Catholic Church 'will refuse Kerry communion' -

The Telegraph - UK ^ | April 4, 2004 | Julian Coman

[UnklGene]

Catholic Church 'will refuse Kerry Communion' -

(Filed: 04/04/2004)

Senior traditionalists in the Catholic Church are backing a campaign over the Democrat's stance on abortion. Julian Coman reports.

A battle in John Kerry's presidential election campaign may soon be fought at the altar rail, if senior traditionalists in the Catholic Church get their way.

Priests and bishops across America are being urged by members to refuse Communion to the first Catholic to run for the presidency since John F. Kennedy. The sanction would be imposed until Mr Kerry abandoned his permissive views on abortion and other issues such as gay marriages.

The campaign - which has the explicit blessing of the Vatican - is gathering force and, with Holy Week drawing near, Mr Kerry's aides have been forced to visit churches before allowing him to attend Mass. Rome has become increasingly concerned about the possibility of an avowedly Catholic president who is both pro-choice and approves of gay civil unions.

In a surprisingly frank statement, a Vatican official told Time magazine: "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."

A team of advisers has been installed at Mr Kerry's campaign headquarters to formulate a "Catholic response" to the Vatican's concerns. In a country of 64 million Catholics, most of whom have traditionally voted Democrat, images of Mr Kerry, who regularly takes Communion, being turned away by a priest would have an explosive impact.

Father Thomas Reese, the editor of America, a national Catholic magazine, said: "All you need is a picture of Kerry going up to the Communion rail and being denied, and you've got a story that will run for weeks and weeks."

Last Sunday, while campaigning in Missouri, Mr Kerry preferred to miss a Catholic service rather than risk a confrontation with the formidable Archbishop Raymond Burke of St Louis. Archbishop Burke had publicly warned the Massachusetts senator "not to present himself for Communion" in the state of Missouri unless he dropped his support of existing abortion laws.

Catholics make up 27 per cent of the American electorate, many living in states with large blocs of electoral votes such as California, Texas, New York, Ohio, Illinois and Florida.

Since 1980, no presidential candidate has won the Catholic vote but lost the White House, with the exception of Al Gore who narrowly lost in 2000.

Mr Kerry has described himself as a "believing and practising Catholic" who is "personally" against abortion, but believes in a strong separation of Church and State. In Congress, he has voted in favour of the controversial late-term partial abortion method - - in which fully-formed babies are partly delivered before being killed by surgical means.

Last month, he enraged Catholic conservatives by voting against a bill that would have made the injuring of a foetus a separate offence in crimes against pregnant women. Aides are gambling that Mr Kerry's pro-choice stance is quietly supported by many lay Catholics.

Last week, a defiant note sounded from Kerry's campaign headquarters: "Rome may not be thrilled with the Senator's position on some social issues," said an adviser, "but the Pope doesn't have a vote in this election."

Archbishop Burke justified his stance on Mr Kerry by citing a "doctrinal note" published by the Vatican last year. It states that politicians have "a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to" vote for such laws.

Instead of attending Mass in St Louis, Mr Kerry opted for the city's new Northside Baptist Church, where he delivered a coruscating denunciation of President George W. Bush's failure to put his own faith into practice.

Quoting James 2:14, Mr Kerry told the congregation: "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says that he has faith without works? When we look at what's happening in America today, where are the works of compassion?" The Kerry campaign has not yet disclosed its candidate's plans for Holy Week, but he may be well advised not to return to Massachusetts. Mr Kerry's local bishop in Boston, Sean O'Malley, is no more sympathetic to his views than Archbishop Burke. Without identifying his most famous parishioner by name, Bishop O'Malley has said that a Catholic politician who did not vote in Congress according to Church doctrine "should not dare to come to Communion". Ten other bishops have expressed similar opinions.

Within the Kerry campaign there are rumours that Mr Kerry may yet decide to confront his challengers head-on. One aide was reported last week to be searching for a Church with a hostile priest.

According to rumour, Mr Kerry would attend Mass knowing that he would be refused Communion in the full glare of the media. Sympathetic Catholics would then be expected to rally to his cause.

However, a senior Democrat official not affiliated to the Kerry campaign discounted the "martyr option". "Frankly, going out and picking a fight with the Holy See in election year would be one of the silliest things any presidential candidate could do," he said

[madprof98]

Good analysis.

[katnip]

JFK better find a priest willing to disobey his bishop real quick since it is one of the chief commandments of the Church that he receive Communion during Easter time.

