CATHOLIC SCHOLAR WANTS ARPAIO DENIED COMMUNION

If there was a hypocrite of the millennium award, a man named Anthony Stevens-Arroyo would definitely be a frontrunner. Arroyo writes on things Catholic for the Washington Post. On June 16th, he calls for Catholic bishops to deny communion to anyone associated with passage of Arizona's Immigration bill - SB 1070 - as well as those who enforce it. Arroyo specifically singles out Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio as a Catholic who should be denied communion.

Via Wapo:

Will any of today's bishops deny communion to Catholic officials who vote for this bill and its spawn of imitators in other states? Has censure been voiced against the local sheriff Joe Arpaio (a Catholic) who has led raids on Latinos? These are strategies used in the past by bishops.

Bishop Olmstead of Phoenix, has been forthright in signing documents detailing the Church's objections to this new law, but he has been criticized for not treating this issue with the same vigor as other public matters counter to Church teaching.

Now for the hypocrisy that is so thick, you'd have to sharpen the teeth on the chainsaw used to attempt to cut through it. Notice how Arroyo's reason for going after Arpaio is what he perceives as an immoral law - just prior to singling out Arpaio, Arroyo primes the pump by comparing immigration enforcement to Gestapo tactics.

In the interest of determining if Arroyo is consistent in his views that following what he believes to be an immoral law is reason enough to be refused communion, I decided to see what his take was on Nancy Pelosi receiving communion despite being pro-abortion. It turns out that we don't have to go back all that far - less than a year. Let's take a look at Arroyo's words from December 8th, 2009:

Michael Sean Winters rails against Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, telling all that she is "not pro-life." He sets himself up as judge and executioner of a Catholic woman who honors her role to uphold the law of the land that allows choice about abortion. (Does "pro-life" mean that one must be a subversive advocating civil disobedience?)

Ah, so in the case of Nancy Pelosi, the morality or immorality of the law is not at issue; Simply following it absolves her from any form of censure. Pelosi is allowed to be pro-abortion because the law prevents her from being culpable. However, Joe Arpaio isn't afforded the same luxury. He isn't even responsible for passing laws - unlike Pelosi. Yet, he should be denied communion for following one Arroyo doesn't like. Conversely, Pelosi should be allowed to continue receiving communion because she's just following laws he does like.

That may sound a bit confusing so let's just break it down to the truth that Arroyo isn't telling you. The truth is that Arroyo is pro-abortion and pro-illegal amnesty. As such, he will make any argument, regardless of hypocrisy or inconsistency to push his agenda. Perhaps Mr. Arroyo should check out his local confessional. Unlike communion, no one's banned from that.

Watch Arpaio's response to Arroyo's wish - via Fox 10 in Phoenix:



h/t to Hot Air Pundit