Vatican Official Tells TIME: 'There's a Problem With John Kerry...'

Time.com ^ | 4-5-04 | KAREN TUMULTY AND PERRY BACON JR.

[truthandlife]

The last time a major political party put forward a Roman Catholic candidate for President, he had to confront bigotry and suspicion that he would be taking orders from Rome. Forty-four years later, the Democrats are poised to nominate another Catholic—another Senator from Massachusetts whose initials happen to be J.F.K.—and this time, the controversy over his religion may develop within the Catholic Church itself. Kerry's positions on some hot-button issues aren't sitting well with members of the church elite. Just listen to a Vatican official, who is an American: "People in Rome are becoming more and more aware that there's a problem with John Kerry, and a potential scandal with his apparent profession of his Catholic faith and some of his stances, particularly abortion."

But it's far from clear whether the greater political problem is Kerry's or the church's. "I don't think it complicates things at all," Kerry told TIME in an interview aboard his campaign plane on Saturday, the first in which he has discussed his faith extensively. "We have a separation of church and state in this country. As John Kennedy said very clearly, I will be a President who happens to be Catholic, not a Catholic President." Still, when Kennedy ran for President in 1960, a candidate could go through an entire campaign without ever having to declare his position on abortion—much less stem cells, cloning or gay marriage. It was before Roe v. Wade, bioethics, school vouchers, gay rights and a host of other social issues became the ideological fault lines that divide the two political parties and also divide some Catholics from their church....

If anything, the church is getting tougher. The Vatican issued last year a "doctrinal note" warning Catholic lawmakers that they have a "grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them." When Kerry campaigned in Missouri in February, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke publicly warned him "not to present himself for Communion"—an ostracism that Canon Law 915 reserves for "those who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin." Kerry was scheduled to be in St. Louis last Sunday, and told TIME, "I certainly intend to take Communion and continue to go to Mass as a Catholic."

But, inevitably, his religion and his politics will clash. Already, one employee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington says he has lost his job as a result of his political activities on Kerry's behalf.

[Tacis]

This is unfair!! The church must know that what Kerry says and what Kerry does/believes are two very different things!! If the church holds Kerry's lies against him, they are no better than Republicans!

[EggsAckley]

Kerry wears his "Catholicism" the way Clinton carried his "large economy size" Bible in photo ops.

[Salman]

John Kerry is NOT Catholic. He can lie about it, of course, but he is NOT Catholic.

He may be a bad Catholic, but unless he is actually barred from communion he's a Catholic.

[abclily]

The more John Kerry tells stories, the more he Gorifies himself.

[Judith Anne]

St. Louis Archbishop barred him from Communion.

[Salman]

I thought Kerry was of Jewish extraction.

He was raised Roman Catholic (at least nominally). Having a Jewish ancestor doesn't mean anything if you are professing some other religion.

If Kerry started to profess Judaism for some reason it could be a factor.

[Salman]

St. Louis Archbishop barred him from Communion.

He took communion in Idaho. This is of course a question to be resolved within the hierarchy.

[Judith Anne]

Question to be resolved by the hierarchy? Baloney!

Kerry is an abortion supporter. That alone disqualifies him from communion. Supporting it with his vote, and publicly, causes grave scandal.

Giving him communion in Idaho doesn't mean squat to me. Just shows the lavender mafia and social gospel adherents in the priesthood still have a stranglehold in what is otherwise a fairly conservative place. I'd be thrilled to see all of those anti-Catholic Roman priests defrocked.

[GraceCoolidge]

I noticed in the Time article, it mentioned he had sought an annulment of his first marriage. Has anyone found out if he did?

You know, someone needs to ask the Kerry campaign for clarification on this point. I keep asking the same question and seeing the same question posted. I've read every post I see re. Kerry and the church, and can't find an answer. The closest is the post last week, "Kerry joked about his annulment" which seems to indicate that he received it. It's hard to find any definitive answer to this, particularly given the fact that the annulment process is not well understood; I suspect a lot of reporters wouldn't even understand the difference between seeking and obtaining an annulment. So it is hard to find the answer... I've been looking pretty scrupulously without success. A lot of posters have given me "yes" or "no" responses but without citing sources.

[GraceCoolidge]

Did you also notice the rhetorical question of "How might the rift between Kerry and the church he calls a "bedrock of values, of sureness about who I am" affect the election?" A better question might be how Kerry can claim the Catholic Church is his "bedrock of values" and "sureness of [who he is]" when he is completely opposed to the most basic tenets of the Catholic church. More evidence that even Kerry doesn't know who he is? I wonder how Time magazine would treat a candidate who claimed to be a devout civil rights crusader but raced back to D.C. to vote in favor of segregation.... I get really ticked at this media attitude that the abortion issue is some quaint little arcane footnote to Catholicism, something on which reasonable minds can differ. If Kerry thinks the Catholic church is so wrong on this point, why doesn't find a faith that is consistent with his beliefs? As for the comment about how Kerry seeking an annulment showed he is a "stickler" for Catholic rules... give me a break, it just showed Kerry is a "stickler" for maintaining his nominal Catholicism for campaign purposes.

