Rudy's Sins

We love Rudy Giuliani.

He's smart, gutsy, articulate and insightful.

But every now and then Rudy makes us want to say: "What the hell were you thinking?"

On April 19 Rudy accepted the Communion wafer - which Catholics believe has been consecrated into the body of Christ - from a priest standing near Pope Benedict when the pope said Mass for thousands of priests, nuns and others at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

That was wrong.

The New York Post says that "Giuliani, who rarely attends Mass, was asked afterward if he felt uncomfortable taking Communion during the pope's Mass. He said 'no.'"

That was also wrong.

Under Catholic doctrine, Rudy should not have accepted the sacrament because he is twice divorced and remarried a third time without obtaining a church annulment of his second marriage. Also, Rudy supports abortion and as New York's Edward Cardinal Egan has pointed out: "The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God." Egan says that he and Rudy had a long-standing private agreement that Rudy would not receive communion. On April 19 Rudy broke that agreement. That was wrong.

"I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the papal visit here in New York," said Cardinal Egan. "I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding."

Confidential to Rudy: Get right with The Cardinal.