The Diocese of Erie released the following statement Monday, June 21, 2021:
Bishop Lawrence Persico statement on last week’s vote at the USCCB regarding the drafting of a statement on Eucharist:
I voted in favor of having the document drafted because it is not possible to have a fruitful discussion about a document that is still in the form of an outline. We need to have the committee put pen to paper so we can have a good dialogue.
Unfortunately, the initial reporting on the vote by the members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been inaccurate. The vote was strictly about whether or not to begin drafting a document on the importance and meaning of the Eucharist for all Catholics. As the result of a survey last year, we learned that many Catholics do not have a full understanding about what the church teaches on this centrality of our faith.
The bishops of the U.S. are planning a national pastoral and educational effort on this important topic. It’s my hope the document will bring clarity and unity, not only among the bishops, but also among Catholics.
