Kerry’s Communion Controversy

CBS News ^ | April 6, 2004 | David Paul Kuhn

[NYer]

It is unclear if pressure from the Boston archbishop will prevent Sen. John Kerry from taking communion this Easter Sunday in his home city because of the Democratic nominee's support for abortion.

Amid questions of how Catholic leadership will respond to the pro-choice senator, Kerry's archbishop -- Boston's own Sean O'Malley -- has refused to clarify a statement last summer that pro-choice Catholics are in a state of grave sin and cannot take communion properly.

Adding to the fray in February, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke forbade Kerry from taking communion while campaigning in the area due to Kerry's stance on abortion and possibly stem cell research.

The two archbishops' admonishments shed light on the challenges faced by the liberal senator, as he tries to woo Catholics, which represent 27 percent of registered voters.

The denial of communion to a Catholic eminent politician would be unprecedented. Experts cite such action as forbidden by Catholic cannon law, except in extreme cases that do not apply to Kerry. Communion is a central tenant of Catholicism, meant to recognize Jesus' last supper.

The modern Catholic Church has never supported a litmus test to serve as the determinant for Catholic voter support in the United States. The conflict surrounds the fact that central issues to the religion do not fall along political party lines. If abortion were part of such a litmus test, so must other issues of equivalent substance to the Church, like its vehement opposition to capital punishment.

The two presidential candidates illustrate the contradiction. President Bush is against abortion, although he has said that he believes America is not yet ready to reverse Roe vs. Wade. Yet he is also a staunch supporter of capital punishment. Indeed, when Mr. Bush was governor of Texas, the Lone Star State had the highest amount of executions in the country.

Kerry opposes capital punishment, calling it an imperfect system -- citing the more than 100 death row inmates proven innocent. Yet he is also a supporter of abortion, recently voting against a bill that made it a crime to harm a fetus. President Bush is not a Catholic. Sen. Kerry is, as is his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry.

“The position of the Catholic Church all along is that there is no single issue that should have you vote on a candidate,” explained David Hollenbach, a Jesuit scholar of social ethics and theories of justice at Boston College.

“It is very difficult to say there can be one issue that is the determining issue,” Hollenbach continued, adding: “The bishops' statements repeatedly issued in election years are that the full array of issues with moral significance have to be considered, not one.”

There are 65 million Catholics in America. It is the largest religious voting bloc in the country, since Protestants divide among many sects and those sects fall in vastly different regions and social cultures.

John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president and has long served as Kerry’s political idol (they share the same initials). Since Kennedy, Democrats have been unable to rely on the Catholic vote -- now split about 30-30 along party lines. Kerry could bring more Catholics back to the Democratic base -- unless Burke’s admonishment of Kerry catches on widely among Church leadership. Bishops have been silent on Burke’s pronouncement.

“I think that would a kind of challenge that I don’t expect the Church will make,” said Rev. Robert W. Bullock, who leads a parish outside Boston and is president of the Boston Priests Forum. “The fact is that Kerry is a devout Catholic and he does espouse positions that are contrary to the Vatican. And I think it would tend to estrange Catholics if he was forbidden communion.”

Such an effort by a predecessor to O'Malley, Boston’s former Archbishop Cardinal Humberto Medeiros, caused a political row when he attempted to urge Catholics not to vote for two liberal Democratic candidates for Congress, Barney Frank and James M. Shannon -- respectively, Jewish and Irish Catholic -- because they supported federal funding for abortion.

Medeiros wrote a letter in September 1980, five days before the Massachusetts primary, stating, “those who make abortions possible by law” cannot be separated from the “horrendous crime." Catholics voting in the upcoming election, he said, must “vote to save ‘our children, born and unborn.’”

Sent to 410 parishes and read aloud on numerous pulpits the Sunday prior to Election Day, the cardinal’s letter was aimed at both Frank and Shannon. Both men went on to win the election. Medeiros' views had the exact opposite affect, emboldening Catholics to support the liberal candidates because many were offended by Church clergy telling them whom to support.

There is little doubt among experts in Catholic cannon law that the Church, as an institution, will not take the position that voters must not support politicians who back abortion rights. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated a task force to study the subject.

