Posted on 08/07/2003 7:17:59 AM PDT by Polycarp
'Catholic' Democratic Contender Kerry Accuses Pope of "Crossing the Line" With Recent Document on Same-Sex Unions
BOSTON, August 6, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Democratic presidential contender John Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts and a self-described Catholic, accused Pope John Paul II of "crossing the line" by publishing the Vatican's "Considerations" for Catholic legislators regarding same-sex unions.
"It is important not to have the church instructing politicians," Kerry said. "That is an inappropriate crossing of the line in this country. ... President Kennedy drew that line very clearly in 1960 and I believe we need to stand up for that line today. ... Our founding fathers separated church and state in America. It is an important separation. It is part of what makes America different and special, and we need to honor that as we go forward and I'm going to fight to do that."
Monsignor Francis Maniscalco of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded: "What one often calls separation of church and state guarantees the religion the right to express its convictions." Added former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Raymond Flynn, "I don't see it as crossing any line at all. Too many Catholic politicians want to have it both ways, they want the Catholic vote but then they go ahead and ignore Catholic teaching."
For local coverage: http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/kerr08022003.htm
U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference President Welcomes Vatican 'Considerations'
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has written a letter welcoming the Vatican's document on homosexual unions, urging "Catholics and all persons of good will to give the document serious and thoughtful attention."
"Drawing on the teachings of natural law and the history of cultural traditions, as well as the constant teaching of the Church, the document recognizes marriage as a life-long covenant between a man and a woman," Gregory writes, "who fulfill themselves as persons by complementing one another in domestic life and in the natural creation of new life."
Gregory refers to the "danger of establishing a legal equivalence between marriage and homosexual relationships" which "not only weakens the unique meaning of marriage; it also weakens the role of law itself by forcing the law to violate the truth of marriage and family as the natural foundation of society and culture."
Gergory underlined that "Catholic politicians, in particular, must oppose such laws when they are proposed."
To read Gregory's statement: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2003/03-158.htm
By David R. Guarino Saturday, August 2, 2003
Bluntly telling the Vatican to stay out of American politics, U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry yesterday said Pope John Paul II ``crossed the line'' by instructing pols to block legalization of gay marriage.
A fuming Kerry, taking on his own Catholic Church in the midst of a campaign for president, said Rome should have more respect for America's long-held separation of church and state.
``It is important not to have the church instructing politicians. That is an inappropriate crossing of the line in this country,'' Kerry said. ``President Kennedy drew that line very clearly in 1960 and I believe we need to stand up for that line today.''
The Democrat said political concerns are secondary to his moral outrage over Thursday's Vatican statement on gay marriage.
``Our founding fathers separated church and state in America. It is an important separation,'' he said. ``It is part of what makes America different and special, and we need to honor that as we go forward and I'm going to fight to do that.''
Catholics were stunned at the broadside from Kerry, saying he's sure to draw the ire of some 65 million voting Catholics.
``What one often calls separation of church and state guarantees the religion the right to express its convictions,'' said Monsignor Francis Maniscalco of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ``To object to religious people's deep moral convictions . . . would also create a problem because it would also (fail to) recognize something the First Amendment guarantees.''
Former Vatican Ambassador Raymond Flynn said Kerry was just wrong. ``I don't see it as crossing any line at all,'' Flynn said. ``Too many Catholic politicians want to have it both ways, they want the Catholic vote but then they go ahead and ignore Catholic teaching.''
The Vatican injected itself into the simmering gay marriage debate Thursday, firing off a letter issuing instructions to Catholic politicians to oppose any legalization efforts.
``The Catholic lawmaker has a moral duty to express his opposition (to gay marriage laws) clearly and publicly and to vote against it,'' the directive read. ``To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral.''
The statement followed by a day strong comments from President Bush denouncing gay marriage proposals.
Kerry, who supports civil unions but opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage, took pains to say, ``I believe in the church'' and ``care about it enormously'' but said church leaders went too far.
Alone among Democrats in criticizing the church, Kerry said he didn't weigh the political impact of his statement.
``This isn't a matter of political calculation, it's simply a matter of strong personal beliefs,'' Kerry said.
The Democratic senator also railed against Republicans who this week said Democratic efforts to block the judicial nomination of Alabama Attorney General William H. Pryor were anti-Catholic. One group, the Ave Maria List, ran print ads equating Democrats' opposition to Pryor as saying ``Catholics need not apply'' to the federal judiciary.
``That couldn't be further from the truth. This judge is not a good judge,'' Kerry said. ``He should not be appointed to the court, and many of us who are Catholic voted against him without regard to Catholicism.''
Kerry also continued his criticism of Bush's ``faith-based'' programs, saying he would end government funding to any religious group.
The White House and Kerry's opponents declined comment.
But the Republican National Committee blamed the sudden attack on the growing popularity of Kerry opponent, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
``It seems like a very odd political strategy to attack the Catholic Church but Howard Dean is forcing Sen. Kerry to take a number of odd positions on a number of odd issues,'' said RNC spokeswoman Christine Iverson.
``It is important not to have the church instructing politicians. That is an inappropriate crossing of the line in this country,'' Kerry said. ``President Kennedy drew that line very clearly in 1960 and I believe we need to stand up for that line today.''
The Democrat said political concerns are secondary to his moral outrage over Thursday's Vatican statement on gay marriage.
Ping. (As usual, if you would like to be added to or removed from my "conservative Catholics" ping list, just send me a FReepmail. Please realize that some of my "ping" posts are long.)
If so, why would he claim to be Catholic?
IT'S ABOUT TIME Catholic politicians start acting Catholic in what they support. Catholics should be royally pissed at benighted pricks like Kerry when "he's fuming" about the BELIEFS of the Catholic Church.
How can you force an "odd" fruitcake like Kerry to take "odd" positions when the guy is just plain ODD to begin with!!!
Kerry's got a mighty twisted interpretation of Church/State Separation. Our Founding Fathers intention was to not have the State dictate what goes on in the Church..not the other way around. Godly principals in government was the mainstay.
STOP THE MADNESS!! VOTE!! You CAN make a difference.
...but I guess it IS important to have politicians instructing the church. Is that not also an inappropriate crossing of the line? This guy is such a maroon.
If so, why would he claim to be Catholic?
Well, you have to realize that Kerry is a loyal member of the American Catholic Church, which welcomes abortion, divorce, gay and female priests, etc. Quite different from the Church of Rome. [sadly, only slightly sarcastic]
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