[thoughtomator]

Kerry: first candidate to be excommunicated during the campaign?

[Cultural Jihad]

Personally, I think a Catholic ought to comply with the directives of their church. Otherwise, what is the point of being a Catholic? I know Catholics who go against their own church regarding abortion, birth control, women in the priesthood and many other issues. It just makes no sense to me.

Well said. Everyone is filled with this great pride, thinking they're big experts who can make important moral decisions based upon their gut reactions, and how they happen to feel each day.

[Abynormal]

I went to a Catholic school for 8 years. When I got a divorce at age 22, I never felt accepted in the Catholic religion again. It is what the Church teaches... just as it taught no birth control and, certainly, no abortion. As bad as that hurt me and all the anger I have against "The Church," I abide by accepting the consequences of my decisions.

The article inferred that is the CHURCH that has the problem, not Kerry. The Church -- as God and Jesus -- are not the ones that must 'change' in these matters. Catholic politicians have to make their choice. As long as they claim the separation of church and state bit and say that they must represent all constituents, they are none the less not living fully by their individual moral compass. They are correct in stating that the Church cannot dictate to them how to legislate, but they have no substance by not living their faith in everyday actions.

[Recovering_Democrat]

"We have a separation of church and state in this country...I will be a President who happens to be Catholic, not a Catholic President."

It's A Personal Thing by Steve Taylor

The press conference
It's a personal thing, and I find it odd
you would question my believing in a personal God
I'm devout, I'm sincere, ask my mother if you doubt it
I'm religious, but I'd rather not get radical about it
the old-time believers had timidity and grace
but this new generation doesn't know its place
you're entitled to believe, but the latest Gallup Poll
says you mustn't interfere--that's the government's role

chorus:
'Cause when you throw your hat in the bullring
before you know it's a personal thing
and when he comes to the day of reckoning
he's gonna tell 'em, "uh, uh, uh, it's a personal thing"

The nomination speech
It's a personal thing, and I boldly state
that my views on morality will have to wait
'til my personal life's out of the public eye
and the limitations statue can protect my alibi
I'm devout, I'm sincere, and I'm proud to say
that it's had exactly no effect on who I am today
I believe for the benefit for all mankind
in the total separation of church and mind

(chorus)

The victory night
It's a personal thing, and I plainly speak
(from the same code of ethics that I held last week)
as I promised if elected this election day
with the help of God almighty...I'll do it my way

"We have a separation of church and state in this country...I will be a President who happens to be Catholic, not a Catholic President."

It's A Personal Thing by Steve Taylor

The press conference
It's a personal thing, and I find it odd
you would question my believing in a personal God
I'm devout, I'm sincere, ask my mother if you doubt it
I'm religious, but I'd rather not get radical about it
the old-time believers had timidity and grace
but this new generation doesn't know its place
you're entitled to believe, but the latest Gallup Poll
says you mustn't interfere--that's the government's role

chorus:
'Cause when you throw your hat in the bullring
before you know it's a personal thing
and when he comes to the day of reckoning
he's gonna tell 'em, "uh, uh, uh, it's a personal thing"

The nomination speech
It's a personal thing, and I boldly state
that my views on morality will have to wait
'til my personal life's out of the public eye
and the limitations statue can protect my alibi
I'm devout, I'm sincere, and I'm proud to say
that it's had exactly no effect on who I am today
I believe for the benefit for all mankind
in the total separation of church and mind

(chorus)

The victory night
It's a personal thing, and I plainly speak
(from the same code of ethics that I held last week)
as I promised if elected this election day
with the help of God almighty...I'll do it my way

[Abynormal]

I have read that Kerry received an annulment -- after having two children -- in order to marry the catsup queen.

[TankerKC]

We have a separation of church and state in this country.

Once again, Kerry puts his ignorance on display.

[BipolarBob]

"Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, broke from his steady campaigning to visit Washington and vote against the legislation. Nine other Catholic lawmakers joined Kerry in opposing the bid to give legal protection for unborn children. They were: Senators Ted Kennedy, Joseph Biden, Christopher Dodd, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Mikulski, Tom Harkin, Richard Durbin, Jack Reed, and Patty Murray."

CINO's Catholic In Name Only

[Abynormal]

This infuriates me. To be so politically involved in the abortion issue that you can't even comprehend that a child in the womb -- eating, moving, hearing sounds, developing traits -- deserves to be protected from violence?

This issue is not about choice. The mothers MADE THEIR CHOICE! And the choice was to keep the baby!

[Tall_Texan]

Q: When is a Catholic not a Catholic?

A: When he votes in Congress.