Posted on 10/21/2004 12:43:27 PM PDT by St. Johann Tetzel
Excommunicated or Not, Kerry is not Permitted to Receive Communion
WASHINGTON, October 20, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The controversy over the Catholic lawsuit against Presidential candidate John Kerry, and the denial by Vatican personalities of having been involved in it in any way has generated confusion about Kerry's status within the church.
Apart from the question of whether or not Kerry is "automatically excommunicated", recent authoritative Vatican statements have made clear that he is, by virtue of his support for abortion, not permitted to receive communion.
The Catholic penalty of excommunication is to be distinguished from inadmissibility to receive communion which comes with being in a state of serious sin. The Vatican has spoken loud and clear about Catholic politicians who support abortion and their unworthiness to receive communion.
In April, the Vatican's leading prelate on the Sacraments, Cardinal Francis Arinze, declared unequivocally that unambiguously pro-abortion politicians should be denied Holy Communion. Later it was revealed that Cardinal Ratzinger, who heads the most important congregation in the Vatican, told U.S. bishops in a letter, entitled 'Worthiness to receive Holy Communion', that pro-abortion politicians, who will not alter their stand or abstain from communion after being instructed by church leaders, "must" be refused communion.
Kerry's own bishop, Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley told LifeSiteNews.com in an interview in January, "These politicians should know that if they're not voting correctly on these life issues that they shouldn't dare come to communion."
Those clear positions have not stopped Kerry from coming forward to receive communion. As recently as October 11 he was reported to have received communion at a Catholic church. The Palm Beach Post reports that Kerry attended Mass and received communion at St. James Catholic Church in North Miami Beach. The paper reports that Rev. Jean Pierre "strayed from religion to politics, echoing some of Kerry's stump speech about the American Dream (being) on the ballot in November."
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Highest Authorities in Vatican Back Denial of Communion to Pro-Abortion Politicians http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04070501.html Boston Archbishop Says Pro-Abortion Politicians "Shouldn't Dare Come to Communion" http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jan/04012301.html
See the Palm Beach Post coverage: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/shared/news/politics/stories/10/11kerry.html
Criticizes use of liberal Catholic 'seamless garment' philosophy to sideline abortion issue
DENVER, October 20, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In an October 6 interview with New York Times writer David Kirkpatrick, Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput laid out the Catholic Church's reasoning as to why voting for known pro-abortion politicians is sinful.
Responding to a question about voting for pro-abortion politicians and it's sinfulness, the Archbishop explained, "Does our voting for someone make us responsible for what that person does as a legislator or as a judge?.And the answer is yes, because we are in some ways materially -- we use the word "materially" -- cooperating in that person's activity because we've given [him or her] the platform to be elected."
Chaput continued, "Now, if the person does something wrong, are we responsible for that? Well, if we didn't know they were going to something wrong, our participation is remote, but if we knew they were going to do something wrong and we approved of it, our responsibility would really be close, even if we knew they were going to do something wrong and we voted for them for another reason, we would still be responsible in some ways."
Concluding the point, he said, "The standing is that if you know someone is going to do evil and you participate in that in some way, you are responsible. So it's not.'if you vote this way, should you go to confession?' The question is, 'if you vote this way, are you cooperating in evil?' Now, if you know you are cooperating in evil, should you go to confession? The answer is yes."
Archbishop Chaput also criticized the controversial 'seamless garment' philosophy which attempts to equate abortion with other issues affecting life such as poverty and environmental concerns. "A lot of Catholic Democrats, whether they are clergy or laity, have used the "seamless garment" as an excuse to sideline the abortion issue, making it one among many others. And, we can't do that," he said.
The Denver church leader encouraged Catholics to be as "determined and stubborn ... persistent" in their pro-life stand as abortion supporters are in their stand.
Chaput used strong language in an attempt to drive his point home to a generation of Catholics who are uneducated in the teachings of the faith. "I think Catholics have to grapple with the fact that their moral positions impact their relationship with the Church. And they haven't often thought of that, you know? 'I know abortion is wrong, but if I vote for abortion, that doesn't have any impact on me.' Well the Church says, 'Like heck it doesn't. It means you're not a Catholic and you shouldn't receive communion, if you are in favor of abortion.'"
See the full interview (pdf) from the Archdiocesan website: http://www.archden.org/images/nyt_transcript.pdf
Are you listening, Cardinal McCarrick?
...
Whatever...jihadists of ALL flavors are not doing the world any favors with their self-righteousness.
the Bishop of Philadelphia met with Pres Bush today and then
he "urged" the city's 1.5 million Catholics to vote for the
candidate which more closely has the same position the church
does on abortion and gay marriage issues...No wonder kerry is
bringing bubba to philly.. LOL.....not good for kerryland
There is something I just don't get and maybe someone can explain it to me. My sister-in-law is a very strong Catholic and a very strong dem. How can this be? Doesn't the abortion issue alone make this an oxymoron? How can one overlook this ultimate moral issue and vote for SKerry?
I don't think he's been in a Catholic church the last 2 months.
As much time as Kerry has spent in black Baptist churches, looks like he would just get baptized in their faith, or is he bi-religious?
Life ping.
Sorry about the rant, but this politics/religion/abortion theme on FR the last few weeks is getting to me.
Two of my sisters-in-law (one a former) are Catholic and neither can take communion because the former was a divorced woman when she married my brother and the latter married my brother who was divorced. Both were excommunicated. Assuming sKerry has the same problem.
As a southern Baptist I know I have no dog in this fight, but why do practicing Catholics put up with this? Just wondering.
Faithful Catholics are now jihadists? Your statement reflects more on you than the objects of your derision...
By making a clear decision between your faith and your politics.
Because even for all her warts and sinful members, no other Church in the world holds a more cohesive and sane moral or theological system. People hear Truth when it is spoken, and people know that NO church is free of corruption, because all men sin. So, sorry, but wise people will always listen to the Catholic Church, even in America, until the end of time.
Sounds like yer just a bit jealous.
this politics/religion/abortion theme on FR the last few weeks is getting to me
Good. That means you needed to hear it all the most.
I was always under the impression that Catholics put faith before politics.
Thanks. I respect your beliefs but I am not a believer myself.
The legalized slaughter of 1.4 million innocent people, every year in these United States, is not a "stick" ... perhaps this "abortion" thing is tweaking your libertarian conscience. If so, that's a good thing.
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