Priests Should Refuse Communion to Kerry, Leading Catholic Says

NewsMax.com | 3/31/04 | Phil Brennan

[kattracks]

More: Senate's 'Deadly Dozen' Fake Catholics,
Pope Says Catholic Pols Must Oppose Abortion
and Bishop Tells Gray Davis: Choose Abortion or Communion.

Sen. John Kerry's defiance of his Church's condemnation of abortion and approval of gay marriage is not only a problem for him and Catholic bishops, but for individual Catholics as well, according to a leading Catholic layman and editor.

He says Catholic priests should refuse to give Holy Communion to Kerry even if their bishops have not specifically warned the senator that he is not to receive Communion.

That demand of excommunication for Kerry is made by Deal Hudson, editor of Crisis magazine, the nation's leading intellectual Catholic journal.

Hudson is a respected Catholic layman, and his views are often sought by national media and government officials, including the Bush White House.

In an exclusive interview with NewsMax.com, Hudson said that the matter of individual bishops ordering Kerry to refrain from receiving the Eucharist when in their dioceses - in other words, excommunicating him - was between Kerry and America's individual bishops, including his own.

"It's in the hands of his ordinary [bishop] - and when his ordinary has spoken and said that politicians should refrain from communion, he's alluding to the fact that someone like Sen. Kerry should not consider themselves part of the Catholic community."

Photo Opportunity

The issue will arise as Kerry campaigns around the nation and continues to insist on publicly receiving communion under the watchful eyes of the media. As a result, Hudson said, some bishops will have to face the issue head-on.

"Some bishops will be very likely be forced to clarify the Catholic faith in the wake of any campaign stops by Sen. Kerry, especially if the human life issue arises."

Hudson left no doubt that in the absence of action by their bishops, individual Catholic priests should still turn Kerry away from Communion. "Absolutely, they should," he said.

St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke has specifically warned Kerry to avoid receiving communion when visiting his archdiocese. In Kerry's home archdiocese, without mentioning him by name, Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley has said that Catholic politicians who do not vote in line with Church teachings "shouldn't dare come to Communion."

Commenting on Archbishop Burke's instruction to Kerry, Hudson noted that Kerry avoided the confrontation by visiting a black Baptist Church when he was there recently.

Asked if he believed that the bishops individually or together should tell renegade Catholic politicians such as Sen. Kerry that they must not receive communion and that they are excommunicating themselves by so doing, Hudson said: "I think that it's what's happening, little by little. When a bishop says that someone should refrain from receiving communion without using the word excommunication, he's implying it. I think they are beginning to speak up, and Kerry's ordinary has spoken up, although he hasn't specifically mentioned Kerry as has Archbishop Burke."

While observing that the problem was a large issue for the Catholic bishops, Hudson said it also was a problem for the laity.

'Pretending to Be a Catholic'

"My view that this is a huge decisive moment for Catholics in the United States. I hope they will rise to the challenge and refuse to endorse another Catholic politician who is pretending to be a Catholic while rejecting the Church's central moral and social teachings.

"I think that the challenge is bigger for the laity than it has been for the bishops. It's an election. The issue is who's going to vote for the guy.

"I agree on one hand that it's an issue for the bishops, but in a very real sense it's even a bigger issue for the laity. If they show massive support for Kerry, that's going to set back the church in this country for at least a generation, just at a time when a significant number of bishops and laity are beginning to get active on this issue. I am keeping my eyes more focused on the laity and hoping they will reject such Catholic politicians," Hudson said.

"It is a problem for the church - the Church's identity is at stake - the church being the bishops and the laity. If they don't respond to the situation now, the Church will lose credibility."

As NewsMax.com has reported in Vatican Worries About Kerry, the Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America, is quoted in Time magazine as saying, "All you need is a picture of Kerry going up to the Communion rail and being denied, and you've got a story that'll last for weeks."

But Hudson told NewsMax.com he doubted that will happen. "They [Kerry's staff] are checking it very carefully, everywhere he goes to Mass.

"They're not going to let him be embarrassed, as Al Gore was embarrassed in 2000 when he was planning a campaign stop at Catholic hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the bishop canceled the visit. After that I don't believe Gore many any more attempts to visit any Catholic hospitals."

Time on Monday quoted a Vatican official, who is American, as saying: "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."

Kerry, who likes to think of himself as JFK, has said: "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."

A former altar boy, he has described himself as a "believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic."

He insists he will continue to attend Mass and take Communion.