The organization requires politicians to make their positions publicly known on issues fundamental to Church doctrine. But it is extremely unlikely that the central body of American Catholicism will take the extraordinary step of giving a voter litmus test to Catholics.

“If the person has not been by name excommunicated, it is presumed that he should receive communion,” explained Ladislas M. Orsy, a Jesuit expert on cannon law at Georgetown Law School. Orsy said there are “extreme” exceptions, an example being a person who commits murder in public and attempts to receive communion having not yet been officially excommunicated.

However, excluding such circumstances, Orsy called it “absurd” to ask the priest to deny a Catholic communion.

[NYer]

Commentator: Phil Lawler

CBS propaganda, unpacked

Last night's CBS News report on the controversy over whether John Kerry should receive communion stands as a model of inaccurate, selective-- should we say dishonest?-- reporting.

Correspondent David Paul Kuhn found several Catholic "experts" to back Kerry's side of the controversy; somehow he couldn't find anyone on the other side. So he produces some gross inaccuracies. A quick sampling:

The denial of communion to a Catholic eminent politician would be unprecedented. Experts cite such action as forbidden by Catholic cannon (sic) law, except in extreme cases that do not apply to Kerry.

Wrong. Eminent Catholic politicians have been excommunicated in the past; kings have been denied the sacraments. Although there has been no recent precedent in the US-- at least not involving a politician of national stature-- there is absolutely nothing in canon law that would forbid it. Archbishop Burke, a trained canon-law expert, knows full well that Church law is on his side.

Communion is a central tenant of Catholicism, meant to recognize Jesus’ last supper.

You don't expect an ignorant reporter to understand Catholic theology, so let's pass over the simplistic notion that the Mass "recognizes" the Last Supper. Focus instead on the statement that Communion is a "tenant." A "tenant" is someone who pays rent. Poor Mr. Kuhn can neither think nor spell.

If abortion were part of such a litmus test, so must other issues of equivalent substance to the Church, like its vehement opposition to capital punishment.

Baloney. The two issues are radically different. The Church has always taught that abortion is absolutely unjustifiable: the killing of the innocent. The Church has always taught-- and still teaches!-- that the state has the right to impose the death penalty. (Catechism 2266)

In recent years the Church has added the caveat that circumstances rarely justify the use of capital punishment. To be sure, in current Church teaching there is a strong presumption against the death penalty. But there has never been an absolute prohibition-- nor could there be, without a complete reversal of traditional teaching.

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[NYer]

Related Thread ...

Bishop Bruskewitz will deny Kerry the Eucharist

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[blanknoone]

has refused to clarify a statement last summer

I don't see anything unclear in that statement. There is nothing needing clarification. They just don't like the statement.

[AnAmericanMother]

Is there any point in cluing this guy in to how deluded he is, or is it hopeless?

[Solamente]

No Catholic should take Communion unless they are in a state of grace, if I remember correctly.

[lonerepubinma]

Like I have said before, The first priest who denies John F'n communion will receive a donation from me.

[B Knotts]

Experts cite such action as forbidden by Catholic cannon law

ROFL

Way to go, CBS!

[ElkGroveDan]

The first priest who denies John F'n communion will receive a donation from me.

It doesn't have to be a priest. Lay people serve as ministers of communion these days. Why, even a Freeper could become the hero in this.

[tort_feasor]

Poor Mr. Kuhn can neither think nor spell.

LOL

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

"Bishops have been silent on Burke’s pronouncement. ..

And by their silence they (the bishops) are damned.

Why?

Because the bishops' cupidity? Because their (silent) adoption of Kerry's "pro-gay" stances, BECAUSE of Kerry's support for abortion? Because of Kerry's international-liberal stands on a series of "feel-ggod" (anti-republican) policies?) Because theyare viciously in favor of "liberal" issues while accepting democrat lies, theft, hypocrisy, and ignorance?

[codyjacksmom]

I am a Christian, but not a Catholic. In my church, communion is a personal decision. Before accepting it however, we are "warned" that we need to be right with Christ in our hearts. That being said...the Bible does talk about an eye for an eye (capitol punishment) but no where have I read "fetus for a fetus". Murder is wrong no matter how it is looked at. Capitol punishment is fulfilling the eye for an eye command. Abortion is murder. I don't see any gray area here.

