Posted on 11/23/2009, 2:25:37 PM by NYer
Rhode Island’s top Roman Catholic leader issued a scathing remonstrance of U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy yesterday after his bombshell admission that the bishop barred him from receiving communion because of his pro-choice stance.
“I am disappointed that the Congressman would make public my pastoral and confidential request of nearly three years ago that sought to provide solely for his spiritual well-being,” said Bishop Thomas Tobin in a strongly worded statement. “I have no desire to continue the discussion of Congressman Kennedy’s spiritual life in public.”
Added the bishop, “At the same time, I will absolutely respond publicly and strongly whenever he attacks the Catholic Church, misrepresents the teachings of the Church or issues inaccurate statements about my pastoral ministry.”
The bishop’s smackdown came after Kennedy, 42, told the Providence Journal that Tobin barred him from receiving communion and instructed priests not to deliver the sacrament to him “because of the positions that I’ve taken as a public official.” Tobin confirmed the order but fervently denied having discussed it with anyone other than Kennedy.
Tobin vowed to “continue to pray - sincerely and fervently - for his conversion and repentance, and for his personal and spiritual well-being.”
Tobin also released portions of a February 2007 exchange with the congressman in which he promised to keep Kennedy’s communion ban confidential. He said Kennedy had previously indicated he would no longer discuss his relationship with the church publicly.
The Rhode Island congressman has been entangled in a nasty and public exchange with Tobin over the church’s support of health-care reform provisions that would prohibit federal funding for abortions.
“I thought they were pro-life. If the Church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health-care reform because it’s going to provide health care that (is) going to keep people alive,” Kennedy told the Catholic News Service in October, less than two months after the death of his father, the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
The most recognizable Catholic family in the nation has a history of clashing with the church. The late senator’s advocacy of abortion rights put him in hot water with the church, but Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley nonetheless decided to participate in his funeral, a move that outraged many in his flock.
O’Malley defended the decision in his blog, warning against “harsh judgments” and writing, “If any cause is motivated by judgment, anger or vindictiveness, it will be doomed to marginalization and failure.”
Patrick Kennedy gets it wrong on so many levels; the health care bill is about power AND rationing not about life. Good for Bishop Tobin.
The people of Rhode Island have to be even dumber than the people of Massachusetts and that’s a hard task.
The Good Bishop needs to realize that the Kennedy Family religion is not Catholicism, but POLITICS.
Patrick thinks he can fool God?
Bishop Tobin of R.I. Sets the record straight after Patrick Kennedy airs dirty laundry from over two years ago trying to embarrass the Bishop and Catholic Church.
There fixed it
Patrick Kennedy is determined to get himself excommunicated.
“The most recognizable Catholic family(Kennedy) in the nation...”
....I’m not so sure about that any more....they’re old news and fast fading in public awareness and interest...the MSM still toe the line on Kennedy worship however...but I’m guessing that the average man on the street could care less.
Patches has the intellect of a houseplant.
With dead Ted in the ground, the only functioning task master in the Dem party is the Clintonistas. I am patiently awaiting Sarah’s numbers from Ohio, NY, PA, and Il. As soon as she shows promise in these areas, I expect Hillary to retire as SOS to spend more time with her family.
Why couldn't Bishop Tobin and young Patrick settle this amicably, over drinks, while Patrick (a fine broth of a boy) drove to the office?
The Catholic Church would do the whole world a favor if it would simply begin standing on its principles and excommunicate every pro-abortion politician in America.
Pat thinks he is JC.
They do not want free American babies to be born because they would probably kick traitors like Kennedy out the country.
What a joke!!
In the New Testament people died literally from taking communion while living contrary to God’s commands, it is an act of compassion to deny a believer communion when they are deliberately sinning.
Wow, a Bishop I can respect. I have wondered why the Catholic Church didn’t come down hard on Liberal Bogus Catholics.
Now, what about Dodd, Pelosi, and the other Bogus Catholics in Congress?
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