Do you think Catholic Priests should be allowed to withhold communion to Obama voters? ?

No, priests should not be allowed to withhold communion. Religion should be about inclusion not exclusion. The self righteous will not inherit the earth.

There are specific laws governing communion. You must not knowingly be in a state of mortal sin. YOU have to be the sinner, not someone who in the future may make that choice. Because you support someone who believes individuals can make their own choice, does not make YOU an occasion of sin. That is sin twice removed and sorry, doesn't qualify. If I was a friend of someone who, in the future, killed someone, I would not be the person committing the mortal sin, the friend would and would not be able to receive communion until he confessed and repented his sin.

Gee, another case of WWJD. Dear Father whatever your name is, please return to 2000 years ago, not a sharp right at the Spanish Inquisition!

If my priest announced that I could not take Communion because I voted for Obama, I'd ignore him and still take Communion. My parish priest is not the voice of God and he's not infallible.

As for separation of Church and State, it was the STATE that said that the 2 are separate and it's the State that doesn't help any particular religion. The Church never said that they'd not try to meddle in the State's affairs or help any particular party.

First, Andrew K, what are you thinking??? Catholics DO NOT believe in evolution. I am a firm Catholic and your statement is completely absurd. We denounce that heinous theory. We correctly believe that God is the Creator of all. Christians in general do not believe in evolution. It completely goes against the Bible.

I know what the priest means. The Catholic Church did not support Obama because he supports abortion, which is the killing of a human. It is a grave sin and the Catholic Church says that people should not vote for a candidate that supports abortion unless the other one does as well and that one's (the second) policies are more sinful.

There is separation of church and state, but that has to do with government. The Church can do whatever it likes, I believe. But they won't refuse anyone communion.

The priest is *obligated* to do so because these people have put their mortal souls in danger by supporting a person who has promised to promote abortion, pay for it with our tax dollars, and deny Catholic health care workers the ability to opt out of abortion if they are morally opposed to it.

However, the priest isn't a mind-reader. Each person is responsible for either refraining from Communion or for going to Reconciliation so that they can receive the Eucharist again.

Because there is separation of church and state. Communion is not a right. It is given by the church to whomever the church wants to and denied accordingly. I am not Catholic and don't much care what they do in church.

Do you propose then that the State enact and enforce a law requiring the church to give Communion? If so what about Baptists that attend a Catholic service? Do they get to participate as well?

Yes. As there is a separation of church and State...the State cannot tell the church how to operate if it not breaking the law. They can deny communion to whoever they choose according to Church rules. It is not discrimination in the eyes of Catholicism...they don't have discrimination, they have SIN.

Separation of church of state means that the government stays out of the church's business. The church is allowed to give communion or not give communion to anyone they feel like without the government sticking their noses into the situation.

To Voters of President-elect Obama? No; communion shouldn't be withheld from supporter of President-elect Obama just because he supports abortion. Not everyone who voted for him supports abortion themselves.

However, if one attends a Catholic Mass and expects a Catholic sacrament while contradicting its teachings, then yes they should.

If you profess to be Catholic yet support abortion, then it is the Catholic Church's obligation to deny you sacrament.

because of the fact they do no longer seem to be certain by capacity of state and federal regulation. @ Brian: sure, it has befell. See link. @ Meg M: some Catholic church homes are no longer giving the communion to Obama electorate. See 2nd link.

Funny he's doing this. The RC Church never withheld communion from Hitler's supporters.

In the US context, he is free to do what he likes, since communion is not like employment or housing. We are free to be disgusted, and to question his right to charitable tax-exempt status.