New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is
keeping quiet on the Vatican's position that he should be barred from
receiving communion.
Cuomo, who is at odds with his Roman
Catholic religion for supporting gay marriage, abortion rights and
living with his girlfriend, Food Network star Sandra Lee, received
communion from Bishop Howard Hubbard at an Albany church the day
after he was inaugurated.
Edward Peters, a consultant to the
Vatican's highest court, criticized Hubbard for “failing” to
engage the divorced governor in “pastoral care.”
Peters told a conservative website this
week that Cuomo's taking communion is “objectively sacrilegious …
produces grave scandal,” because of his unmarried lifestyle.
Peters added that “if he approaches for Holy Communion, he should
be denied the sacrament.”
When asked about the remarks, Cuomo
sidestepped the controversy.
“My religion is a private matter and
I believe most people's is,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “If
they choose to keep their religion private they can. For me I choose
to keep my religious practices private and not discuss it in the
political arena.”