[Aquinasfan]

Whew! Thanks for posting the rebuttal. That was tough to take.

[vpintheak]

When a person has to fight to take part in a sacred ritual like communion, you know there is a huge problem. The lefty press just won'r make a big deal about it because they know it hurts them in the eyes of the world.

[OMalley]

Im beginging to think its hopeless:(

Yeesh, aside from murdering someone in the public square its now absurd to deny communion-is this "lady" Catholic?

Initially I didnt think the Church shoud do anything, lest they make kerry a martyr, but Im beyond caring, time to throw him out on his butt!

Isnt Rome concerned about youth? kerry arrogantly twists the faith to suit his fancy,as well as the scriptures, who tells the Pope essentially to flip off and then tells us that a Catholic can pretty much rely on his concience with regard to abortion etc. (Last I checked this was an issue not up for debate).
Are they going to continue to allow him to trash our faith and lie to the misguided and young?

how much in thier faces does kerry have to be before someone does something-has it become nothing more to some within the Church than communion either?

I wish the Church would un PCify itself. noone is "denying" kerry anything-kerry is denying himself, by holding beliefs contrary to the faith. Its so simple, but they are making it complicated.

sorry for the rant-its been building awhile;)

Blessings,
OMalley

[sinkspur]

It doesn't have to be a priest. Lay people serve as ministers of communion these days. Why, even a Freeper could become the hero in this.

No Eucharistic Minister should be put in that position.

The Secret Service have to notify a Church that Kerry will attend, for security purposes.

If a pastor makes the decision to refuse Kerry, he should make it clear to Kerry's people IN ADVANCE.

Under no circumstances should Kerry be given the opportunity to turn this into a PR stunt.

[lonerepubinma]

Whoops! your right. My wife would kill me if I forgot her.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

CANON LAW 915!!!!!

[ElkGroveDan]

It's taking hold, one diocese at a time.

Sacramento Bishop Weigand to Governor Gray Davis:
Oppose abortion or "abstain from Holy Communion"

Source: Sacramento Bee; January 23, 2003

Sacramento, CA -- Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand, leader of 500,000 Catholics in Northern California, called on Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday to renounce his support of abortion or stop taking Holy Communion.

Speaking at a morning Mass on the 30th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, Weigand told congregants at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament that Davis should refrain from taking communion while he continues to support abortion.

"As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone -- politician or otherwise -- who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the church," Weigand said. "Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart."

Receiving Holy Communion is one of the most sacred rites in the Catholic faith. Weigand said afterward that "in general, we do not refuse communion to anyone; we try to instruct people as to when it would not be appropriate."

Russ Lopez, a spokesman for Davis, said the bishop was "trying to make an example and that's sad. But Governor Davis has said repeatedly that he is proud of the legislation he has signed giving women the right to choose. He will not back down."

Lopez criticized the bishop for "telling the faithful how to practice their faith."

Lopez said that Weigand's comments could alienate members of the Catholic Church who support abortion. "There are a lot of Catholics who are pro-choice. Does the bishop want all Catholics to stop receiving Holy Communion?" asked Lopez. "Who's going to be left in church?"

Weigand said Wednesday evening that he did not contact the Vatican before deciding to publicly chastise the governor. He acknowledged that he was motivated by Davis' response to a challenge by a Sacramento parish priest before Christmas, and by a doctrine by Pope John Paul II criticizing politicians who say they are good Catholics but support abortion.

Weigand's homily quoted from the papal doctrine released in advance of the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. "Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life," he said.

At the Mass, Weigand praised Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, who last month told Davis' staff that the governor was not welcome to deliver gifts to St. Patrick's Orphanage. (The children received their gifts from Davis at the Capitol.) Kavanagh asked Davis to renounce his pro-abortion views before visiting.

The governor's response to Kavanagh was blunt: "I'm unapologetically pro-choice and I'm not changing my position."

Weigand said Wednesday evening that the confrontation forced him to confront Davis.

