Catholic Archbishop of St. Louis (Raymond Burke) would refuse communion to John Effing Kerry

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 01/30/2004 | Patricia Rice

[mountaineer]

Does this mean the bishop would give him a pass on the adultery and subsequent shacking up with Teresa for two years before they were married?

As for Kerry's statement that he shares the church's view that abortion is wrong, but wouldn't dare impose his views as a legislator - what the heck is the point of having "views" on matters of life and death if they don't affect the way you act? Will this POS actually stand for anything?

[sinkspur]

But it's alright for the Church to grant Kerry an annulment from wife #1 even tho they had two kids?

The Church determined the marriage was not sacramental. That is a Church determination, and has no effect on the legitimacy of the children.

[4integrity]

Howling....good point about lay people having discussions etc. My parish does have groups that discuss the gospels and weekly readings. Thanks for making me think....there is more than one way to skin a cat....!

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via Freepmail if you would like to be added to or removed from the Catholic Discussion Ping list.

[Salvation]

**The Bishop has every right to sheperd the Catholic community by pointing out the hypocrisy of this idea of personal v. public attitudes toward abortion.**

BTTT!

[Salvation]

An annulment states that the marriage was not valid. It is not a license to go get hitched again.

How does your church view divorce?

[ninenot]

Des, since the post is all about St. Louis, I presume one of the ladies in the picture is YOU. Which one?

[ninenot]

A friend of ours, with EIGHT children, had her marriage annulled.

It's not really about the money, and you know that. But it is interesting that the USA has about 90% of the annullments and only about 10% of the marriages.

There's a full-blown war going on in the Tribunal journals, between theologians, over the question. JPII spoke about it TODAY in Zenit, BTW. You might want to look up the article at www.zenit.com

[Salvation]

No

[DarthVader]

Your priest is a gutless coward and a poor excuse of a Christian. There are many scriptures condeming the behavior of these poor shepherds.

[pegleg]

A courageous direction for the Kerrys and Kennedys and Cuomos would be to state the church teaching is wrong and publicly leave the Church.

Or another way to look at it:

A courageous direction for the Church would be to state that lawmakers who support abortion rights can no longer receive holy communion.

Bishop Burke is on to something here.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Catholic laymen (and women) from various groups (Knights of Columbus, prayer and Bible study groups, education committees, college alumni, pro-life activism, etc.) should discuss and debate how the anti-Christian (and anti-Catholic) political and ideological movements which back abortion and the culture of death should be countered.
No Catholic should ever support a pro-abortion politician.
It is legitimate to raise questions about just how anti-Christian and anti-Catholic American political movements have become. Not only should questions be raised about pro-abortion liberal Democrats. Questions should be raised about whether Republicans are doing all they can to address the decline of Christian civilization in America.

[DarthVader]

Bishop Burke is doing just as the Scriptures say in 1 Corinthians 5 and taking the position of administering church discipline to those who behave in contrary ways to Christian norms. It basically prescribes making the offender an outcast until they repent and behave in the proper manner. A form of tough love. I really commend him and Christ is giving him the courage to stand up.

[pegleg]

I really commend him and Christ is giving him the courage to stand up.

Amen to that. There used to be a time when these scoundrels had to do public penance in sack-cloth and ashes.

[DarthVader]

I am all for bringing that practice back. Maybe hit em with a few rotten tomatoes and eggs.

[T Minus Four]

That's pretty funny. Non-Catholics may not know that when Catholics line up to go forward for Communion, sometimes they have a little kid in hand because they're too young to leave back in the pew. The priest customarily blesses the kid, who is too young to receive Holy Communion, partly I suspect so the kid won't feel left out.

You're right, although not just children do this. I am divorced and remarried, so I am not "eligible under the rules" to receive communion. I often go through the communion line with my daughter, and instead of holding out my hand for the host, I clasp my hands and bow my head when I reach the priest, who then blesses me. Certainly I can use a blessing! :-)

[GirlShortstop]

Des, since the post is all about St. Louis, I presume one of the ladies in the picture is YOU. Which one?

the one with the cucumber sandwich of course!   :-)

[BraveMan]

Thanks for the ping, Sal . . .

I cannot be acquiescent to this thread. There is too much vitriol here. I feel the need to declare this . . .

[JohnnyZ]

But it's alright for the Church to grant Kerry an annulment from wife #1 even tho they had two kids? Isn't that hypocrisy on behalf of the church -- granting anulments to people of property so Kerry can go on to nab his next heiress?

1. Kerry applied for an annulment after remarrying but it was either denied or didn't even reach the stage where it would be denied.

2. Having 2 kids isn't necessarily a deciding factor. It's not about the kids, it's about whether the marriage was sacramental.

3. The "granting annulments to rich people" thing is likely a myth. It's fairly easy for ANYONE to get an annulment, rich or poor, although that's a scandal in itself. The guidelines are interpreted to be very flexible.

[4integrity]

....how anti-Christian culture should be countered...

Last year, a Freeper posted that Priests for Life were sponsoring a national voter registration drive. At that time, I researched Priests for Life and obtained info re how to set up the registration drive at my Church. I then spoke with the Pastor of my Church and volunteered to set up a voter registration table on the date designated. My Pastor advised that this had been done before and perhaps when it gets closer to the election we may do it again. Unfortunately, it seems many Christians, even religious leaders, are reluctant to speak out for their beliefs for fear of appearing controversial or possibly offending someone or simply they are uncomfortable with confrontation. Apathy is no longer an option. And, if priests/pastors will not stand up for God then who will. The liberal judges are attempting to protect the rights of some by diminishing or restricting the rights of others, especially Christians. These judges will do this as long as we allow them to. We must vote these liberal judges and politicians OUT of office. Sorry for venting.....