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]

I understand your concern, and I try to steer clear of specific thological comparisons myself. However, in this case, where you have a person one the one hand making a campaign issue of his "devout Catholicism," and, on the other, taking communion in a Protestant church, I think the point has to be made that, as far as Catholics are concerned, Protestants are not taking communion, they are engaging in a heretical practice. I am trying to stand outside any and all controversy when I say that, but surely you can understand the hypocricy of Kerry's action.

[RonDog]

Indexing related threads, for future reference:

Thou shalt not flub thy photo op, Sen. Kerry (Caught taking "communion" in Protestant Church)
			Posted by presidio9 On News/Activism 04/08/2004 11:24:10 AM PDT with 58 comments Boston Herald ^ | Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | David R. Guarino
Kerry’s Communion Controversy
			Posted by NYer On News/Activism 04/07/2004 11:30:48 AM PDT with 84 comments CBS News ^ | April 6, 2004 | David Paul Kuhn
Reuters PHOTO: "ROMAN CATHOLIC" John Kerry takes communion at AME Church [Is this kosher?]
			Posted by RonDog On Religion 04/04/2004 9:26:17 PM PDT with 193 comments REUTERS photo (via the Drudge thread) ^ | April 4, 2004 | RonDog

[mombonn]

``Sen. Kerry is a Christian. He celebrated.''

John 11:35 - Jesus wept.

[freeangel]

I am sure he enjoys rubbing the catholic churchs face in it all the while proclaiming himself to be a practicing catholic. He is saying to the church leaders that they cannot touch him.

[NYer]

Protestant Services
Question from Michael Evans on 09-11-2003:

I have heard many people say that Catholics should not go to Protestant services, should not listen to Protestant ministers, etcetera. Is there an official Church prohibition of such things, and if such a prohibition exists, does it still apply even if the Catholic fully recognizes that the minister is not an authentic teacher of reliable Christianity?

Answer by Catholic Answers on 10-02-2003:

Michael--

As an ordinary rule, Catholics should not go to Protestant services because Protestant services do not satisfy a Catholic's Sunday obligation to attend Mass; because those services are not the re-presentation in time and space of Christ's eternal sacrifice on Calvary; and because frequent attendance at non-Catholic services without just cause can be a danger to one's Catholic faith.

However, for just reason (e.g., weddings, funerals, non-Catholic family members' other spiritual milestones) one may consider attending a particular Protestant service as a guest, so long as one does not receive Protestant communion and so long as one also satisfies the Mass obligation at a Catholic church.

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[RonDog]

See also:

John Kerry's catechism of convenience:
Hugh Hewitt wonders if bishops will give him a pass
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | Hugh Hewitt

Posted on 04/06/2004 11:01:04 PM PDT by JohnHuang2

If you know a Roman Catholic bishop or priest, please pass this along to him with a request for a response. If they don't mind, ask them to copy me on the response at hhewitt@hughhewitt.com.

John Kerry is the second most visible American right now, and the most visible self-identified Roman Catholic in the country.

The most influential newspaper in the world, the New York Times, reported on Tuesday that Kerry had issued the equivalent of a new catechism for the Roman Catholic Church. Here are the key paragraphs:

Mr. Kerry became combative when told that some conservatives were criticizing him for being a Roman Catholic who supported policies, like abortion and same-sex unions, that are at odds with Catholic teaching."

"Who are they?" he demanded of his questioner. "Name them. Are they the same legislators who vote for the death penalty, which is in contravention of Catholic teaching?"

He [John F'ing Kerry] added: "I'm not a church spokesman.
I'm a legislator running for president.
My oath is to uphold the Constitution of the United States in my public life.

My oath privately between me and God was defined in the Catholic Church by Pius XXIII and Pope Paul VI in the Vatican II...

...which allows for freedom of conscience for Catholics with respect to these choices
[i.e., being pro-abortion],

and that is exactly where I am..."