"Ever since the little incident last month, people have been asking questions. They asked 'how can a Catholic be in good standing and still hold that point of view?' I'm saying you can't be a Catholic in good standing and hold that point of view. The governor's position is very public and contrary. ... You can't have it both ways."

In a press release Wednesday marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Davis administration claimed credit for California being "the most pro-choice state in America."

The governor is an active Catholic. He and his wife, Sharon, attend Mass in Southern California. The Davises, who were married originally in a civil ceremony presided over by former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Bird, were married again in the late 1990s in the Catholic Church for their 15th wedding anniversary. The ceremony recognized the marriage in the church's eyes and allowed Davis to resume taking communion.

"He goes to church and he says his prayers and that's good," said Weigand. "But he's been aggressive on this issue, even boastful. I'm just trying to clarify that he is not in line with the Catholic Church on an issue that the Pope has said is the most important issue of our day."

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I am an Extraordinary Minister of Communion (correct GIRM approved term). If John Kerry were to come before me for communion, am I allowed to cite Canon Law 915, and refuse him communion, or do I just pray he made a confession beforehand? Just wondering.

[Notwithstanding]

I love my catholic freeperss. Its so nice to have a place where sane people refuse to tolerate such insanity!

[netmilsmom]

>>Isnt Rome concerned about youth?<<

Are you really, seriously asking that question?

When it comes to the youth of America, the Vatican does not seem to take action at all. Lots of words but no action.

God Bless those Holy Bishops who are doing something.

[litany_of_lies]

is there a point?

Well I tried and sent an e-mail to the feedback page for the site (wish I woul have copied pasted here, but forgot).

[FormerLib]

I was particularly amused by their reference to "cannon law!"

It made me wonder if the Roman Catholic hierarchy was taking up arms against Sen. Kerry.

Of course, I'd whole-heartedly support them if they chose to do so!

[mtbopfuyn]

Talk is one thing but action is something else. He'll take communion because the Church doesn't want any more bad publicity (good publicity, imo).

[FormerLib]

...the Bible does talk about an eye for an eye (capitol punishment)...

Actually, the Bible makes a reference to "eye for an eye" but the source is the Code of Hammurabi.

You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth..." Matthew 5:38

[maryz]

“The position of the Catholic Church all along is that there is no single issue that should have you vote on a candidate,” explained David Hollenbach, a Jesuit scholar of social ethics and theories of justice at Boston College

I absolutely always turn to a BC Jesuit scholar of social ethics when I need to know the right and wrong of a matter. Absolutely always. (Do I need a /sarcasm tag?)

[codyjacksmom]

limb for a limb...I guess I should have used an etc..in there. Thanks for the clarification.

[Fast Ed97]

"However, excluding such circumstances, Orsy called it “absurd” to ask the priest to deny a Catholic communion."

Heretic

[NYer]

No Catholic should take Communion unless they are in a state of grace, if I remember correctly.

Your memory serves your correctly.

Anyone seen recent film footage of Sen. Kerry stepping into a Confessional?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Kerry opposes capital punishment, calling it an imperfect system -- citing the more than 100 death row inmates proven innocent.

Fact checker! Fact checker!

[AnAmericanMother]

"The floor of Hell is paved with the skulls of bishops."

- variously attributed to St. Athanasius, St. John Chrysostom, and St. John Eudes.

[Puddleglum]

To be eligible for communion he'd have to be free from mortal sin (not venal sin, if I remember right). That means going to confession. I can't imagine part of his penance for supporting abortion NOT involving public renunciation of his pro-abortion stance. So no public renunciation, no eligibility for communion, in my book.

And regarding the old "free to decide" dodge that compares abortion to the death penalty, the Pope's encyclical on "The Gospel of Life" made the church's condemnation of abortion very clear, while leaving slight but perceptible room for the moral exercise of capital punishment. The two are not in the same ballpark because of the innocence and defenselessness of the unborn.

[AnAmericanMother]

The adjective "Jesuitical" is bandied about for a reason.

Although I hasten to add I have known some very holy and faithful Jesuit priests, including Fr. Marshall Moran, 9N1MM.