[narses]

Ping!

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"JFK better find a priest willing to disobey his bishop."

That won't work. And after said priest disobeys the bishop then what? The bishop is his boss and that priest will be disciplined. If he does not relent then that priest will have to split. He can go bye bye because no bishop has to keep a disobedient priest on. Anyway among Catholic liberal activists I can't think of any priest that is pro-choice, though some might be soft on gay marriage, women priests and pre-marital sex.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"Rome may not be thrilled with the Senator's position on some social issues," said an adviser, "but the Pope doesn't have a vote in this election."

How shallow and hollow. It has nothing to do with votes or politics.

[katnip]

That's what makes JFK's dilemma even juicier.

Any good Catholic voting for him because he's supposedly Catholic will find it scandalous if he does not attend Church on Easter and recieve Communion.

[cpforlife.org]

A Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters is must reading for every Catholic family. It is also very important for high-school students to learn this so that they can be properly informed Christian Voters. By Father Stephen F. Torraco, Ph.D.

Available from Leaflet Missal Company 1-800-328-9582 or On-line at: www.leafletmissal.org or click picture.

Cost is $0.95 for each, OR 60 cents each plus shipping and handling for a quantity of 25 (this would cost $19.95 for 25). Quantity of 50 for $0.55 100 for $0.50 500 for $0.39 1000 for $0.35

IMO--This is the most important 5-10 minute read Christians should experience before elections. It is written in the style of the old Baltimore catechism—15 direct questions with concise answers.

Please consider presenting to pastors, Religion Classes, KofC, Sodalities, etc. for widest possible distribution.

[Dan from Michigan]

My parent's views are fairly close to mine. I'm more hardline on some, and they are on others. I have more of a libertarian streak in me than they do.

The extended family is all over the map, politically.

[Just Lori]

Instead of attending Mass in St Louis, Mr Kerry opted for the city's new Northside Baptist Church, where he delivered a coruscating denunciation of President George W. Bush's failure to put his own faith into practice.



He only "claims" to be a Catholic. He may have been baptized and all that, but he's not a TRUE Catholic, or he would be against abortion. By the way, how come we get this from a UK paper? Anybody see/hear this story anywhere else?

[Dan from Michigan]

I have no idea where "Just say no Jenny"(because of the vetos) goes. If I have to guess, I'd guess Northville, where her priest all but endorsed her.

[danamco]

You cannot be Catholic and pro-choice.


What about his divorce and remarriage, is that not also an offense to the Catholic faith for taking communion? Or should he be excommunicated??

[MegaSilver]

What about his divorce and remarriage, is that not also an offense to the Catholic faith for taking communion? Or should he be excommunicated??

If he received an annulment for his first marriage, he's fine.

[RobbyS]

Add to the the "tome" of Republican politicians. Remember the flap over the Catholic candidate for chaplaid of the House and how clumsely that was handled by the Republican leadership. The only Republican candidate who has know how to talk to Catholics was Reagan, because his father was an Irish-Catholic.

[bootyist-monk]

NO EUCHARIST FOR YOU!

[Robert Drobot]

"The Catholic Church here in Boston has fawned all over the Kennedys since the fifties and we all know the Kennedy track record. "

Only because of the ties between Joe Sr., and Cardinal Cushing.

The Archdiocese of Boston has no more 'cushion' for sinners either in or out of the rectory. A new day and a no nonsense shepard. At least that's the hope.

So when was Ted Kennedy last denied Holy Communion in the State of Massapedophiles?

[Cronos]

More specifically, I'd say you can't be Christian and pro-choice-to-kill

[Cronos]

But Crisis also found that the great majority of committed, church-going Catholics are now inclined to vote Republican. The Democrat party, once the party of the worker and the underdog, is now chiefly the party of abortion and perversion.

And most of us Catholics find the GoP's policies more in tune with Christian teachings so we're going to vote Republican W 2K4!

[Cronos]

It appears that George Bush is more closely aligned with the Catholic Church than is his unworthy opponent.

Gotta agree with that.

[JesseHousman]

If he ever (and I doubt he would) approached the "communion rail" (a little pre-Vatican II lingo for those who remember), a slap in his face would be appropriate.

Not too hard, mind you.

[AAABEST]

a slap in his face would be appropriate.

You know that thingy the altarboy uses to catch the crumbs of the host? They should whack him over the head with that.

BooOO00OOoonnnngg.