Politics cloud Kerry's Easter plans

Washington Times ^ | 4/03/04 | Julia Duin

[kattracks]

Easter is this coming Sunday and where Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic candidate for president, will attend church suddenly has become a political issue.

If the Roman Catholic senator sticks to his home Boston Archdiocese, he faces the implied threat from Archbishop Sean O'Malley of being refused Communion.

[Fracas]

Ping!

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[Liz]

I hear Kerry is trying to erase the confusion on his religious positions(s).

He's handing out the Kerry Pander Kit which includes:

(1) tonsure instructions (for the Catholic vote),

(2) circumcision directions (for the Jewish vote),

(3) a prayer rug (for the Islamic vote),

(4) an audio tape of him singing "We Shall Overcome" (for the Black Baptist vote),

(5) A picture of him holding hands with the gals in Salem, Massachusetts (for the earth goddess vote).

[raybbr]

Two months ago, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke said Mr. Kerry "must not present himself for Communion" at any church in the city. However, "I might give him a blessing or something," the archbishop added.

If he was serious he would have asked Rome to ex-communicate Kerry. This is one of the reasons I left the Catholic Church. Too much politics from the pulpit - not to mention the weekly begging for money.

[WhiteyAppleseed]

Is it just me, or has Mr. Kerry's skin tone taken on a darker shade of pale since he visited with the members of the church the other week? I think he's serious about being American's second black president. Imagine the advantage he would have dealing with foreign leaders when he meets with them and begins to morph into a shape pleasing to their eye.

Then again, maybe he tans in a booth.

[Semper Paratus]

Then again, maybe he tans in a booth.

Or maybe some dye was slipped into his botox injections he had during his last 2 hospital stays.

[Dahoser]

The victim gambit---a RAT special. They're painting Kerry a victim of the evil Catholic Church for his political positions. What's next? A tearful admission he was molested as an altar boy?

[bobjam]

I'm sure Bishop Shaw of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusettes would welcome Kerry. Kerry would fit right in with Frank Griswold and Vicki Gene Robinson.

[mombonn]

his campaign has declined repeated requests from several newspapers to show that the annulment was granted

Yet President Bush was pushed so hard about his military service record that he provided dental records.

[Mo1]

one-time plans to become a priest

Kerry actually said this?

[GraceCoolidge]

Mr. Kerry has said his "current marriage is in good graces with the church," but his campaign has declined repeated requests from several newspapers to show that the annulment was granted.

He could even just show that his current marriage was convalidated (recognized) by the church... he doesn't even have to show annulment papers. That would avoid any issues of his ex-wife's privacy. The fact that he won't provide anything certainly is significant.

[OpusatFR]

""So, the Kerry people can say, 'Why are you picking on John Kerry when there are a host of Catholic politicians who are worse, but who are still receiving Communion?' The outrage seems to be selective."

I agree. Time for the Community to put to rest the idea that anyone in a position to say, "yes," to life and all the programs that support that position through Law, and says, "No," are culpable. Kennedy, Dashle and all those who profess to be Catholic yet deny that faith in the public sphere should either leave the Church or be denied the sacraments.

Scoffing at the beliefs of the Church and yet participating in the Life of the Church is a scandal to devout Catholics.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

john kerry, the Protestant Catholic.

Wonder how many books are in his Bible?

[stocksthatgoup]

bttt

[jtminton]

Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church

That sure sounds like a lot of churches rolled into one!

[no more apples]

I have heard it said that some Bishops use the excuse of "not wanting to create a martyr" for not excommunicating a politician. Unfortunately, there are many devout Catholics who are wondering why the Bishops cannot seem to find the fortitude needed to do the right thing. Yes, the Bishops will have a lot of explaining to do to the idiot media, but they always have to do that!Excommunication, as I am sure you know, would be a perfect PUBLIC response to Kerry's PUBLIC statements on issues that go against the teachings of the Church. Then they can follow up with Kennedy and the rest. Wishful thinking at this point.

[Puddleglum]

Well, I imagine that unless he makes a public statement renouncing his former positions in favor of legalized abortion and other anti-Catholic positions, he will only receive communion in looney Catholic churches from now on - you know, the kind headed up by some vapor-headed Father Feelgood circa 1960's and the like. Not that there's a lack of those. There's always someone itchin' to take on the Vatican for a social cause worthy of a Parade Magazine article and a TV headline proclaiming "Division in the Catholic Church?!?!?!?"

[sr4402]

Mr. Kerry's marriage to Julia Thorne produced two children and ended in a civil divorce in the 1980s. He sought an annulment in 1997, two years after he married ketchup heiress Teresa Heinz.

Is this correct? Did Kerry marry Teresa Heinz while still married to Julia Thorne? That would be bigamy IMHO.

[TaxRelief]

If the church truly recognizes his marriage to the gigoletta, then it would be bigamy. If the church does not recognize the marriage, then it is adultery. Adultery is the bigger sin, I believe.