[johnb2004]

“If the person has not been by name excommunicated, it is presumed that he should receive communion,” explained Ladislas M. Orsy, a Jesuit expert on cannon law at Georgetown Law School. Orsy said there are “extreme” exceptions, an example being a person who commits murder in public and attempts to receive communion having not yet been officially excommunicated. However, excluding such circumstances, Orsy called it “absurd” to ask the priest to deny a Catholic communion.

The only absurdity here are these remarks from this left winger. It appears as though he has a fecalith in his circle of Willis?

[ninenot]

“The position of the Catholic Church all along is that there is no single issue that should have you vote on a candidate,” explained David Hollenbach, a Jesuit scholar of social ethics and theories of justice at Boston College.

“It is very difficult to say there can be one issue that is the determining issue,” Hollenbach continued, adding: “The bishops' statements repeatedly issued in election years are that the full array of issues with moral significance have to be considered, not one.”

If you need dissembling, you can find it at a Jesuit school.

Were the choice between Hillary and Kerry, abortion is not a question.

But it is NOT that choice, and thus, there's only ONE question on the ballot: to kill the innocent, or not to kill: THAT is the question.

[ninenot]

You LOUDLY ask him to leave the Church until he goes to Confession.

[OMalley]

Well sorta;) Aside from the priest abuse scandal there wasnt much talk-small town, small parish, didnt hear much.

until reading the FR religious threads I had no idea the extent of problems within the Catholic Church-prochoice, prohomosexual priests, budha worshipping nuns...ect, ect.

Some Catholics think Ive gone off the deep end when I share the stuff Ive read, they think Ive lost my mind. Ive tried to encourage a few over to FR, but I guess ignorance is bliss.

In hindsight, kerry may not be all that in thier face when those within the Church, sworn to uphold her teachings are just as arrogantly blatent about it.

Its time for a serious house cleaning!

[ninenot]

Given those pedigrees, you may take the remark as De Fide!!

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The denial of communion to a Catholic eminent politician would be unprecedented. Experts cite such action as forbidden by Catholic cannon law, except in extreme cases that do not apply to Kerry.

Apparently US Bishops are not qualified to act according to ecclesiastical law, which is only known in its true intentions by liberal commentators.

I must have missed the Canon that said "Thou shalt always give communion to prominent psuedo-Catholic public figures".

[ninenot]

I believe that the complete list of holy and faithful Jesuits in the USA consists of 12 names. All, of course, under 'house arrest' by their superiors.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The modern Catholic Church has never supported a litmus test to serve as the determinant for Catholic voter support in the United States.

Phew! Thank God! For a moment, I thought we were talking about the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church. Thankfully, its only about the Modern Catholic Church. I'm certainly not part of that sect.

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

Ah so true.

But remember, the abortionists have now murdered some 36 million pure innocents (more than Hitler, and rapidly catching Stalin and Mao) for their money and they liberal demands.

But notice how Bush, (the arch-enemy and "evil" republican conservatives) who see the need for capital punishment - and only after trial, appeals, and years of research AGAINST the death penalty for convicted murderers, is "convicted" in this story as somehow "personally killing" several hundred on death row in Texas.

The pro-abortionists are successfully equalizing tens of millions of innocent deaths with a few hundred tried and convicted murderers!

Yet the Catholic Church becomes guilty if it protests giving Communion to a guilty politician WHO IS ONLY GOING TO MASS FOR POLITICAL photo's!!!!!!

[johnb2004]

Apparently US Bishops are not qualified to act according to ecclesiastical law, which is only known in its true intentions by liberal commentators.


Well said.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

“If the person has not been by name excommunicated, it is presumed that he should receive communion,” explained Ladislas M. Orsy, a Jesuit expert on cannon law at Georgetown Law School. Orsy said there are “extreme” exceptions, an example being a person who commits murder in public and attempts to receive communion having not yet been officially excommunicated.

What about not receiving because you are living in a state of mortal sin and publicly expressed heresy?

[Steve0113]

Lopez criticized the bishop for "telling the faithful how to practice their faith."

That's funny. Isn't it the bishop's job to do precisely that?

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Boy I've known at least three or four of those 12 Jesuits!