[kattracks]

Ash Wednesday photo opportunity at St. John's Cathedral, Cleveland. (AP/Wide World Photos)

[SB00]

Kudos. Great to see the Church is turning up the heat on these people.

[the Real fifi]

The Boston diocese seems to operate by different rules--at lease when it comes to wealthy politicians. There's a lot more than pederasty that's the problem there.

[livius]

Kerry's photo op is making me gag.

"Remember man that dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return" - this is not a phrase that has ever terrified his mind.

In addition to the fact that he's pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, and anti-everything-the-Church-believes, I have also heard that it is unclear that he ever actually got an annulment from his first marriage.

Anybody know anything about this? While it's minor compared to the rest of the things he's done, it might be a sort of "technical fault" that would prevent even the liberal bishops from supporting him.

[Dataman]

Did the priest really put the ash on Kerry's forehead or is he starting to melt down?

[Concentrate]

The day the Vatican publicly excommunicates abortion advocates is the day I will return to the Church and give full support.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck it prabably is a duck.

[Buffettbassman]

"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."


-Ergo, Kerry's stance is immoral and inconsistant with Catholicism... Duh...what a news story! Tell me something we don't know.

[sinkspur]

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

And, no doubt, if a priest says that neither he, nor any of the Eucharistic Ministers will distribute the Eucharist to Kerry, the Kerry people will likely try some other church, or just advise him to not attend Mass that day. The wisest thing for the clergy involved to do is to make sure that the Kerry camp knows, in advance, that he will be denied and that it would be better for all concerned if Kerry simply stayed away, or stayed in his pew.

I suspect the bishops are trying to stay away from any direct confrontation, as it could provoke a backlash in favor of Kerry, and against the Church.

OTOH, a refusal would also likely fire up a lot of Catholics and evangelicals, who would applaud someone in the Church for taking a strong and decisive stance.

[Melpomene]

I know that these are two different issues, but the Pope came out against the War on Terror. I wouldn't like it if these bishops started calling for priests to stop giving Communion to politicians who supported the war, or if they started questioning the "Catholicism" of politicians who supported the war.

I'm very willing to listen to someone explain to me why I'm wrong about this, but I'm just uncomfortable with the idea of the clergy telling politicians how they are supposed to vote in Congress. Think about it; how would we feel if they started taking this stance with politicians who supported the war?

[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]

`

[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

[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.

[Arrowhead1952]

I'm a Missouri Synod Lutheran member, and I can't understand how the Catholic Church can support any of Kerry's views. This is good news, as he is in favor of abortion on demand.

[ThomasMore]

Deal Hudson is not the only one calling for the excommunication of Kerry.

There are a number of clergy...including myself...who believe it is a paramount action to overcome the scandal he causes by calling himself Catholic or Christian.

Deacon Francis...AKA ThomasMore

[Preachin']

There'll be a great backlash against Kerry by the New Emgland Catholics come election day. /sarcasm

[cynicom]

Kerrys Rabbi is not gonna like this.

[RonDog]

Indexing related threads - for future reference:

Diocese gives nod for Kerry to receive Eucharist
			Posted by delacoert On News/Activism 04/10/2004 10:40:32 AM PDT with 14 comments The Boston Herald ^ | April 10, 2004 | Eric Convey
Chicago cardinal [George] would not withhold Eucharist [Kerry]
			Posted by Polycarp IV On News/Activism 04/10/2004 8:53:44 AM PDT with 63 comments CWNews.com ^ | Apr. 09 | CWNews.com
Diocese gives nod for Kerry to receive Eucharist
			Posted by Fifthmark On Religion 04/10/2004 8:39:21 AM PDT with 6 comments The Boston Herald ^ | April 10, 2004 | Eric Convey
Chicago Cardinal would not withhold Eucharist
			Posted by Canticle_of_Deborah On Religion 04/09/2004 4:15:11 PM PDT with 16 comments CWNews ^ | April 9, 2003
Bishop Bruskewitz will deny Kerry the Eucharist
			Posted by johnb2004 On Religion 04/07/2004 10:39:21 AM PDT with 33 comments www.renewamerica.us ^ | April 6, 2004 | Barbara Kralis