[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.”

[CedarDave]

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.

Any large donations from Heinz-Kerry to the church about that time?

[CyberAnt]

Sadly, except for a lot of wonderful Catholics I know, I think you're right.

What I don't understand is the number of "good" Catholics who support the democrat agenda of abortion and gay marriage. If I was running for office and supported abortion and gay marriage, the Evangelical church I belong to would tell me to take a hike; guaranteed! In fact, my church is full of "former" Catholics.

[Travis McGee]

ping

[onyx]

Oh yeah, but he's better than us.
He's "enlightened."
He doesn't bring his Church into politics.
Oh no, his is a higher calling.
He's not running for Pope.
He merely wants to destroy the US he loathes.

[bcoffey]

It's INSANE to even suggest that ANYONE can ANNUL a marriage after EIGHTEEN YEARS! I don't care what religion the person claims to be!

Exactly!

But since they live in Massachusetts, can't Kerry and Tereeeeesa claim to have a civil union? They could even be the poster couple! LOL

[SkyPilot]

Hey Mr. Sensitive. I will criticize Kerry. He is a slime. There--happy now?

Bu the way, the person who said that annulments were corrupt was Father Tom Doyle. Take it up with him.

[Cicero]

Most of those plane crashes were probably accidents. There's not much doubt that the Ron Brown crash was a case of Arkencide. And a couple of others are suspicious, although I haven't seen as much convincing detail on any of them as in the case of Ron Brown.

There's no doubt that the clintons had Brown murdered, along with all the other passengers on the plane. The evidence is overwhelming.

[CyberAnt]

"you're catholic by the precepts you follow, not which rituals or what you did at 10"

I'm not a Catholic, but I believe the same way about being a Christian.

Clinton and Bush show the extremes. Clinton "claimed" to be a Christian, and made a show of walking around with a big Bible while going in and out of church, while his lifestyle betrayed those actions. He drank, did drugs, womanized, cheated, lied, etc. His claims of being a Christian were a joke to the public.

Bush, on the otherhand has rarely been seen with a Bible in his hand, but Bush's actions (and signature to legislation), and his lifestyle, show respect for the Biblical principles he believes in.

You're right that Kerry cannot claim to be a Catholic and then act like the church has no right to expect him to live by their tenants. And .. I believe he should have taken a clue from Clinton's actions - and not repeat them - because the public knew it was phoney. Evidently, Kerry doesn't believe the "little people" can figure that out.

By your comments, I'm glad to see the public already gets it.

[firebrand]

No, the children are never excluded from the sacraments. There is no concept of illegitimacy in the Church. The baptismal certificate, in the line that says "father," bears the word "ignominium," which means the father's name is not known (thus the word "ignominious").

[null and void]

"Maybe if Kerry murders someone with a chain saw...." ~ zarf

Uh, yeah, that'll do it. But he'll deny it, you just know he will. ~ jocon307

Nope. He'll say he did it, before he didn't do it...

[Aliska]

This has been beat to death on a couple of other threads.

What no one has been able to ascertain with any degree of certainty is whether the 1995 wedding on Nantucket under a canopy in the yard of her home and not in a catholic church or chapel was indeed merely a civil ceremony or was sanctioned by the church and Donohue hasn't pursued it far enough.

To the average voter, this is a nonissue, but I think a person who blithely plays fast and loose with his church teachings may carry the same attitude into his presidency, if elected. It is indicative of whether he will respect the laws governing our country or concentrate on finding ways around those he finds distasteful. Which is an issue. An important issue.

[JohnnyZ]

Kerry eventually received the annulment from the Boston diocese despite Thorne’s vehement objections.

That was a story that somebody put out and a lot of other people picked up and ran with. But apparently there is no proof of it?

[ought-six]

If Kerry didn't get his marriage to Tuh-Ray-Zaa blessed by the Catholic Church, then, in the eyes of the Church, he is not validly married and is living in adultery and cannot receive Communion.

[RobbyS]

If I was running for office and supported abortion and gay marriage.... What about divorce? Most evangelicals I know take divorce lightly. The problem with annulments in the Catholic Church is that they amount to an easy acceptance of divorce

[GraceCoolidge]

I believe, however, that what BurbankKarl describes was the practice at one time. When we attended a class prior to the christening of our first child, one issue the pastor addressed was whether the parents were married in the church. He noted that "at one time," if the parents weren't married in the church, the child would not be christened. Of course that is no longer the case, but I've been surprised by how many people have posted questions/comments as to whether annulment makes children of a marriage illegitimate (the church clearly states that it does not).

[BurbankKarl]

Well shame on the Brothers of the Holy Cross! Sheesh...

[CyberAnt]

"a big no no"

And .. since when did that stop the dems from doing exactly what they want, regardless of whether it was unethical or illegal.

[ladyjane]

The children of annulled marriages are seen as innocent victims

Perhaps there is some confusion with the dispensation required for a boy who was illegitimate who wants to become a priest. Many centuries ago it was fairly common for priests to have children - although they weren't married. The church became concerned that the church assets would be passed on to these children and a number of laws/rules were instituted to protect those assets.

[Notwithstanding]

Is all it took was money there would never have been the break-away Church of England founded by the extremely wealthy Henry VIII - he of the many wives.