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AS KERRY EMERGES, SO DOES CONCERN THAT AS PRESIDENT HE MAY BE DENIED COMMUNION
Spirit Daily ^ | 1-29-04

Posted on 01/29/2004 6:30:44 AM PST by cpforlife.org

The emergence of Senator John Kerry as a presidential candidate raises crucial questions about how bishops may react, seeing that he presents himself both as a staunchly pro-choice politician and as a practicing Catholic. The issue is of immediate moment, for it is a time when bishops across the United States -- including on Kerry's home turf of Boston -- have been issuing statements or even canonical declarations warning those who favor abortion to abstain from the Eucharist.

Kerry represents Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate and hails from Boston. He has seized control of the Democratic primaries -- at least for the moment -- and professes to paid heed to his religion. "I am a believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic," he has been quoted as saying.

But only a week ago, newly-installed Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley struck out against pro-choicers like Kerry, telling a Catholic website called LifeSiteNews.com, "These politicians should know that if they're not voting correctly on these life issues that they shouldn't dare come to Communion."

Those words appear at great odds with Kerry's voting record and may put him on a collision course with the Church, should he ever assume control of the Oval Office. In fact Kerry even opposes a ban on partial-birth abortion. According to his campaign website: "John Kerry believes that women have the right to control their own bodies, their own lives, and their own destinies. He believes that the Constitution protects their right to choose and to make their own decisions in consultation with their doctor, their conscience, and their God. He will defend this right as President. He recently announced he will support only pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court. Kerry also believes that we should promote family planning and health plans should assure women contraceptive coverage.

These positions are the perfect opposite of the Church's, and if elected his standing as a "practicing" Catholic could generate significant -- and perhaps even monumental controversy -- leaving open the possibility that America's second Catholic President could become the first to be prohibited from receiving Holy Communion, the Church's defining sacrament.

Just last November Archbishop Raymond L. Burke -- now in St. Louis but at the time bishop of LaCrosse, Wisconsin -- issued a canonical notification prohibiting the Eucharist for pro-choice lawmakers.

"Catholic legislators who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion," said the notification. "They are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, should they present themselves, until such time as they publicly renounce their support of these most unjust practices." The document repeated the Vatican's teaching that Catholics involved in lawmaking have a "grave and clear obligation to oppose" any measure that is an attack on human life. "For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them," it says.

This was followed by a statement by New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes -- who less than two weeks ago said that "the Louisiana bishops are sending a copy of this document to each of our elected Catholic public officials in Baton Rouge and Washington. When Catholic officials openly support the taking of human life in abortion, euthanasia or the destruction of human embryos, they are no longer faithful members in the Church and should not partake of Holy Communion. Moreover, citizens who promote this unjust taking of human life by their vote or support of such candidates share in responsibility for this grave evil."

The need is to pray for the potential leaders, as opposed to simple condemnation. Can John Kerry return to faithful Catholicism?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; abortion; catholiclist; catholicpoliticians; christ; demoncrat; holocaust; kerry; truth
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To: Salvation
Unfortunately - on this one, I wasn't being sarcastic. Just realistic and hopefully nondenominational. In any group of people (Bishops, Rabbis, Police, Doctors, ...) there's going to be some who are for sale.
121 posted on 01/29/2004 9:07:23 AM PST by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: John123
An annullment merely states that there was no sanctified marriage. Children are still legal and blessed.

The annulment is between the man and the woman.
122 posted on 01/29/2004 9:07:29 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: cpforlife.org
Supreme Court --- Catholics need not apply

It is about time that my church is publicly going after abort-supporting Catholic politicians.

123 posted on 01/29/2004 9:08:19 AM PST by doug from upland (Don't wait until it is too late to stop Hillary -- do something today!)
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To: Rebelbase
Please look up the details on annulments. You are mistaken here.
124 posted on 01/29/2004 9:10:23 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: JohnnyZ
**I don't think the children are considered illegitimate.**

You are correct here.
125 posted on 01/29/2004 9:10:51 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
I've studied the history of indulgences for years. And yes, I know that the Catholic sites disclaim the existence on indulgences. I happen to believe that indulgences are as rampant today as they were the day that Martin Luther nailed his theses on the door.

How else could all these priests walk away scott free after molesting boys for so many years.

