Papal Nuncio Gives Communion to John Kerry - Likely Unintentional

LifeSite ^ | June 26, 2006

[NYer]

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - At the installation Mass of the new Archbishop of Washington, Donald W. Wuerl, Thursday, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the representative of Pope Benedict XVI, was seen giving Holy Communion to pro-abortion Senator and former Presidential candidate John Kerry.  The incident was reported by the Catholic News Service (CNS), the official news service of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CNS states: "During the Mass, Kerry, who supports keeping abortion legal, received Communion in the hand from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States and Pope Benedict XVI's representative to the U.S. bishops."

LifeSiteNews.com formally requested a clarification from the office of the Apostolic Nuncio.  No reply was sent from Archbishop Sambi's office though LifeSiteNews.com was informed that the nuncio received the request for clarification. 

LifeSiteNews.com also spoke with the Communications Assistant of the Archdiocese of Washington about the matter.  Mark Adkinson indicated that the incident was likely not intentional by indicating that Archbishop Sambi was administering Holy Communion on the side where the dignitaries were seated.

CNS also reported that Archbishop Wuerl shook hands with Senators Kerry and Ted Kennedy as he processed into the church.  "During his entrance procession, the archbishop shook hands with Democratic Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts, seated side by side in the third row along the center aisle," reported CNS. 

However, Adkinson also downplayed the significance of the greetings telling LifeSiteNews.com that the Archbishop shook hands with "hundreds of people" as he processed into the church.

The issue of allowing pro-abortion politicians to receive Holy Communion has loomed large in the Catholic Church in the United States with a committee on the matter having been chaired by former Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick concluding only last week.  While it was finally decided that bishops should decide for themselves on the matter, the church's canon law and the man who now serves as Pope Benedict XVI have indicated that such politicians "must" be denied communion.

[SuziQ]

But what is not commonly known is that Muslims also hold her in high regard,

Likely because Islam was the cobbling together of a bunch of existing religions of the area including Judaism, Christianity and probably a little Zoroastrianism.

[sitetest]

Dear Sun,

It should be pointed out that Mr. Balestrieri took a liberty or two to come to the conclusion that Mr. Kerry is excommunicated latae sententiae.

The opinion offered by the CDF consultant was informal, and meant to be private. According the consultant himself, the opinion that Mr. Kerry is excommunicated is not the official opinion of the Congregation, and represents nothing more than the consultant's perspective.

The Congregation said nothing to gainsay their consultant when he stated this.

Thus, it isn't an authoritatively-resolved question whether or not Mr. Kerry (and other pro-abort Catholic politicians) are automatically excommunicated.


sitetest

[SuziQ]

And nobody--no priest, no lowly acolyte even--could possibly have been asked to keep an eye on this man? Horse####!

The Mass wasn't about Kerry, and there were a LOT more people to have to keep track of than this goober.

[SuziQ]

Not to change the subject, but what's up with Kidman getting married in a Catholic church?

Because she's Catholic. She was never a Scientologist.

[HarleyD]

I tried to watch the mass link just now, but for some reason was unable to. It really would not make any difference. If you truly believe that the Eucharist is God's grace to be dispensed by the Church, then it would seem to me that it should be distributed a bit more judiciously. To simply say that it was the "christian" thing to do, cheapens the value of the Eucharist and gives a very inconsistent policy for distributing "God's grace". Isn't it a "christian" thing to give God's grace to everyone?

Protestants believe it is up to every man to examine themselves, and are cautioned to do so, prior to taking communion. However, from a Catholic perspective it is the responsibility of the Church to make that determination. They have so stated in their policies. So the question becomes, who precisely failed?

[bornacatholic]

But, but, but...that is so mean. Why can't you be nice? What is it about you angry white male Christians anyways? I'll bet you are a heterosexual, aren't you? And who are you to think a Bishop must Teach, Rule, and Sanctify, and so far as it is within his power, protect the integrity of the Christian Faith? Come ON, man. He had a pretty Liturgy. What else do you expect? Sheesh

[jmaroneps37]

Nice. Ok US Catholic Bishops now tell us again how the moral thing is to let our country be overrun by illegal alien invaders.

[bornacatholic]

Brother, were you the Bishop, I believe you would call these clowns over to the Chancery and "reason" with them. I think you would dialogue with them about what their ideas are about what it means to be Catholic. I think you would warn them to either CHANGE their behavior or STOP going to Communion in your Church because YOU would tell all priests etc NOT to give them Communion unitl they had publicly recanted their pro-abortion votes.

