PM can receive communion, says priest (Canada)

Canada.com ^ | 3 October 2005

[Aussie Dasher]

MONTREAL -- Despite his stance on same-sex marriage, Paul Martin will always be welcome to receive the sacrament of communion in his home riding, the prime minister's local parish priest said Saturday.

"We can't use the eucharist as a time . . . to judge a person's conscience by refusing them communion," Rev. John Walsh told CJAD radio.

Roman Catholic bishops meeting at the Vatican this weekend at the first synod led by newly anointed Pope Benedict may consider denying communion to politicians who pass laws that go against their faith.

But Walsh, who also hosts a weekly show on CJAD, disagrees with the idea.

"I think that we must look at the situation and say: 'Are we respecting a person's conscience?' " asked Walsh, who preaches at St. Jean de Brebeuf Parish where Martin attends mass in Montreal.

Speaking in Vancouver following a meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox on Friday, Martin said he was a praticising Roman Catholic who separates his privately held beliefs from his duties as a politician.

Martin said his prime ministerial responsibility is to uphold Canadians' rights as defined by the courts.

[Aussie Dasher]

What else would we expect in Canada?

[TheDon]

"We can't use the eucharist as a time . . . to judge a person's conscience by refusing them communion," Rev. John Walsh told CJAD radio.

A fascinating statement for anyone to make, let alone the clergy.

[JSteff]

"Martin said he was a praticising Roman Catholic who separates his privately held beliefs from his duties as a politician."

That is completely contrary to what the Pope just said. Glad he listens to the leader of his church.

[garylmoore]

says Priest Canada.

Figures..

[ishabibble]

The Kennedy clan are our own "practicing" Roman Catholics.

Every time some tragedy (usually self-inflicted) befalls the Kennedys, they start up with the breastbeating and the beadrattling. Then, of course, comes the public mourning at the funeral Mass. Except for John Jr. whose ashes were hastily dumped off the back of a Navy ship and promptly forgotten. The entire bunch are disgusting examples of using the Catholic religion as a shield.

In the case of the Kennedys, the good really do die young.

[rasblue]

Someones afraid of losing tax-exempt status..... Or perhaps losing government funding for Catholic schools.