The Holy Eucharist is the very center and life of the Church – the Sunday and daily celebration of the Mass and the gift of Holy Communion nourish all of us with the sacramental gift of Christ Himself on our way to heaven. The Eucharist is the love and truth of Jesus. Many of our people do not believe or understand these central teachings. Others are confused when they observe some of our political leaders who profess Catholicism, participate in Mass and receive Communion, yet advance policies inimical to Church teaching.

Last November, the United States bishops voted overwhelmingly in favor of the process of preparing a document that would catechize on the centrality of the Eucharist and address the challenging issues of Eucharistic coherence. Archbishop Gomez, as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has proposed a plan, consistent with usual procedure, to formulate such a document with the writing of a draft, subsequent discussion and debate, and an eventual vote by the body of bishops. The recent letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith encouraged the United States bishops to continue with a serene and honest discussion on this particular subject.

Given all of this preparation, many of us bishops were surprised and dismayed to discover that a group of fellow bishops recently wrote a letter to Archbishop Gomez, asking him to delay this important and necessary process. I express my full support of the original plan and vision to address these significant themes.

Blessings and prayers,

+Donald J. Hying

Bishop of Madison