For their own good, Catholic politicians who support abortion must not receive communion, the chair of the US bishops’ pro-life committee has said.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas said that advocating for “intrinsically evil acts” such as abortion is a grave moral matter than can lead to mortal sin.

“Recent efforts to perpetuate and expand abortion in state laws have illuminated the deplorable actions of some Catholic public officials and advocates,” Naumann said.

“Their efforts to support and even celebrate such legislation will result in killing many more unborn children, as well as the spiritual and emotional wounding of their mothers and fathers.”