[Bombshell: KERRY not validly married?] MEDIA INTEREST IN KERRY’S CATHOLICISM GROWS

Catholic League ^ | April 2, 2004 | William Donohue

[Notwithstanding]

Catholic League president William Donohue commented as follows:

“The Catholic League does not possess a theological micrometer that judges, with digital precision, how ‘good’ a Catholic is. Furthermore, it is not our business anyway. But it is also true that we will not pretend disinterest in subjects that touch on the issue of Catholics in public life.

“This week’s issue of Time magazine says Senator John Kerry ‘sought an annulment of his 18-year first marriage before marrying again.’ News reports indicate, however, that Kerry didn’t seek an annulment until after he married Teresa Heinz in a civil ceremony in 1995. Today’s New York Times says Kerry ‘sought an annulment from the church when he was divorced from his first wife.’ Notice that neither Time nor the New York Times says that an annulment was granted. They say it was ‘sought.’

“Kerry cannot claim that this is a private matter since he publicly joked about his quest for an annulment on the Don Imus show of May 8, 1997. ‘Seventy-five percent of all annulments in the world take place in the United States,’ Kerry said, ‘and I guess the figure drops to 50 percent if you take out all Massachusetts politicians.’ He continued saying, ‘It’s one of those special Catholic things. It’s like confession or feeling guilty about things you haven’t even thought of doing.’

“On February 16, 2004, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that ‘Kerry’s office didn’t respond to several e-mail and telephone requests’ regarding the question of whether an annulment was granted. On March 23, 2003, the Providence Journal-Bulletin said that Kerry ‘will not say whether he obtained an annulment of his first marriage….’ Why the reticence, especially since Kerry says his ‘current marriage is in good graces with the church?’

“Why does this matter? If Kerry did not receive an annulment, then he is not married in the Catholic Church and cannot receive the sacraments. But even if he was annulled, did he and Teresa Heinz get married in the Catholic Church following the annulment? If not, then Kerry is not married in the Church, thus raising all sorts of questions.”

[Notwithstanding]

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[Notwithstanding]

Catholic-Kerry ping

[GeronL]

interesting

[Notwithstanding]

Faux Catholique

[SkyPilot]

I remember talking to one of the priests who was sought out by Rep. Joe Kennedy's former wife after she was devastated by the "annulment" that good ole Joe sought.

He told me the whole practice was as dirty and corrupt as the selling of indulgences.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? No annulment granted. He's legally divorced. Civil ceremony for remarriage. I don't see a problem .. except witih the precepts of his church. As to the law .. I'd say he's legally married. The church may not recognize it, but that's a personal matter.

And .. quite frankly, I don't give a rip!

[Waco]

He can claim to be a devout fag-taster, and all is forgiven. Plus he can then blackmail the church. (J.-Fing-K....No-fing-way!)

[Notwithstanding]

Note to all who will post that does not matter:

Legally, I am sure he is married.

However, this faux-Kennedy, French-looking candidate takes great pains to portray himself as a devoit Catholic.

When in fact - true to form - there may be one more piece of evidence to confirm he is a faux-Catholique.

[zarf]

Clinton gets a hummer in the Oval orafice, no one gives a rats ass and you think this is a bombshell?

Maybe if Kerry murders someone with a chain saw, but not this.

Try again.

[Notwithstanding]

Do you read the papers or watch the news?

Kerry sells himself as a Catholic candidae.

Thus, HE is campaigining on it - and it goes to his credibility and his character.

One who lies about his religion for personal gain will lie about anything to any one at any time.

CHaracter matters.

[geopyg]

"Well, first I wanted the annulment, and then I didn't want the annulment".

[Notwithstanding]

Exactly! Is there anything about Kerry that is not a quibble or worse?

[ladyinred]

And .. quite frankly, I don't give a rip!

LOL Me either! Geeze, this is the least of the problems with this guy!

[Notwithstanding]

Its just more potential evidence of his perpetual pretense to be something he is not.

If a pro-life, anti-gay-agenda republican candiate did this the "media" would be all over it - calling him dishonest, pandering, etc.

[binger]

[GOPrincess]

Well, it's not a personal matter to the Church ...but I think the main point, regardless of one's own feelings on any of the several issues involved in this matter, is that Kerry may possibly be a double-talking phony in yet another area of his life. If he claims to be a practicing Catholic and is taking the Sacraments each week, is he "playing by the rules" of the church he has chosen? Did he obtain an annulment, and if so was he married in the Church after obtaining it? Kerry is arrogant enough it wouldn't surprise me a bit if it turns out he didn't get the annulment and has been taking the Sacraments all this time anyway...if he did get the annulment, it's a simple matter to provide the date, and that's the end of the matter. What gives? Sheila Kennedy's book on annulments, SHATTERED FAITH, was quite fascinating, by the by.

[Notwithstanding]

Exactly : the religion HE CHOOSES to adhere to (or calim to adhere to. If you are a double-talking phony in that area of life then ell else out of your mouth is presumptively nothing but self-serving chatter.

Under church law, I am almost certain that a sacramental marriage is a matter publc record - in other words, any Catholic wedding of Mr. Ketchup should be documented in a record that the faithful have a right to inspect.

[kcvl]

Kerry and Thorne finalized their divorce in 1988. After Thorne requested an increase in alimony in 1995, Kerry sought an annulment of their marriage from the Catholic Church, a move observers saw as retaliatory. Kerry eventually received the annulment from the Boston diocese despite Thorne’s vehement objections. Past media reports did not indicate the grounds on which Kerry sought to annul his marriage of 18 years, after it produced two children, and the campaign also declined to provide any explanation.