KERRY CAN’T DODGE CATHOLIC ISSUE - no evidence Kerry and Heinz married Catholic Church

Catholic League ^ | April 12, 2004 | William Donohue

[NYer]

“In today’s newspapers, all the buzz is over John Kerry’s voting record on abortion and whether this should disqualify him from receiving Holy Communion.  But this is not Kerry’s biggest problem with the Catholic Church.  The question of his status as a married Catholic is: there is no evidence that John Kerry and Teresa Heinz were ever married in the Catholic Church. 

 

“We know that Kerry continues to receive Holy Communion, but if he isn’t married in the Church, then he is expressly contravening Church teaching.  This is not an opinion: the operative paragraph in the Catholic Catechism on this subject is paragraph 1650. 

 

“Let’s review what is known for sure.  We know that he divorced Julia Thorne in 1988 and married Teresa Heinz in 1995.  But the Kerry-Heinz marriage was not recognized by the Catholic Church.  Why?  Because Kerry’s first marriage was never annulled.  Kerry did not even apply for an annulment of his first marriage until November 1996; that is when he started the process in the Archdiocese of Washington.  On May 8, 1997, Kerry joked about the annulment process on the Don Imus radio show, thus going public about the matter.  From this point onward, the media have reported that Kerry ‘sought’ an annulment, but there is no evidence that it was obtained.  When now asked about this question, Kerry’s staff goes mute.

 

“In Kerry’s recent book, he calls himself a ‘believing and practicing Catholic.’  If that is the case, he should have no problem saying whether he is married in the Catholic Church.  If he is, then a) he must have been granted an annulment of his first marriage, and b) he must have married Teresa Heinz in the Catholic Church subsequent to that time.  But if this isn’t the case, then in the eyes of the Catholic Church he is still married to Julia Thorne.  To say this raises serious issues—especially given his willingness to present himself for Communion—would be a gross understatement.”

[NYer]

In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation.

Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility

[NYer]

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[kittymyrib]

Hummm....is that why Teresa still is legally "Teresa Heinz" on JF'nK's income tax form? Shouldn't the church look into this little detail before letting him claim he's Catholic? He doesn't even contribute that much to the church that he should get special treatment.

[Prov1322]

Even if they did marry in the church, the bigger issue is: there is no evidence that he's LIVING like a Christian. (Not even touching the absurdity of the annulment of his 18 year marriage to the first meal-ticket...which resulted in a, now-annuled, duaghter).

[Wolverine]

Yes, I consorted with the godless enemy; what of it?

[anonymous_user]

At least if he gets a little intern-action, he won't be cheating on his wife.

[uncbob]

Ain't gonna matter

Catholics who vote for abortion lovers won't have a problem with hids marriage or lack of status

[Cicero]

I've gotten kind of tired of saying it, since so many Freepers seem to assume, like the news media, that Kerry has had an annulment. But there is NO EVIDENCE that he has ever received an annulment. IF he had, it's inconceivable that he would not have made it public.

1. Kerry is known to have applied for an annulment. His wife Julia Thorne was invited by the tribunal to oppose it if she wished, but according to news reports she chose not to appear before the tribunal or testify.

2. Kerry is known to have married Teresa before receiving an annulment. Therefore that marriage is not valid in the eyes of the Church.

3. Kerry is therefore considered to be living in sin until he receives an annulment, marries Teresa, AND confesses his various mortal sins and receives absolution. Before all these things are done, he is not permitted to receive communion.

Kerry could, of course, simply leave the Church. Or he could leave Teresa Heinz. But neither is likely, because the first would lose him some Catholic votes, at least in the short term, and the second would lose him his princely lifestyle.

By the way, Teddy Kennedy also applied for an annulment, but as far as I know he has never received one either. His situation appears to be much the same as Kerry's.

[jocon307]

I read somewhere that it is Teresa who is the devoted Catholic. Does anyone know more about this?

Of course, she really can't be that devoted either. Any even 1/2 way practicing (or lapsed) Catholic knows one must go to Mass EVERY sunday. Even if you got to another Church, for whatever reason, to campaign for president, or anything else, you must go to Mass no matter what. I don't see them doing this, at all.

Is there anyone here who is old enough to remember the days of the REAL JFK? Did he and Jackie attend Mass regularly? Or was that kind of thing just not necessary to discuss in those days? I was about 4 years old when Kennedy was killed, I was raised a Catholic, all I can remember is my own parents doing "tag team" church attendance when me and my two brothers were little.

Kerry is such a phoney, he really does make Bill Clinton and Al Gore look good by contrast. Not Hillary! though, nothing makes her look good.

[God luvs America]

John Kerry...jewish yesterday, catholic today and muslim tomorrow. By October he will have been born a poor black child!

[Siobhan]

"I am proud to be Irish! but I'm not Irish"

"And I am a Catholic! in the same way the homosexual Episcopalian bishop of Vermont is a Catholic."

[Hodar]

First off, let me start by saying that I'm not intending to be a Catholic Basher. I am not Catholic; but I do have an issue with this whole 'annulment' process.

I understant where in some very limiting cases, the annulment may be a viable consideration. For instance, in instances where the spouse is a minor, drugged, coerced or forced, mentally incapable of making an informed decision; and other things, of a similar nature. In these instances, I would say that the annulment is a fine and morally sustainable process by the church.

However, in the case of Kerry and Thorne; not only where they married for years, but they had 2 children. In this case, I can say with a reasonable amount of certainty that neither person was coerced, drugged, under-age or mentally incompetent to take the wedding vows. How then, under any legitimate condition can ANY church grant this person an annulment? If one was granted, the ONLY reason I can see is that it was bought with cash. And that would be yet another slash into the heart of the Catholic church. If one can simply buy salvation throught he church; why even put a pretense of living a Christian life?

[Cicero]

This issue will matter to at least a few Catholics. Faithful church-going Catholics would be unlikely to vote for him, but you can't count out a certain percentage who may still feel that the Demorats are better for the poor and needy. That should not outway the importance of the abortion issue, but it probably will with at least some deluded Catholics.

It probably will matter also to a certain number of non-Catholics. Many Protestants, or many agnostics who still retain some principles, may be repelled by Kerry's hypocrisy in pretending to be a Catholic when he is offending so many of the basic rules of Catholicism. Even pro-aborts may ask themselves, why doesn't this guy just leave the Church and be honest? Why is he such a hypocrite? Do I want to vote for a liar like that?

[taxcontrol]

[Please understand that I'm protestant and I'm putting my ignorance of Catholic policy enforcement on display]

So, it is my understanding that some Bishop has stated that pols that support abortion are not to receive communion. Further, with this article, Kerry seems to have violated some of the more specific teachings of the church.

Therefor, it seems to me that there is a no communion for Kerry feeling if not ruling within the Church.

My question is what tools are available to the leadership of the Catholic church to try and enforce that position?

Thanks

[Wolverine]

You are in the 'spirit' now!

[Xenalyte]

Can I call myself Catholic? I've never attended a Catholic service, or even been inside a Catholic church that I know of, but why should that stop me?

Oh, that's right, I'm not a Massachusetts Democrat.

[Wolverine]

"Whadda you mean..protect the institution of marriage..?"

[phil1750]

A Catholic annulment is supposed to be based on facts that the marriage was not a Catholic faith based marriage.
Examples would be: Not raising the children as Catholic, not attending mass, and other circumstances. The other would include a marriage between 17 year olds, pressured to get married because of pregnancy. There is a lot of latitude in the decision making however.