Kerry Takes Communion After Vatican Edict

AP via Yahoo ^ | April 24, 2004 | By JENNIFER PETER,

[pubmom]

BOSTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry received communion from a Catholic priest Saturday, one day after a top Vatican cardinal said politicians who support abortion rights should be denied the Eucharist.

Kerry took communion during the 6 p.m. mass at Boston's Paulist Center, where campaign spokesman David Wade said the candidate regularly worships. The church is close to the Beacon Hill home Kerry shares with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

"We're following the directive of our archdiocese," said Father Joe Ciccone, who gave Kerry the Eucharist. "They have said we should give him communion."

The Paulist Center attracts Catholics uncomfortable with some of the Vatican's orthodox teachings or who otherwise feel alienated from the Roman Catholic Church.

The congregation includes gay couples, whose adopted children are baptized there, unlike in some other Boston parishes. In November, its leaders refused to read aloud during Mass from a letter opposing gay marriage, as requested by the Massachusetts bishops.

The congregation is not geographical, but ideological, drawing people from as far as away as New Hampshire, said Drew Deskur, the center's music director and a parishioner for 25 years.

"It's not St. Around-the-Corner," Deskur said. "It's an intentional community that draws people from all over Boston. It tries to make sure that everyone feels welcome and that everyone participates in the liturgy."

The Archdiocese of Boston "does not hold to the practice of publicly refusing Communion to anyone," said archdiocese spokesman Rev. Christopher Coyne. He said it was up to the individual to decide whether to receive Communion.

In the days before Kerry attended Easter Mass at the Paulist Center, staff members received threatening phone calls and e-mails from Catholics who believed the senator should be denied Communion.

Coyne said he also received many letters and angry calls from concerned Catholics about Kerry's ability to take Communion. He said he contacted the Paulist Center ahead of time to ensure there would be no problem when the senator received the Eucharist.

The chapel celebrates Mass and can conduct every sacrament except marriage.

The center does not resemble a traditional church, but is housed among a row of brownstones. A band plays during worship, and the lyrics are projected onto the wall above the pulpit so parishioners can sing along.

Kerry joined in the singing from his pew near the back Saturday night. His wife was out of town, so he attended alone with several reporters and staff in tow.

Founded in 1970, the church is located within the Archdiocese of Boston and operates with the permission of the bishop. The center, however, is financially independent and has a history of reaching out to marginalized Catholics.

The Paulist Center began a support group for divorced Catholics that has since been replicated in churches across the country. The center also hosts a group for bisexual, gay and lesbian Catholics, as well as a program for lapsed Catholics who are considering a return to the flock.

The center helped launch the Walk for Hunger, a now annual fund-raiser for soup kitchens across the region, and has held funeral Masses for homeless people who die without family or loved ones.

___

Associated Press Writer Nedra Pickler also contributed to this report.

[Libloather]

He's doomed - like we didn't already know - eh?

[Romulus]

Kerry or O'Malley?

[sinkspur]

The Archdiocese of Boston "does not hold to the practice of publicly refusing Communion to anyone," said archdiocese spokesman Rev. Christopher Coyne. He said it was up to the individual to decide whether to receive Communion.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

O'Malley gets to choose now between Rome and Kerry.

[Warlord David]

Geeezz I thought priest could not rule over by proxy. Seeing this comes from the pope himself.

I wonder what the gay priest are thinking about this latest development from their point of view?

[Sun]

Does anyone have contact information for Bishop O'Malley and the priest that gave Kerry communion? They need to hear from Freepers!

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

[Loyalist]

The Paulists, as an order, have long since ceased to be Catholic in faith and doctrine. By all external evidence, the Paulist Centre in Boston is as apostate as the rest of the order.

It is entirely possible that their priests did not have the intent to do as the Church does, and could not confect a valid Eucharist.

If such is the case, then John Kerry did not technically illicitly receive the sacrament from the Paulists, since there would have been no sacrament for him to receive.

[Unam Sanctam]

Yes, O'Malley has said that abortion-promoting politicians should not take communion, and he said he will not have the priests withhold communion on their initiative. However, given Kerry's incredibly blatant thumbing of his nose at the Church with his participation in the pro-abortion march and and his blatant and scandalous misrepresentation of Catholic teaching, it is incumbent on Archbishop O'Malley to do more. He must, as Chaput did, publicly point out Kerry's doctrinal errors, and he should publicly reprimand him for his pro-abortion activities. Coyne's statements simply lead to the impression that everything is hunky-dory, and one can pick and choose Catholic doctrines at will and remain a "good Catholic". More has to be done. I am extremely disappointed with my archbishop on this issue.

