Posted on 11/22/2009 5:35:40 AM PST by NYer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving Communion, the central sacrament of the church, in Rhode Island because of the congressman's support for abortion rights, Kennedy said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.
The decision by the outspoken prelate, reported on The Providence Journal's Web site, significantly escalates a bitter dispute between Tobin, an ultra orthodox bishop, and Kennedy, a son of the nation's most famous Roman Catholic family.
"The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion," Kennedy told the paper in an interview conducted Friday.
Kennedy said the bishop had explained the penalty by telling him "that I am not a good practicing Catholic because of the positions that I've taken as a public official," particularly on abortion.
He declined to say when or how Tobin told him not to take the sacrament. And he declined to say whether he has obeyed the bishop's injunction.
The paper said the bishop's spokesman declined to address the question of whether he had told Kennedy not to receive Communion. But the bishop's office cast doubt on Kennedy's related assertion about instructions to state priests.
"Bishop Tobin has never addressed matters relative to public officials receiving Holy Communion with pastors of the diocese," spokesman Michael K. Guilfoyle told the paper in an e-mailed statement.
Kennedy did not return messages left on his cell phone by The Associated Press, and his staff refused to make the congressman available for comment. Tobin's spokesman told the AP that the bishop would not comment on the issue.
Church law permits Tobin to ban Kennedy from receiving Communion within the Diocese of Providence, which covers Rhode Island, but he cannot stop Kennedy from receiving Communion elsewhere. It was unclear whether bishops overseeing Washington and
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
This story began several weeks ago when Bishop Tobin invited Rep. Kennedy to a private meeting to discuss his stance on abortion. At that time, he was issued a warning - in private. Kennedy went public. Why? Ask Kennedy.
Go to any good Bible-search site (www.Biblegateway.com is a good choice) and search for the word 'remnant'. Probably best to limit the version to the KJV. It has always been God's observation that most people will, given the choice, opt away from eternal life after death for pleasure and self-satisfaction in this life.
I wish the rest of the cafeteria catholics would leave the church. Hypocrites!!!
"Bishop Tobin has never addressed matters relative to public officials receiving Holy Communion with pastors of the diocese," spokesman Michael K. Guilfoyle told the paper in an e-mailed statement.
This sounds more like a typical Kennedy Klan half-truth uttered by Patrick and calculated to cast himself as a victim and gain undeserved public sympathy. He clearly didn't expect anyone from the diocese to speak out and refute his lie publicly.
.
Much better and far more accurate!
“Should read: Tobin, an honorable, practicing Catholic and Kennedy, son of a recently heaven-denied murderer, serial philanderer, alcoholic and socialist, who was the leader of a family that made it’s fortune breaking the law, stealing from the public treasury and attempting to enslave a free people and an entire nation. “
What a literary repair job!!
Hopefully he and Ted can have a reunion and discuss old times.
“What does the ‘ultra’ mean.”
That means, not only is the bishop orthodox, but the writer also dislikes him intensely.
sitetest
Down below......
Thank you, Heavenly Father for giving us Bishops with a backbone!!!
Wait a minute...your argument is you would prefer a church that attracts people that don't have sex?
The point is he GLORIFIES abortion!
Who knows with that drug addled mind of Kennedy's. Best guess is that, since everything's about him, and he really doesn't get any of this at all, he thinks he can wear this as some sort of badge of honor to be "persecuted" for his *cough* principled stand.
Second, the story says that the bishop is “ultra orthodox”. What does the “ultra” mean. Someone is either orthodox or heterodox, what does the modifier “ultra” really indicate about Tobin.
IMHO, the word indicates more about the author of the piece than Tobin. I take it to be intended as a perjorative. Much like a judge who follows the Constitution is considered an extremist by media standards, a Catholic bishop who actually follows church canon has to be some sort of nut. Implied: Kennedy's abortion stance isn't the problem, it's this wild-eyed bishop causing all the problems. By suggesting that Tobin's an extremist, out of the mainstream of Catholic thought, Kennedy is cast as the victim, not really at odds with Catholicism at all, just this one bishop's hair-splitting fanaticism.
You are correct.
Anyone who promotes, participates and encourages and now will government fund abortion is excommunicated ipso facto.
Divorced and remarried Catholics cannot receive The Eucharist.
Those in the state of mortal (grievous sin) cannot receive The Eucharist.
The Bishop has tried to talk with him about the gravity of the state of his soul. Obviously Kennedy refused to convert to the teaching of the Church.
By barring him from receiving The Eucharist, if Kennedy persists in receiving after being warned about the state of his soul, he brings more judgement on himself.
I agree that he is playing his “victim” card.
Let us all pray for his conversion and give thanks that his Bishop took the time to counsel him privately and now publicly as so many have been publicly scandalized by Kennedy’s arrogance in his very uncatholic behavior.
Amen, Now what about the OTHERS like Pelosi!
The point is he GLORIFIES abortion!
No not people that don't have sex, but people who accept the consequences for their actions. I think we're in agreement and maybe I stated it badly, but IMHO abortion is not an acceptable response, once a baby is involved you have the choice of either keeping it or giving it up for adoption, (other than rare cases).
Others like Health and Human Services K.S. and John Kerry. Making sure we all support abortion with tax dollars is evil.
One could only wish that his Mother had exercised the abortion option.
Absolutely right... and it’s also about time the Church requires that these liberal scumbags who call themselves Catholics choose their true religion... liberalism or Catholicism.
Bravo Sierra, ignoramus.
What do you know about Tobin's stance on illegal immigrants and the arrest and deportation of same?
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