Two-thirds say publicly refusing Host is necessary

A majority of people agree that a Meath-based priest was right to publicly refuse giving Holy Communion to a pro-choice politician, according to a poll conducted by The Irish Catholic.

Fr John Hogan denied giving Holy Communion to Robert Troy TD on Sunday at a funeral Mass in Multyfarnham. The politician publicly admitted to endorsing abortion legislation and voted against amendments to the legislation.

Almost 700 people responded to the poll. Two-thirds of respondents agreed that refusing someone publicly on the spot was better than taking them aside afterwards to explain why they shouldn’t present themselves to receive Holy Communion.

One commenter said: “You don’t give someone you suspect to be in a state of grave sin Holy Communion and then pull them aside after, the Church doesn’t teach this. Jesus overturned the tables publicly and rebuked others publicly…”