Thou shalt not flub thy photo op, Sen. Kerry (Caught taking "communion" in Protestant Church)

Boston Herald ^ | Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | David R. Guarino

[presidio9]

Photo ops are the saving grace of many political campaigns, but Bay State Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] gaffed one recent opportunity - flouting Catholic doctrine by taking communion at a non-Catholic church.

The Democratic presidential candidate invited the press to services at the AME Charles Street Church in Roxbury Sunday. But the photos showed Kerry taking communion.

That, Catholics say, is a catechism no-no.

``Catholics should not receive communion in a Protestant church,'' said Sister Mary Ann Walsh of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ``It's standard church teaching.''

Deal Hudson, publisher of the conservative Crisis Magazine, said, ``Kerry's attempts to woo the Catholic voter with such photo ops will ultimately turn off Catholics who value sincerity and honesty above superficial and vacuous symbolism.''

Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said Kerry was merely participating in an ``ecumenical'' Christian service. ``He came at the invitation of the pastor, who invited all Christians to celebrate,'' Meehan said. ``Sen. Kerry is a Christian. He celebrated.''

Stephen Pope, a Boston College theology professor, said, ``As a matter of church law, Kerry broke the law of the church,'' but added that Kerry was in a ``no-win situation'' since taking or refusing communion would have offended someone.

[Rutles4Ever]

. . Kerry was in a "no-win situation" since taking or refusing communion would have offended someone.

Um... he ended up offending the only One who he needed to worry about offending.

This guy is so horribly misguided -- he's borderline evil. Perhaps not yet in the Clinton ring of hell, but he's making a strong effort.

[Jim Noble]

But it _was_ a mockery of Communion

Make of it what you will.

Our services are not mockery.

[mcg1969]

I have attended an Episcopal communion service before. As is tradition, not being a member of said church, I crossed my arms in front of me to indicate that I would not be taking communion. They knew exactly what I was doing and nobody was offended. Sometimes it's not that difficult to do the right thing, Mr. Kerry.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

... but he served in Vietnam ya know...

[Poohbah]

This raises an question from an Orthodox Freeper: in the Orthodox Church, taking communion in a church other than an Orthodox Church is effectively declaring yourself out of communion with the Orthodox Church.

Is this seen as less severe in the Roman Catholic Church?

It is a serious sin, inasmuch as it proclaims a unity among Christians that is regrettably not truly present at this time. Done habitually, it can be seen as doing just that.

[Redcloak]

"For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself."

I Cor. 11:27-29

[muawiyah]

No, actually it was Communion. Not only that, it was undoubtedly a complete Communion with bread AND wine offered to the Christians and their friends around the table.

It is necessary for all Christians to bear witness at all times in any given venue. Possibly Kerry will be brought to an understanding sufficient for salvation. At the moment he's not there, nor would he be even if he followed to the letter every detail of various church laws.

[AppyPappy]

Be serious. He's a politician. All rules are out the door.

[AppyPappy]

1 Corinthians 11

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

[Rutles4Ever]

I think he meant that it was a mockery of the sacrament of communion. At any rate, there's nothing to sacrilege since the body and blood of Christ are not present at Protestant communion. It's a mockery of his own purported membership in the Catholic faith.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you for clarifying that information about the Rosary. I thought I was correct about it, but as I am not a Catholic I was not 100% certain that I was right.

You know, this guy isn't even a good fake Catholic, since I, as a Protestant, know more about Catholicism than he does!

[tkathy]

A lot of mainstream Protestant Churches welcome anyone who was baptized. Makes sense to me.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

This raises an question from an Orthodox Freeper: in the Orthodox Church, taking communion in a church other than an Orthodox Church is effectively declaring yourself out of communion with the Orthodox Church.

Is this seen as less severe in the Roman Catholic Church?

The general answer to your question is, YES. There is one exception. A Catholic can receive Communion in an Orthodox Church if there are no Catholic Churches in the area. The reason is that the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of the Holy Eucharist in the Orthodox Church. That is, Orthodox and Catholic doctrine about the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is the same and so is the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

The reason the Catholic Church -- and the Orthodox Church -- prohibit receiving communion in another Christian Church is that no other Christian denomination believes their communion is anything more than a symbol -- with the exception of certain Lutherans at the time of Luther! In short, receiving communion in the AME Church states that Kerry endorses their belief that there is no difference between the Holy Eucharist of the Catholic (and Orthodox Church(es) and the communion of the AME Church.

[Mr. Lucky]

Participating in the Lord's Supper unworthily brings damnation.

[presidio9]

Sen. John Kerry laughs as he is introduced during Palm Sunday services at the Charles St. AME Church in Roxbury.

Senator Kerry has gotten a lot of egg on his face over this. I'm his advisors get the message and tell him "No more church photo-ops, and stop talking about your religion." I don't want to instruct him on the correct way to practice Catholicism. I'd just like him to stop talking about it.

[Mr. Lucky]

..no other Christian denomination believes their communion is anything more than a symbol.

That's not true, ya know.

[presidio9]

As is tradition, not being a member of said church, I crossed my arms in front of me to indicate that I would not be taking communion.

I have done the same thing. This is common practice. Also, not getting up for communion offends nobody. Unless you are in a state of grace, you are not supposed to be receiving communion anyway.

[presidio9]

ping

[xp38]

This reminds me of the time in Africa that Clinton took part in a Roman Catholic mass. Neither Kerry nor Clinton seem to respect or know much about this.

[twigs]

Wrong. I am Presbyterian, take communion as a remembrance, looking forward to His death until He returns, and it is NOT, I repeat, IT IS NOT, a human work. That is quite an insult to Protestant believers. I am married to a Catholic and he once took communion in my church because we open our communion to the body of ALL believers. His mother, howver, took him to task and said that to be a good Catholic, he could not take communion outside the Catholic church.