Once you had this come-to-Jesus meeting with them, they'd never have a reason to whine when Communion was denied to them.

[sitetest]

Dear bornacatholic,

It is a good thing that I am not the bishop. For folks like Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Giuliani, Ms. Mikulski, and Mr. Schwarzenegger, it would be all I could do not to break out the stake, kindling, and kerosene.

;-)


sitetest

[NYer]

I don't know whether or not the Papal Nuncio knew that Kerry was excommunicated

He has not been excommunicated, at least, not yet.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Hit the nail on the head!

[Convert from ECUSA]

:) You just made my morning! Thanks!

[Mrs. Don-o]

I tend to agree with you, and I always capitalize it, especially since it refers to Our Lord (capital "O"! capital "L"!).

But there's not necessarily a lack of respect in using the lower-case spelling. It's not orthographically required to capitalize adjectives based on proper names: spoonerism, oxfords, pateurize, poinsettia, french fries.

'Nuff said. Peace to all. God bless you.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Nuff said.

Not quite.

It's not orthographically required to capitalize adjectives...

NYer not only used the word "christian" as an adjective, he also used it as a noun -- "As a fellow christian..."

It's not orthographically required to capitalize adjectives based on proper names: spoonerism, oxfords...

You're struggling to defend the indefensible. It's interesting that you show the same respect for the word "Christian" as you do a pair of shoes.

Using your logic, I should be writing "roman catholic" on all these threads, but I think I'll continue to capitalize your faith as I do my own on a public forum.

According to the "Chicago Manual of Style," Chapter 7:

"Capitalize religious denominations and sects (Methodist; Methodist Church). Capitalize church when referring to a specific congregation or building (St. James Methodist Church), or when referring to a specific denomination (the Baptist Church). 7.83-7.85

I'm assuming Christianity is as much a "sect" as Islam or Judaism.

And FYI, when we spellcheck on Free Republic, "christian" is corrected as "Christian."

[Mrs. Don-o]

"you show the same respect for the word "Christian" as you do a pair of shoes."

Ye cats. I ageed with you; I myself always capitalize "Christian"; I merely cautioned you not to assume disrespect when disrespect is not intended.

That's one of the rules of courtesy, which is a tad, maybe a tad and a half, above the rules of the manual of style.

I rarely argue with people I agree with, but (beinst it's one of my weaknesses) (sigh) it happens. OK? Peace?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Are we arguing? I thought we were discussing.

[Mrs. Don-o]

OK!

[BlackElk]

Actually, Paul Castellano, reputedly the Don of New York's then dominant Gambino crime "family", was gunned down outside a Manhattan steak house of admirable reputation (as a restaurant) by one John Gotti (who, against all rules, succeeded Castellano as Don) and his "crew." Castellano had refused to allow his own sons a role in criminal activity and was busily turning the Gambino "family" toward legitimate business activity funded by previous criminal proceeds. Gotti apparently preferred that the Gambino "family" earn its money the old-fashioned way through gambling, unions, governmental corruption, tax evasion, extortion, murder, larceny and robbery. Old habits are hard to break.

Castellano had been a resident of Staten Island within the Archdiocese of New York, then under the late John Cardinal O'Connor of happy memory. In spite of Castellano's moves toward legitimacy, Cardinal O'Connor refused a request for a Catholic funeral for him.

Besides, the Mafia is reasonably respectable. Mass murderers of innocent infants like Kerry and Kennedy are not even slightly respectable and are far less Catholic than stand up mob guys. Castellano or Gotti would make more trustworthy babysitters (or dates for your young daughters) than would Kerry or Ted the Swimmer. Gotti and Castellano were gentlemen.

Former Bishop Gelineau of Providence, Rhode Island, publicly excommunicated a woman who was Executive Director of Planned Barrenhood: Rhode Island when she had the nerve to pose as Catholic in trying to get her daughter into a parochial grammar school. If that mom were not rich, she was certainly in an important position.

Finally (to my regret) we don't do a lot of bell, book and candle any more. Most excommunicated Catholics excommunicate themselves (latae sententiae as Canon Law says). I am not sure that we will be able to burn those who deserve burning at the stake while I still draw breath. Progress has been soooooooo slow. Well, I can pray for the ability of future generations to take up that noble work again.

[BlackElk]

FTD: Then show a little more respect for God's Mom!

[Sloth]

even among Hindus and Buddhists there is worship of goddesses that bear a striking resemblance to the Catholic Mary.

What, around the eyes?