[Unam Sanctam]

When I lived in New York, I can remember the Paulist church had some sort of "mixer" for homosexuals. I'm sure Isaac Hecker would not be pleased!

[HarleyD]

"We're following the directive of our archdiocese," said Father Joe Ciccone, who gave Kerry the Eucharist. "They have said we should give him communion."

Translation: "Forget Rome. We'll do what we want to do."

[Jim Noble]

Coyne's statements simply lead to the impression that everything is hunky-dory, and one can pick and choose Catholic doctrines at will and remain a "good Catholic"

You mean that's not true???

[AAABEST]

Putting his pro-death cheerleading aside, nobody can find any record of his supposed annulment or and record of he and Theresa being married in a Catholic church.

Also, Palm Sunday he took communion in a Protestant AME church.

This guy regards nothing but himself.

[netmilsmom]

Could you please post the extact quote from Rome?

I have a sister who needs to see it.

[wearredcaps]

He would probably try to run the country the same way. The constitution would not mean a thing to this jerk. I hate the thought of SCARRIE KERRIE. Wake up America!!!

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

AAA - could you read my article I posted on Freepers, "I am personally opposed, but ..." Would like your thoughts.

[lrslattery]

Here are excerpts from an article at Catholic News service:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/20040423.htm

---

Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the congregation, told reporters, "No one should be surprised that over the course of time the holy church, our mother, has developed words, actions and, therefore, directives regarding this supreme act of worship.

"The eucharistic norms were elaborated to express and safeguard the eucharistic mystery and, even more, to demonstrate that it is the church which celebrates this august sacrifice and sacrament," he said.

Because the Mass and Eucharist are so important to the church, he said, practices that violate the church's norms cannot be taken lightly.

The norms reaffirm church teaching that a Catholic, in a situation of serious sin, must go to confession before approaching the Eucharist.

Cardinal Arinze refused to answer a direct question about whether Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry, the probable Democratic nominee for U.S. president and a supporter of legalized abortion, should be denied Communion unless he goes to confession and repents for his position.

"The norm of the church is clear," he said. "The church exists in the United States. There are bishops there, let them interpret it."

However, when asked more generally if a priest should refuse Communion to a politician who supports abortion, Cardinal Arinze said, "Yes."

"If the person should not receive Communion, then he should not be given it," the cardinal said.

Introducing the document, Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which collaborated in writing the instruction, said that celebrating the Mass in an "arbitrary" manner not only "deforms the celebration, but provokes doctrinal insecurity, perplexity and scandal among the people of God."

---

It is clear. There is no ambiguity - except, perhaps when it comes to some priests and bishops here who will need to 'study' the statements to determine what they 'really' mean.

[ardara]

Will O'Malley's approval by the liberal press go up as he continues to courageouly takes no stand on the scandalous acts of John Kerry? I can"t figure out if Boston or New York City has a weaker Archbishop.Perhaps weakness is now a qualification for the position?

[Aliska]

Another looming problem is the percentage of catholics who think exactly like Kerry does. It could be as high as 75%. That bodes ill for the future of the church and Christianity in general.

Fear not, little flock. It is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. I never was sure just what the little flock was, but I would imagine them to be ordinary, faithful, core Christians who are rapidly becoming marginalized and are in danger of being devoured by the wolves.

[gemoftheocean]

Can some of you Boston freepers please start writing checks for FIVE CENTS and put them in the collection plate? Also note in the "memo section" that "This donation will not increase until apostates like Kerry are denied Communion." If one person does it it will have no effect. IF hundreds, or thousands did it, O'Malley might get off his Irish duff and do something. It's sad to have to apply economic pressure, but that idiot Cardinal Law didn't "get it" re: the homosexual scandal until people in the pews got angry.

[Salman]

If such is the case, then John Kerry did not technically illicitly receive the sacrament from the Paulists, since there would have been no sacrament for him to receive.

As a non-Catholic it is not my place to comment on this directly.

But I will say that Kerry is trying to reap the benefit of appearing to be what he is not.

[Conservative Iowan]

The Paulist Center sounds alot like this place:

http://www.stjoan.com/