Kennedy: Barred from Communion

projo.com ^ | November 22, 2009 | John E. Mulligan

[Pope Pius XII]

WASHINGTON — Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has forbidden Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy to receive the Roman Catholic sacrament of Holy Communion because of his advocacy of abortion rights, the Rhode Island Democrat said Friday.

“The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion,” Kennedy said in a telephone interview.

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 Bishop Tobin told him not to take the sacrament. And he declined to say whether he has obeyed the bishop’s injunction.

Bishop Tobin, through a spokesman, declined to address the question of whether he had told Kennedy not to receive Communion. But the bishop’s office moved quickly to cast doubt on Kennedy’s related assertion about instructions to the priests of Rhode Island.

[Pope Pius XII]

I think it's nigh time that someone put Kennedy in his place. I have to applaud this bishop's desicion! You can't be both Catholic and pro-choice (or pro-abortion).

[Natural Law]

The important thing learned from the response by Bishop Tobin is that the public action was preceded by a private discrete admonition. One only wonders how many other wayward Catholic public officials have received similar discrete communications on the subject.

[markomalley]

See this thread for a lot more detail (and not just given from the Kennedy POV)

Kennedy is not telling it straight. (I know, big surprise)

[Venturer]

The Bishop forgot to add the sin of Gluttony that Kennedy breaks when he tries to drink all the Scotch in Ireland or sniff all the blow in New York.

[Doc Savage]

Hell is open however!

[hsmomx3]

I may not agree with Kennedy’s politics, but there are so many practicing Catholics that believe like he does. If Kennedy is going to be banned, then why can’t everyone else who has the same beliefs?

[narses]

+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[Carley]

Like ole Teddy, Patrick will be having a deathbed conversion.

Hoping the Pope will forgive him for his sins.

My guess is that the Lord will know all about the Kennedy’s.

[Nosterrex]

Although I am not a Roman Catholic, my denomination is strongly pro-life. I applaud the bishop's decision not to allow an unrepentant sinner to communion. Anyone that openly supports abortion on demand, is an unrepentant sinner.

[Dem Guard]

Should have been done to old Ted years ago.

[stormer]

Or what of politicians who are advocates of the death penalty?

[redhead]

At first, I was glad to see this. Then it dawned on me that there was a consequence to his adamant refusal to back down on his pro-abortion stance, and this is the evidence of it. Instead of rejoicing at his punishment, I'm going to pray for his soul, which is certainly in serious danger.

Of course, this isn't going to stop him. He is going to find a compliant bishop and priest somewhere and be able to mock the Sacrament whenever he chooses.

[Jeff Chandler]

Or what of politicians who are advocates of the death penalty?

Capital punishment is strongly opposed by the Catholic Church on prudential grounds, but it is not a matter of official doctrine. Condemnation of abortion is.

[paterfamilias]

“Or what of politicians who are advocates of the death penalty?”

The Church does not dispute the authority of governments to impose the death penalty, but encourages it to be a penalty used only in extraordinary circumstances.

[annieokie]

Or he will introduce a bill in Congress to stop this discrimmination. I applaud the Church for banning him from this communion, as it is a start and also because he is in the position of authority by being in Congress. He should be setting an example for good not EVIL.

[tioga]

deadTed learned the hard way what happens......perhaps this ban will turn this one around. at least he can’t stand at the pearly gates and complain he was a victim.

[Chesterbelloc]

Or what of politicians who are advocates of the death penalty?

Cardinal Ratzinger in 2004:

"3. Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia."

[Mrs. Don-o]

Anyone over the age of 18 who procures an abortion is excommunicated automatically ("latae sentenciae"). Anyone who materially cooperates --- performs a deliebrate act to obtain the abortion, e.g. puts up the money, perform the procedure, etc. --- incurs the same penalty under the canon for accomplices.

Anyone who who persists in manifest grave sin, as stated in Canon 915 --- not just abortion, but any manifest (public) grave (serious) sin --- is not to be given Holy Communion. This is the responsibility of the person distributing Communion.

And every Catholic is to examine his or her conscience and, if they realize they are in grave sin, abstain from Communion until they can confess their sin and repent of their errors.

All adequately educated Catholics knows this.

How many are adequately educated? Ah, that's another question altogether.

[Dem Guard]

If it had been up to me Old Ted would have been laid in that 88 Olds and buried with a bulldozer in a dump.

[Mrs. Don-o]

The Catholic Church does not teach that the death penalty is intrinsically evil.

2267 Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

On the other hand, the state is urged to find other ways to protect society from the aggressions of criminal individuals, which would not involve death, if possible.

The teaching is well-argued, and well worth reading in its entirely.