Vatican: 'There's A Problem With Kerry'

Time Magazine ^ | March 29, 2004 | Time Magazine

[solicitor77]

http://www.time.com/time/election2004/article/0,18471,605436,00.html

Report in Time Magazine states that the Vatican views Sen. Kerry's views on abortion, and other social policy issues, as a problem and a potential 'scandal.'

[solicitor77]

Seems the second JFK is going to have a lot of problems with the Catholic establishment, if not the Catholic vote. Might be a problem in big Catholic states, like PA.

[Bahbah]

I think the link may be bad.

[uncbob]

I doubt it

Anti abortion voters haver already established their voting pattern

Kerry Kennedy and other so called Catholic politicians have not suffered so far

[areafiftyone]

Already posted HERE

[Jank]

Good to see the Vatican, is smart enough to see a communist,
and someone who poses a risk to all religions. Kerry and
his ultra liberals, want nothing more than to get rid of
God.

[Allegra]

Seems the second JFK is going to have a lot of problems with the Catholic establishment, if not the Catholic vote. Might be a problem in big Catholic states, like PA.

One can only hope. But for some reason, the Catholic church (and I am a Catholic) tends to back the libs using other issues like the death penalty and the war.

I've been disappointed by the Catholic stance on poltical issues time and time again.

[LuigiBasco]

"I've been disappointed by the Catholic stance on poltical issues time and time again.

That makes two of us.
All of these clown should be excomunicated period.
It isn't goimg to happen 'cause It's " The MONEY stupid!"

[Kirkwood]

Agreed. The Catholic stance is grown murky and inconsistent in the last 40 years. The Vatican will take a stance on one issue that conflicts with their view on another issue. It is often frustrating for Catholics to make sense of this and it is one of the reasons why it has become hard to characterize what the average Catholic stands for.

[arbee4bush]

"All you need is a picture of Kerry going up to the Communion rail and being denied, and you've got a story that'll last for weeks," says Father Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America.

Oh, I wish I was as rich as Soros! Believe me, I would build a new church and give a hefty donation along with it to that priest if I could see a photo of Kerry being denied Communion

My mom is very active in the Church. One evening a few weeks ago, they had a dinner with the pastor and some parishioners. A woman said she 'couldn't stand Bush' and won't vote for him. My mother was very upset and told her that Kerry was for abortion and how could she even consider voting against her faith and sending a pro-abortion candidate into office. Mom turned to the priest and asked him about this...and he wouldn't even reply. Now there would have been a perfect opportunity for him to set this woman straight. It sure made my mother take a second look at this priest that she really admired. Since then she has turned this woman around to vote for Bush. But I still get steamed when I think of how this priest wimped out. It will depend on your parish and diocese as to whether they will guide their flock in the Right direction.

Oh, did anyone else see the author of this Time article on Fox just a few minutes ago? Glad it is getting air time....if only on FOX

[Joee]

It is difficult for me to see how anyone can defend a pro position on abortion. First, the death of the child is pre planned! Second, as such, it is not only premeditated in the 1st degree, but the taking of the child's life, in the act, is murder. The only "pro" argument I can fathom is that the child is not a live human. This finding is counter to every religious and medical fact yet determined.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

I'm getting sick of so called 'Christians' like Kerry who oppose things that come directly from the Bible. How can guys like him commit blatant sins according to Christianity without fiercely being challenged on it? What's our nation coming to when there are so called Christians supporting this guy?

Kerry isn't religious he just uses it to campaign on. It's like the gays in the church. How can you say you are a gay Christian when the Bible clearly states that it's wrong and calls it an abomination!? If you are a Christian then you can't practice a gay life style! How do these guys defend themselves when someone reads the passage that calls gays an abomination? Kerry says he's a Catholic but he opposes the Church and their Christian beliefs! Drop the Religious act if you are not even going to attempt to live by it's word Kerry.

The Vatican needs to start getting extremely tough on things like this or it's going to end up with degenerates leading it. Look at how many so called Christian churches go against God's word these days. If you're a religious person you have to see that as blasphemy that is pure evil. Unrepentant sinners are invading the church and teaching false gospel. I find that a lot more sinful than a gay who doesn't claim to be Christian.

A liberal religion that goes against the word of God is going to slowly take over all denominations unless they do something about it. I find it disgusting that these Church's even debate allowing gays into leadership roles. Any Church that had to debate something that is obviously a sin should be looked at skeptically because it has people changing the religion for personal reasons that are opposed on based their Holy Book. Church's shouldn't be debating their stance on homosexuals or Abortion. The Religion doesn't change just because some of the liberals think they are smarter than God himself.

The Vatican should demand that John Kerry change his views on killing babies or leave the church. They could put Kerry in a very uncomfortable position which would force him leave the church because you know he supports killing innocent babies more than he believes the teaching of Jesus.

