The original “When I Was Sick” sculpture on a street in Rome.
| CNS
■ A Catholic COVID memorial in Ohio
An Ohio hospital will soon be the home of a statue honoring
victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and their caretakers
by Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmalz.
Titled “When I Was Sick,” Schmalz’s bronze sculpture
will be installed at Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth
Youngstown Hospital in September. It is a replica of a
statue originally displayed on a street in Rome.
The memorial at the Youngstown hospital “will permanently
observe the global pandemic and represent a tribute
to the loved ones we lost and continue to lose,” a hospital
spokesman said.
Schmalz is known for numerous works, including his
2019 tribute to migrants, “Angels Unaware,” a replica of
which was displayed at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the
Angels last year.
■ Bishops respond to Chauvin verdict
Catholic bishops expressed hope that the murder conviction
of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the
death of George Floyd will mark a new beginning for race
relations in the country.
“The Catholic Church is committed to changing hearts
and minds and to moving the conversation about race in
this country beyond accusations and recriminations toward
practical, nonviolent solutions to the everyday problems
that are encountered in these communities,” the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops said in an April 20 statement.
Chauvin, who is white, knelt on Floyd’s neck for several
minutes last May 20, ultimately killing him.
“We ask [Jesus] to bring healing into our communities,
comfort to the family of George Floyd and all who mourn,
and satisfaction to those who thirst for justice,” said Minneapolis
Archbishop Bernard Hebda after the verdict.
Washington’s Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the first African-American
cardinal, echoed the message that much
work is left to be done to combat racism.
“May we choose to respond with civility and respect for
the dignity of all of our brothers and sisters, as we continue
the work of rooting out all injustices and systemic racism in
our society,” he said.
May 7, 2021 • ANGELUS • 5