Bishop Tobin to Congressman Patrick Kennedy: ‘What does it mean to be a Catholic?’

Catholic Online ^ | 11/11/09 | Deacon Keith Fournier

[tcg]

Among those Catholics in public life who openly defy the clear teaching of the Catholic Church concerning the inviolable dignity of every human life from conception to natural death is Representative Patrick Kennedy. The son of the late Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, he represents Rhode Island’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

We bring to our readers the full text of a letter which Congressman Kennedy received from his Bishop, Thomas J. Tobin. This letter was in response to Kennedy's public defiance against the truth revealed in the Natural Law, confirmed by science, affirmed in Scripture and the Tradition and taught infallibly by the Magisterium (teaching office) of the Catholic Church concerning the fundamental Human Right to Life.

As Catholics called to stand in solidarity with all the poor, including those whom Mother Teresa called the “poorest of the poor”, our youngest neighbors, we have had to contend with the lies of these Catholics for far too long. Patrick Kennedy is only one of too many. Kennedy told reporters on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 that he has postponed the meeting with his Bishop. He indicated he finds it "very disconcerting" that Bishop Tobin will not keep the content of their discussion “private”. This is, of course, one of the great subterfuges used by Catholics like Congressman Kennedy and others who openly defy the Church, cause scandal and confuse many in their perfidy.

What is different in this instance is the clear, courageous and commendable response of his Bishop, Thomas J. Tobin. ...

[tcg]

Bishop to Congressman Kennedy: "Your rejection of the Church’s teaching on abortion falls into a different category – it’s a deliberate and obstinate act of the will; a conscious decision that you’ve re-affirmed on many occasions....But let’s get down to a more practical question; let’s approach it this way: What does it mean, really, to be a Catholic? After all, being a Catholic has to mean something, right?"

[NewJerseyJoe]

After 40 years of teaching Vatican II do-what-you-want, ecumenical feel-good-ism, why are the bishops surprised when public figures fail to measure up to Catholic ideals?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Hey Patches!...

Does the term "GO TO HELL" have a nice warm-fuzzy for you?

When you get there, say hi to: Saddam, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Hitler, Marx and of course...Uncle Ted.

You whiney piece of crap.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

I have to live here in the northeast which is crawling with Kennedy worshipers. I suspect, if I manage to thread the eye of the needle and make it into Heaven, that I will be unlikely to have to deal with Kennedys or those who worship them.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Between Patches, Hotbottom, Ted, Dodd, Schumah, Rangel et al...it’s enough to make you sick.

[SkyPilot]

For a Kennedy, it means alcohol, drugs, corruption, lying, banging women, and abortion (probably in that order).

[Labyrinthos]

As much as I appreciate Bishop Tobin’s public lecture to Patrick Kennedy,IIRC he was notably silent about Obama’s speech at the University of Notre Dame.

[FlyingFish]

Being a good and devoted liberal demands its ideology take precedent over all else—including Truth, even in the the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Makes me wonder if it’s a cult masquerading as political ideology.

[GBA]

That is the question: What does it mean to be a Catholic? Public defiance by Catholics against Church doctrine is seemingly consequence free as far as the Church is concerned. Every now and then someone like Pelousy or Kennedy gets a little slap, but clearly neither of them feel it nor do other Catholics. Do they change their minds or their behavior or their votes? No.

I wonder why the Church permits this and allows it to continue. If this leniency is to attract new members, what good are Catholic teachings? This is my biggest problem with Christianity's core concept of forgiveness. One can sin all day long doing whatever and ask for forgiveness before bed and sleep soundly, then repeat the next day. Do people really believe God is such a patsy?

[NHResident]

The endorsement by the Catholic bishop’s of Obamacare on the basis of the very publicly admitted meaningless and transient Stupak amendment banning federal payment for abortions - pretty much indicates what it means to be a ‘Catholic’ in today’s Obama-worshipping world. Doe totally gullible, naive and blindingly stupid sound right? Catholicism has pretty much degenerated to a blind endorsement of class warfare and totally socialist Social ‘Justice’, blind gullibility in the face of silver-tongued mendacity and knee-jerk rejection of any principles (re:University of Notre Dame)in trade-off for a bit of free publicity.

Oh, and don’t forget a cardinal and 5 bishops celebrating the life of a murderer, abortion supporter, liberal dispenser of other people’s money while protecting their own wealth using every device, legal or illegal, possible. All hail to the Kennedys, Pelosis, etc.