NEW JERSEY
The Record
BY JEFF GREEN
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD
In sweeping language, Newark Archbishop John J. Myers has instructed Catholics not to seek Communion or other sacraments if they “publicly reject” church teachings, and he advises the faithful to avoid events supporting people or organizations who don’t follow church doctrine.
In this Sept. 28, 2015 file photo, Archbishop John J. Meyers of Newark answers questions from the press after holding a press conference on the Syrian refugee crisis.
The archbishop distributed the statement of principles in a letter to priests last Friday at a time when bishops handpicked by Pope Francis are meeting in Rome to discuss allowing divorced and remarried couples to receive Communion. And it comes weeks after Francis’ U.S. tour in which he reinforced a spirit of embracing all Catholics, even who don’t or haven’t always adhered to church teachings.
The letter appears to be the most far-reaching effort yet by Myers, a conservative prelate known for pressuring Catholic politicians and voters, in asserting the church’s social doctrine.
While a Newark archdiocese spokesman said the letter marked no “significant change,” at least one Catholic expert said that if it is followed literally, it could be applied broadly to the political and public lives of any Catholic, even those who don’t quarrel with hot-button social issues such as gay marriage, abortion and contraceptive use.
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