The church must protect the community from harm, but it must also protect the human rights of each individual who may face an accusation.

When Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, was asked at a press conference in Rome on April 23 whether Senator John F. Kerry should be denied Communion, he responded: “The law of the church is clear. The church exists in the United

Catholic students are quick to talk about their experience of church—but what about their experience of Christ?

First Communion is a powerful church and family ritual; no one who has been present can miss its importance for the children taking part.

“Students who understood very little of his lectures told me that they attended because they ‘felt better’ about themselves in his presence. ‘This is a professor to whom I can confess,’ one said.”

Why do we need ministers of Communion? Why not just pass the eucharistic bread and wine and let people take it themselves?