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[presidio9]

It's offensive.

How about we step back from taking things personally and getting offended and focus on what is truely important on a political web forum. Kerry is making his "devout Catholicism" a campaign issue while he commits a grave sin against Catholicism. Whether you personally believe that it is a sin or not, you have to understand that Kerry is supposed to.

[lugsoul]

Well, yeah, it's that, too. My church welcomes all to participate fully in all aspects of the worship service. If one were to try to determine which approach is more consistent with the teachings of Christ, I don't think it would be a hard call.

[Rutles4Ever]

No offense taken at all. Like I said, Catholics need to be worried about evangelizing our own about the real presence of Christ before we need to proseletyze to anyone else!

; - )


Have a Happy Easter!

[NJ Freeper]

ping

[FormerLib]

If we look at what communion is for, why would anyone have a problem with it?

Actually, it is an important distinction here since Sen. Kerry is claiming to be a practicing Roman Catholic. Any statements or actions that he undertakes to show that he is not conducting himself as a practicing Roman Catholic would be relevant regardless of our individual religious beliefs.

Of course, the only people that this will really matter to are the sort of people who wouldn't vote for Kerry in the first place.

[presidio9]

Let's stay on topic here. This ain't about whose religious beliefs are more correct. This is about Kerry being a hypocrite.

[Rutles4Ever]

Because there is no grace imparted by reception of the Protestant "sacrament". You can march a million-man army through that chasm. Apostolic succession preserves the supernatural composition of RC sacraments.

I defy any Catholic to show me a teaching of Jesus that shows the participation in a sacrament to be a "sin" because of the time and place of the ceremony.

Silly. That's the equivalent of asking you to point out the word "trinity" in the Holy Bible. For that matter, point out the word "bible" in the bible.

Jesus didn't declare slavery a sin, either. What's your opinion on slavery?

[Straight Vermonter]

You are missing the point. Catholics believe that Jesus is REALLY there at communion. If someone goes to communion to get a piece of bread and not truly receive Jesus, that would be offensive. We Catholics welcome any who want to receive but first we would like to educate the communicant so their heart and mind is ready to receive His body.

[lugsoul]

Only if you think one is bound to accept the dogma of one's church without exception.

[twigs]

surely you can understand the hypocricy of Kerry's action.

Absolutely! And I agree with what you say. But I was responding to comments that went well beyond the point of the article about Kerry. If I begin to say what I think of Kerry and his abuse of just about everything, then I will get myself in trouble here!

[bondjamesbond]

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

When I am in a Catholic Church, I do not take Communion, because each and every time I happen to attend I always ask before Mass, and the Priest always says "No, but thanks for asking..." Sometimes they offer a blessing at the rail, sometimes not.

When we have Catholics in our Protestant Church, we invite them to Communion, but also offer to give them a blessing if they so desire. If they want a blessing instead of the Communion they are to present themselves at the rail with their arms folded over their chest. Thus it is between the individual and the Priest. This should be familiar territory to a Catholic when "on the road", as it were.

It is my understanding that Catholics are forbidden to receive Communion at a non-Catholic Church. Nobody should be offended by an individual keeping to the demands of his faith in this regard.

[Rutles4Ever]

I assume you're talking about people who enter RCIA. Non-Catholics are not allowed to receive Holy Communion since there has been no absolution of sin through the Sacrament of penance.

[TrueBeliever9]

I would just like to respectfully point out that in the Ancient Hebrew texts there was always a trinity! Y'shua came to fulfill The Law (The Word)! Prayers were said every morning by Aaron - The High Priest - in the Tabernacle for the Creator (Father), Sublime Truth (Jesus stated "I AM the Truth") and the Mysterious Holy Power of YHVH (The Holy Spirit).

[Arrowhead1952]

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.

Kerry, "Actually, I was a non Catholic before I was a Catholic, before I was a Protestant I was a uh, let me repeeeeeeet that ARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!"