Abortion and rites: Tough choices for Catholic leaders and politicians

The Union Leader ^ | April 17, 2004 | CHARLOTTE ALLEN

[A.A. Cunningham]

Unlikely. If he had then the press would have been notified by one of his lackeys.

[Aquinasfan]

Selective application of a set of rules makes the enforcement of those rules seem fickle.

The canonical penalty of excommunication is applied for pastoral reasons. The object of excommunication is to awaken the sinner to the fact that he is committing a grievous sin, or advocating an evil, and so is placing himself outside of the Church. So the application of the penalty is a matter of prudential judgement.

[A.A. Cunningham]

According to the Catholic League there is no proof, and Kerry hasn't provided any, that an annulment was granted.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

He should be refused the Eucharist also based on his marital situation, divorced and remarried (no annullment), as well.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

I disagree with the title of the article. The choices are simple in that the righteousness of the choices are clear. Unfortunately, it's the politics behind the choices that complicate matters for our leaders.