126 posted on 01/29/2004 9:11:50 AM PST by EggsAckley (..................**AMEND** the Fourteenth Amendment......(There, is THAT better?).................)
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To: COBOL2Java
Apparently, there is some kind of rule that if you are a liberal Democrat from Massachusetts and Catholic...you also have to be pro-abortion, divorced, and remarried. It seems to come along with the bogus Ivy League credentials.
127 posted on 01/29/2004 9:12:14 AM PST by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: doug from upland
Yup.
128 posted on 01/29/2004 9:17:01 AM PST by cpforlife.org (The defense and promotion of LIFE is not the ministry of a few but the responsibility of ALL.)
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To: Campion
Whatever "religion class" you took, you ought to ask for your money back.

Eleven years in a Christian Brothers school, so keep your condescension. Obviously if the marriage were never valid, as per marrying your sister, what I said wouldn't hold. But we were instructed that the standard reasons for annulment would generally not be found valid if people had been married for an extended length of time, had clearly consummated the marriage, and had children.

I suspect the difference here is between practice in America compared with Ireland, where I grew up.

129 posted on 01/29/2004 9:17:33 AM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: in the Arena
OK, you started it --- LOL!

The Deadly Dozen

Canadian Prime Minister Taunts Church: "I Am A Catholic And For Abortion"
Catholic Church asks Tom Daschle to stop calling himself a Catholic
On Catholic Politicians and Faith
Vatican Urges Catholic Politicians to Vote Along Church Lines
Senator Santorum on Being Catholic and a Politician
William E. Simon, Sr. and Jr. Devout Catholics, Philanthropists and Politicians
Deadly Dozen senator taken to task over claims of Catholicism
THE BISHOP AND THE SENATOR [author links to FR thread regarding Daschle in her online column]
Blood On Their Hands: Exposing Pro-abortion Catholic Politicians
MI Gov Granholm Proclaims June "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month"
Colorado Governor To Media:'WE LOVE OUR CHURCH' [Gov. Bill Owens
U.S. Senator Brownback and Commentator Dick Morris Join Catholic Church
PRIEST REFUSES COMMUNION TO KNEELING PRO-LIFE POLITICIAN [Richard Black, Virginia]
Kerry [Catholic} says he'll filibuster Supreme Court nominees who do not support abortion rights
Pope to MPs: Stop gay marriage
Vatican - Considerations regarding ... homosexual persons
CONFUSIONS ABOUT POLITICAL JUDGMENT AND THE MORAL LAW
Prelate says politicians who back abortion shouldn't go to Communion
Bishop draws fire for targeting Chrétien
Kennedy likens Vatican stance on gay unions to 'bigotry' (oh, go get a job, you little creep)
Ignorance or Malicious Intent? "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to..."
George Weigel on Authentic Catholic Citizenship, and the Duty of Catholic Politicians to Behave as Catholics
Conservative Catholics urge Church to challenge "dissenters"
[Robert F., Jr.] Kennedy to speak at Festival of Faiths (Environmentalism as religion)
Faithful Catholic Politicians
Catholic Bishops Eye Possible Crackdown of Pro-Abortion Pols
PETITION TO EX-COMMUNICATE PRO-ABORTION CATHOLIC ELECTED OFFICIALS
It is Time to Excommunicate the Politicians
Church vows to fight gay marriage: Catholics pressure pols
Should politicians toe their church line?
Church May Penalize Politicans
Catholic politicians facing dogmatic threat
Bishop appeals to Catholic lawmakers [Wisconsin]
New St. Louis Catholic Archbishop Warns Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians of Excommunication.
Bishop Objected to AIDS Walk
Wisconsin Catholic Lawmakers Seek Victim Status In Feud With Bishop
Bishop Burke discusses the letters he sent to Catholic politicians
Congressman Places Internal Pro-Abortion Docs in Congressional Record
Flynn: Dems ignore Catholics
Granholm gay rights order "a slap in the face"
Calif. Bishop To Gov. Davis: Pick Abortion Or Communion [formal excommunication?]
California Bishop to Gov: Oppose Abortion or No Communion (New Title)
Sacramento Bishop Challenges Governor on Abortion; Tells Davis to Stop Receiving Communion
Granholm's Bible-thumping Sure to Rile GOP
Bishop: No Communion for Abortion Backers
Legislators can't have Eucharist, bishop says: Don't serve supporters of abortion rights, euthanasia
Wisc. Bishop Tells Pro-Abort. Catholic Pols: Change Your Stripes or Stay Away from Holy Communion
Diocese targets Granholm on abortion
NJ Governor McGreevey a devout Catholic, yet diplomatic {Barf Alert}
Communion ban on lawmakers who back abortion starts furor
Bishop's ban ignites church-state debate
(MI) Governor's effort is first step to give gays special benefits, weapon against religion [Granholm]
(Louisiana) LA Archbishop aims call at some Catholic politicians [Hughes]
Hughes exhorts Catholic pols to toe line
The end of Catholic politicians
Maher's Moment: A look back at Bishop Maher's Denial of Communion to a Pro-Abortion Politician [Lucy Killea]
Bishops rekindle anti-Catholic bias
TREND? "Pro-Abort Politicians "Shouldn't Dare Come to Communion", Madison Bishop Backs Burke
Dolan lauds result of bishop's actions against lawmakers
Catholics Kerry and Kennedy have a 100% Pro-homosexual Record with the Human Rights Campaign! Page 10,11
Bishop Burke: Just Doing His Job
AS KERRY EMERGES, SO DOES CONCERN THAT AS PRESIDENT HE MAY BE DENIED COMMUNION