On Tuesday, the largest abortion rights group in the United States endorsed Kerry for president.

Calling the choice "clear," NARAL Pro-Choice America President Kate Michelman called Kerry "a president pro-choice Americans can rely on" to ensure "Roe vs. Wade remains the law of the land."

Only last week, Kerry, in a rare episode of showing up for work, was among the minority of senators voting against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which, when President Bush signs it, will finally make it a crime to harm or kill an unborn child, abortions excluded.

[GretchenEE]

bttt

[Future Useless Eater]

It aint gonnnnnnna happen.

Ketchup boy and wifie are net-worth nearly $1,000,000,000.00

The church stands go gain a hefty tithe each week

PLUS when they both die, another likely BIG donation!

[Coleus]

A Primer on Canon 915 Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion

Teresa on the Stump, Teresa Heinz Kerry, from Mozambique, PRO-ABORTION Catholic, UN Employee, etc.

Teresa Heinz Kerry, Drummond Pike and the Communist TIDES FOUNDATION

The Bible and homosexuality [Kerry thinks the bible is for homosexuality]

John Kerry and Unborn Victims

Catholic Pro-Abortion, Pro-Homosexual

Catholic and 100% Pro Abortion

Catholics Kerry and Kennedy have a 100% Pro-homosexual Record with the Human Rights Campaign! Page 10,11

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
DOCTRINAL NOTE
on some questions regarding
The Participation of Catholics in Political Life

Living the Gospel of Life:
A Challenge to American Catholics
A Statement by the Catholic Bishops of the United States

Faithful Citizenship:
Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium

An Old Testament, Litany of Life
Canon Law and Abortion
Sign Petition: To Excommunicate
The Gospel of Life--Evangelium Vitae
Herod's Heroes, Sign Petition

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS 

Catechism on Homosexuality

Wisc. Bishop Tells Pro-Abort. Catholic Pols: Change Your Stripes or Stay Away from Holy Communion 

Hughes exhorts Catholic pols to toe line
Times Picayune, LA - 7 hours ago
support abortion, assisted suicide or any other "life issues" out of step with church
teachings should refrain from Holy Communion, Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes.

Archbishop aims call at some Catholic politicians
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - 1 hour ago
Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes' statement, contained in his column in this week's
Clarion Herald, the archdiocesan newspaper, is in stride with nationwide.

Bishop Raymond Burke's Strange Nemesis
DisInfo.com -Dec 29, 2003 By Matt C. Abbott. ... On Saturday, October 26, 2002 I stood before Archbishop ... Alfred Kunz. ... When I asked, via e-mail, Detective Kevin Hughes of the Dane County

[Coleus]

`

[farmfriend]

This seems to be a growing issue. I hope it finally makes some progress.

[Coleus]

It will once more bishops become involved. Deal Hudson is a lay person like the rest of us.

[Arthur McGowan]

1) The Pope did NOT come out against the War on Terror. The Pope was against the invasion of Iraq.

2) No Catholic is under any obligation to agree with the Pope about the invasion of Iraq. The Pope is entitled to his opinion; I am entitled to my opinion.

3) The Church's teaching on abortion--and the Church teaches that the STATE has the DUTY to prohibit abortion--is a teaching that goes back to the very beginning. It is not a "political" position. It is an unchangeable constant. It is dishonest politicians, like Kerry, who PRETEND that when the Church condemns MURDER, the Church is "meddling in politics."

[BlackElk]

Good for you!

[NYer]

"They're not going to let him be embarrassed, as Al Gore was embarrassed in 2000

Or like the funeral for John Cardinal O'Connor ...

* * * * *

Cardinal John O'Connor gets last word at his own funeral

For those who missed it, the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston preached at the funeral of his close friend John O'Connor, the Cardinal Archbishop of New York.  O'Connor was a bold and fierce preacher on the subject closest to his heart: the sanctity of human life.  

The funeral, broadcast live nationwide, was attended by the president and vice president, their wives and numerous dignitaries including the mayor of New York City.  

At one point in the sermon, O'Connor's hand picked homilist said, "What a great legacy he has left us in his constant reminder that the Church must always be unambiguously pro- life."

There was a beat and then applause broke out.  It grew louder, increasing as the cameras fixed on the Clinton-Gore party showing them on screens throughout the cathedral.  Cardinal Law attempted to quiet the crowd with his hand, when suddenly the congregation began to stand up, applauding in a wave that moved from the back of the church to the front.  If it hadn't been a funeral they would have cheered.  It was a defiant, pivotal moment.  