The Vatican has already harmed it's image with the unusually high amount of gay and/or pedophile priest and their soft stance toward it. They need to demand all public Catholic's who don't support the Church's position and who hold power should be forced to change their views on abortion or stop being hypocrites and remove themselves from the Church.

The Vatican needs to start making the sins of these guys public while harshly criticizing them. But the Vatican has enough anti-American liberals within it that their will always be opposition to holding people accountable. I'm sure the majority at the Vatican want Bush to lose even though he's an actual Christian who doesn't commit the horrific sins that Kerry does.

[4integrity]

Hallelujah (?sp)! It's about time the Catholic Church remind it's congregation that when they go to the polls they MUST consider which candidate supports their beliefs and values. I asked my parish priest to do this and he commented that he could not tell people who to vote for. Hellooooo, don't need to tell who to vote for. But, doesn't the Church's have a responsiblity to condemn sucking the brain out of a 9 month fetus? And, shouldn't the Church remind it's parishoners that abortion, especially, late term abortion is against the teachings of the Church and thus, they should consider this when voting? Sorry for ranting.....bothers me that political correctness has over run common sense and good values.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"The Vatican has already harmed it's image with the unusually high amount of gay and/or pedophile priest and their soft stance toward it. "

The American bishops (and others bishops around the world) should have started the practice of refusing communion to vocal pro-choice politicians and activists YEARS ago. Now if Kerry is elected, we will be seeing him going to church for 4 years, and getting Communion, from the priest, or even the bishop every times he goes. That is horrible because it will be so high profile given he is the Catholic president of the United States! What could be worse for the pro-life cause? And what could be worse for the Church in the eyes of Catholics who will be utterly scandalized? Not to mention the example set for young Catholics who will tend to think that if Kerry is pro-choice, and a Catholic, and he is given communion then being pro-choice MUST be okay.

But I do not think the Vatican or his bishop will have the courage to refuse communion to Kerry. They will say, that refusing communion to him whould cause more scandal than letting him receive. And also how could they explain the sudden change? What will happen is that they will end up telling those who are angry about it to shut up and let God be the judge. Just wait and see. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE COURAGE - THEY NEVER DID.

[MadeInOhio]

"The American bishops (and others bishops around the world) should have started the practice of refusing communion to vocal pro-choice politicians and activists YEARS ago."

Agreed. They didn't do it then because they feared Washington would play with its tax exempt status. This isn't speculation. A powerful New York congressional Dem all but threatened bishops with this outcome should they follow Catholic doctrine through to its logical conclusion.

They won't do it now because Kerry would just dismiss them as dubious umpires of spiritual propriety (to wit: the pedophila scandals). The last thing the bishops want is to again raise the profile on that issue.

That's not an argument for them to do nothing; If anything, a courageous, principled stance on abortion and "pro-choice Catholics" would help restore some moral stature to the RC hierarchy in the United States.

Unfortunately, on this issue, "courage" and "principle" are two words missing from most bishops' dictionaries.

As to the Vatican, it needs to maintain a low profile on this. Kerry has taken heat for overseas endorsements. For the Vatican to publicly express its displeasure with Kerry on this issue would be welcomed by the Democrat as a way to offset earlier criticism. He would be in the ironic position of denouncing foreign interference in U.S. elections.

[Dan from Michigan]

I ain't voting for Kerry, and I'm Catholic.

[Joee]

I appreciate your response. I concur 100%. I have asked the same question a hundred times over, but have never received an answer worth it's salt. The Vatican's loose response to Kerry on these matters snows me. God forbid if Kerry ever gains office. That he is a Senator is bad enough.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"That's not an argument for them to do nothing; If anything, a courageous, principled stance on abortion and "pro-choice Catholics" would help restore some moral stature to the RC hierarchy in the United States. "

Right but it won't happen. I mean his bishop has said, "if you are pro-choice you should not have the nerve to come to communion." But did he say that from the pulpit? Did he say it when Kerry was in attendance? I doubt it. That would be another way to approach it. Make sure he's at mass that Sunday and do a whole sermon on how pro-choice Catholics commit a motal sin every single time they go to Communion. But his bishop will not have the courgage. I hope I am wrong but I doubt it.

[ladyinred]

I have been surprised by the Catholic voters to be honest. I would think they would never back a liberal abortion, gay marriage touting politician, yet for some reason they do in droves. I don't get it!!!

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"A powerful New York congressional Dem all but threatened bishops with this outcome should they follow Catholic doctrine through to its logical conclusion."

Oh no!! You cannot be serious. All the bishops had to do was publicly name the guy who was making the threats. I really don't think the American people would ever tolerate a Congressman threatening any religious organization with dire consequences if they rightly and according to stated docterine refuse communion to errant politicians. Besides that taking away tax exemption is a big complicated deal that they would not be able to bring off if the GOP has anything to say about it. What are the odds the Dem congressman could bring that off?