130 posted on 01/29/2004 9:17:39 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Rebelbase
You are still mistaken in your language here!
131 posted on 01/29/2004 9:19:17 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Right Wing Professor
The children are NOT illegitimate!

Where did all these misconceptions about the Catholic Church get started anyway?

PS. I know the answer!
132 posted on 01/29/2004 9:21:25 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Right Wing Professor
**It's also noted that his first wife, Julia Thome, came from a family that's worth close to $300m. He does like 'em rich, doesn't he?**

Are you saying he is a parasite? LOL!
133 posted on 01/29/2004 9:24:32 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
I didn't say they were. Since he didn't get his annulment, it's a moot point anyway.
134 posted on 01/29/2004 9:24:46 AM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: Only1choice____Freedom
Horror of horros!

You mean he really fought in a war?

Did he say so? </sarcasm off
135 posted on 01/29/2004 9:26:28 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Only1choice____Freedom
Horror of horrors!

You mean he really fought in a war?

Did he say so? </sarcasm off
136 posted on 01/29/2004 9:26:47 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: doug from upland
You may be interested in this link:

2004: Supreme Issue

137 posted on 01/29/2004 9:31:31 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Right Wing Professor
Eleven years in a Christian Brothers school, so keep your condescension.

What condescension? It was Abp. Fulton Sheen who said that Catholic parents who wanted their children to lose their faith should send them to a Catholic school. (He was speaking specifically about colleges, but the rot has spread since then.)

I long ago gave up trusting the Catholic Church (at the local level) to teach Catholicism. Sometimes it happens, but not reliably.

It ain't condescension, pal -- it's realism.

But we were instructed that the standard reasons for annulment would generally not be found valid if people had been married for an extended length of time, had clearly consummated the marriage, and had children.

That's a huge gloss, because none of those things ipso facto have anything to do with it. The issues are (1) whether the people in question are qualified to marry, and qualified to marry each other; (2) whether they are married according to canonical form; and (3) whether the consent they gave was informed, free, and complete.

IOW, a man who contracted marriage with the well-formed intention at the time of the ceremony to cheat on his wife would not be married. His vows were a lie. This would be the case even if he stayed (legally) married to his wife for 30 years and sired a small herd of children by her.

I suspect the difference here is between practice in America compared with Ireland, where I grew up.

I do not dispute the accusation that annullment practice in the USA is frequently or always lax. I'm merely disputing your claim that having children has any substantial relationship to the question of whether a marriage is null and void in the eyes of the Church.

138 posted on 01/29/2004 9:33:10 AM PST by Campion
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To: Texas Jack
Everybody should visit that link.

Thanks
BTTT
139 posted on 01/29/2004 9:33:31 AM PST by hattend (Are we there, yet?)
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To: EggsAckley
Indulgences are not purchased; they are earned. FYI
140 posted on 01/29/2004 9:33:56 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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