Dear Bishops: Unity is in Christ, and Christ is in the Eucharist

“This is My Body, this is My Blood.”

We say Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, and He indeed is, but what we mean by saying that is that the bread is transformed into the substance of his Body in the holy Mass and the substance of the wine is transformed into his Blood so that in actuality Christ is the holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is Christ.

A number of bishops in connection with the June USCCB virtual conference are doing videos and making statements claiming that unity somehow is opposed to the disciplines and truths that flow from Christ’s presence in the Eucharist and that, in order to preserve unity with the pope and with the universal Church, we need to delay talking about Christ in the Eucharist and the sacrilege of receiving him in mortal sin and persistent public apostasy or heresy.

Heretical and apostate politicians who receive the Eucharist at weddings and funerals and other public Masses are the ones who by committing sacrilege are turning the Eucharist into a weapon to promote their policies and politics. These politicians of both political parties deserve care for their souls. Is this not also the duty of a Bishop?

Bishops and priests who properly according to canon law deny the Eucharist to these individuals are not the ones “weaponizing” the Eucharist: they’re making correction medicinally to save souls.

Two things are accomplished in denying the Eucharist to public and unrepentant sinners: the salvation of their souls and respect for the truth about Christ’s presence in the Eucharist which builds up all believers.

Thus truth in all matters at all times in the Church is what builds up unity. Injuring any truth at any time, whether by our neglect through omissions or by means of words or actions of denial, injures and undermines our unity at its source: Jesus Christ, the Truth, present as the Eucharist.