Then the bishops and cardinals in the sanctuary stood up.  The elder George Bush stood up applauding, as did his son somewhere off camera.  The camera panned back to the Clinton- Gore party who looked bemused and bewildered.  

Having no water glasses to reach for as they did in 1994 when Mother Teresa received a thunderous ovation for telling the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington that there could be no peace as long as a mother could kill the child in her womb, Clinton leaned back and started whispering in Hillary's ear.  Gore's face was as blank, flat and white as a sheet of paper.  Behind them another abortion "rights" supporter, Rudy Giuliani, began to applaud, albeit weakly, and stood.  And lest they be the only ones left seated, the Clintons and Gores lamely stood up but refrained from applauding.  

It was not Cardinal Law's intent to embarrass anyone.  He was merely doing his job and honoring his friend.  The vehement applause came from the people.  

When the applause subsided, Law quipped, "I see he hasn't left the pulpit."

FULL TEXT

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"I wish the bishops would establish a policy, and let it be known that Catholic politicians who publicly advocate a pro-choice position will simply be refused the Eucharist."

Yes ALL of them and any other activists that support abortion. I think they will finally forced to take this on because if Kerry becomes President he will be leading many young Catholics all over the world into error by bad example. He does not care... he might like it... the more potential prochoice voters the better. So if the bishops don't do something now then it's like a millstone should be put around their necks for letting our kids and all Christian kids see this terrible example.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"It will once more bishops become involved. Deal Hudson is a lay person like the rest of us."

It would be better if Deal Hudson stayed out of it. The liberals will just say it was evil rightwingers who started the witch hunt and the bisops caved in. Not that Hudson is not right of course.

[RobbyS]

What kind are they?How big do they get?

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"I wish I could find my copy of the Catechism. If I'm not mistaken, the Church is not, officially, opposed to the death penalty. "

In past times the Church supported the death penalty under certain conditions as punishment and as protection for society. I think now the Church says that modern countires no longer need the death penalty to protect society from dangerous people because we have the money and facilities to keep them locked up. The Church would like to see the utilization of the death penalty whither away as countires modernize and become wealthy enough to incarcerate people for life. So it's a case by case basis for various countries and cultures and therefore not able to be a fixed teaching.

[Aquinasfan]

"I agree on one hand that it's an issue for the bishops, but in a very real sense it's even a bigger issue for the laity. If they show massive support for Kerry, that's going to set back the church in this country for at least a generation, just at a time when a significant number of bishops and laity are beginning to get active on this issue.

The Church is going to be set back for at least a generation. I pray that I'm wrong.

[Aquinasfan]

I wouldn't like it if these bishops started calling for priests to stop giving Communion to politicians who supported the war

Prudential judgements versus support for intrinsic evils. That's the dividing line.

[Jim Noble]

The fact is that most Catholics, even after 40 years of Vatican II go-with-the-secular-flow indoctrination, would follow the lead of that bishop in a heartbeat. I hope the Vatican and the US bishops realize this.

Of course they realize it.

That's why they are afraid that some bishop will actually do it.

[Aquinasfan]

I predict that, at some point in the future, the Church will strongly suggest that opposition to the death penalty is a teaching of the Ordinary Magisterium.

The Church has always upheld in principle the State's imposition of the death penalty. The pope has said that with the current ability of some societies to detain criminals for life, without these criminals representing a threat to society, that the death penalty is not needed or desirable.

[Aquinasfan]

Ketchup boy and wifie are net-worth nearly $1,000,000,000.00

The church stands go gain a hefty tithe each week

I doubt it. I think his tax records indicate that he donated $135 to charity one year.

[steve8714]

The only backlash against the Church would be from those who lump us in with what they consider the stupid religious right...except when the Bishops send a letter espousing socialism.

[GraceCoolidge]

In an exclusive interview with NewsMax.com, Hudson said that the matter of individual bishops ordering Kerry to refrain from receiving the Eucharist when in their dioceses - in other words, excommunicating him - was between Kerry and America's individual bishops, including his own.

I've seen similar comments linking denial of Eucharist and excommunication, but I did not understand them to the same thing at all. One should not receive communion if in a state of mortal sin (missing mass being one example). I don't believe someone who misses mass, though, and thus shouldn't receive communion, has been excommunicated! I dislike the confusion implied in these comments. Lots of people can be in a state where they should not receive communion, but are not subject to excommunication. I firmly believe John Kerry should be excommunicated, also obviously that he should not receive communion. They aren't the same thing, however.