JFK's privatized religion (Is it possible for a President's religion to have no influence at all?)

The Christian Century ^ | 03/07/2012 | David Helm

[SeekAndFind]

Meat on Friday is a peripheral issue because it does not touch the issue of life and death.

In this sense, a Catholic President cannot “impose” (for want of a better word) such a rule on others.

Abortion on the other hand is different. It transcends religion and is a constitutional one. In this case, you HAVE TO IMPOSE some sort of morality on someone.

You HAVE TO follow some sort of morality whether it is informed by your religion or not.

[allmendream]

Well then, how about contraception? That certainly touches on the issue of life and death.

If a Catholic President chooses not to use birth control because of the dictates of his religion - good for him. If a Catholic President feels it is his place to lecture us on the evils of contraception - nuts to him, most people don't want to hear it. If a Catholic President feels there is a compelling government interest in regulating or forbidding contraception because his religion teaches it is wrong - that is not consistent with conservatism and the idea of a government of limited and enumerated powers where the citizen is sovereign and we all have freedom of conscience.

[A.A. Cunningham]

As a Catholic he might personally obey the (now rescinded) Church about not eating meat on Friday. (sic)

It's an urban legend perpetrated by the ignorant that of the discipline abstaining from eating meat on Friday has been rescinded.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Kennedy’s religion was private affairs, not Catholicism.

[allmendream]

Apparently this “ignorant” Archbishop spoke of “reintroducing” the practice - widely abandoned after a relaxing of the prohibition (outlining other methods of observance that could be performed) in 1984.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1386818/Archbishop-Vincent-Nichols-tells-Catholic-faithful-dont-eat-meat-Fridays.html

[A.A. Cunningham]

The term “Episcopal Conference” sailed over your head. I suggest you sit up higher in your chair so reality doesn’t fly so far over grape.

[allmendream]

I guess the reality that the relaxation of the prohibition in 1984, leading to the practice no longer being widely observed, sailed right over your head.

Besides which this is just a distraction from the topic.

A total ban on eating meat on Fridays was rescinded in 1984, in favor of a more ‘relaxed’ standard that other observances could be substituted.

That is the truth, sorry if it upsets you.

[ansel12]

Protestants vote Republican they don’t care that their candidates are Catholics.

Catholics vote Democrat, and the Democrat party evidently fears Christianity.

[ansel12]

Gingrich is being submitted to a “religious test” ?

[LadyDoc]

I don’t think the JFK criticism will make much waves after one of his female interns published a “tell it all” book about their affair, including the fact he got her an abortion.