Kerry will cross bishops' path here (Denver Next Month)

Denver Post ^ | Tuesday, May 11, 2004 | Susan Greene and Karen E. Crummy

[nickcarraway]

Sen. John Kerry plans to be in Denver next month. So will hundreds of Catholic bishops. The result could be a defining moment in the presidential campaign.

Kerry's anticipated fundraising stop will coincide with a retreat at which the bishops are expected to discuss whether to deny Communion to the Catholic presidential candidate because he supports abortion rights.

"Denver could be one of the pivotal cities for him where he defines who he is as a Catholic ... and as a leader of a nation that separates church and state," said Tim Knaus, former Colorado Democratic Party chairman and a member of the Colorado for Kerry Steering Committee.

Kerry plans a fundraising lunch in Aspen, then two or three more events on June 17 in Denver, said Ed Perlmutter, a co-chairman of Colorado for Kerry.

Laura Capps, a Kerry national spokeswoman said the visit is not officially scheduled yet, but it is listed on the Kerry website.

Kerry's visit would fall in the middle of a five-day retreat in Denver of more than 250 American Catholic bishops and several cardinals on June 14-19.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops could not be reached for comment on the agenda and whether the bishops plan to meet with the Democratic candidate. Capps wouldn't say whether Kerry and the bishops would visit in Denver.

Kerry has been skewered by some church leaders for receiving Communion and attending Mass while taking positions that conflict with Catholic teachings.

A top Vatican official recently said that Roman Catholic politicians who support abortion should be denied Communion.

Sergio Gutierrez, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Denver, said Monday that Archbishop Charles Chaput "would welcome" a discussion on whether to give Kerry Communion.

Kerry, whose campaign will spend a million dollars on TV ads in Colorado this month, is expected to wrap up the Colorado day with a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser at the Westin Tabor Center Hotel in Denver. Perlmutter said he expects about 500 people will attend.

Senate candidate Ken Salazar, also a Catholic Democrat, is expected to meet with Kerry "to the degree the two schedules can handle it," Perlmutter said.

Like Kerry, Salazar has said he personally opposes abortion but believes women should be able to make their own choice.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[mallardx]

Let's get it on, Coloradans! Maybe we can hang banners from overpasses showing our views on how Kerry is unfit for office, etc. Let's make a statement! Let's run this boob out of our state. Let's show the socialists that we are not going to take this lying down! Let's get in his face and show him Colorado cannot support him...

[xsmommy]

ping

[Cicero]

I don't know if they are meeting in Denver because of the scenery or out of respect for their host, Archbishop Charles Chaput. In any event, I hope Archbishop Chaput has some effect on the tone of the meeting. He is a wonderful, solid, orthodox bishop.

http://www.archden.org/archbishop/ab01.htm

[Romish_Papist]

We need to let these bishops know where our thoughts lie. Anyone have a list of attending bishops so we can contact them?

[NeoCaveman]

Sergio Gutierrez, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Denver, said Monday that Archbishop Charles Chaput "would welcome" a discussion on whether to give Kerry Communion.

Archbishop Chaput is known to be very solid. That would make for a fun "discussion" with the heretic Kerry.

[xsmommy]

what do you know of the archdiocese of Pittsburgh? i saw that F'in and wifey were there at a catholic church and wondered what the state of affairs is in Pgh and about the communion issue.

[NeoCaveman]

what do you know of the archdiocese of Pittsburgh?

I know nothing about it. If I had to guess, I'd guess not too good, but that is just a guess based on the other dioceses near it: Erie, Cleveland, Cincinatti, etc.

[PA Lurker]

Pittsburgh is not an archdiocese. Bishop Wuerl, however, is actively pursuing an archdiocese and a red hat. This place is lousey with Democraps and I would doubt that he would make a public stand on this particular issue.

[xsmommy]

i am from Pittsburgh originally, i know Greensburg is a diocese and so was Pittsburgh. i meant diocese, i guess. i am in the DC area now and we do have an archdiocese in Washington, but Arlington is a diocese. i just wondered how it was these days on the right to left spectrum of liberal.

[xsmommy]

hey, McGreevey's bishop did in NJ and they are fairly dem there also.

[sr4402]

If the church in Colorado will not do anything, the Pope should replace the leadership.

[Mark in the Old South]

Please do not expect too much. I am afraid some Bishops do not want to take on the issue. I wonder if they are truly against abortion. I pray I am wrong.

[NYer]

Kerry's anticipated fundraising stop will coincide with a retreat at which the bishops are expected to discuss whether to deny Communion to the Catholic presidential candidate because he supports abortion rights.

This is NO coincidence!

From Catholic News Service

Kerry meets privately with Los Angeles Cardinal Mahony

LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- During a Cinco de Mayo campaign stop in Los Angeles aimed at wooing Hispanic voters, Sen. John F. Kerry met privately with Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony. It was the second time in less than a month that Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee in this fall's presidential race, has had a private session with a U.S. cardinal. At a press conference May 5 shortly before the meeting, Kerry declined to say what they would discuss. Neither the Kerry campaign nor the cardinal's office commented on it afterward. Kerry and Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington had a similar private meeting April 15, with no public comment afterward on the topics discussed.

[Mr. Silverback]

Oh man, we oughta sell tickets!

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[Mr. Silverback]

Like Kerry, Salazar has said he personally opposes abortion but believes women should be able to make their own choice.

I'm personally opposed to wifebeating, but who am I to tell some other guy how to run his marriage?

[Mr. Silverback]

Heads up, some fun for you Colorado stalwarts!

[madprof98]

"Denver could be one of the pivotal cities for him where he defines who he is as a Catholic ... and as a leader of a nation that separates church and state,"

Sounds like a plan. A plan hatched by the likes of Catholics for a Free Choice and the Georgetown/Kennedy crowd. I imagine there will be some photo ops. It will rank right in there with the gay folks spitting out the hosts at St. Patrick's.

[StonyBurk]

Who Kerry is as Catholic seem clear-- he is Apostate-and
unworthy of taking the Holy Sacrament of Communion.According
to his superiors from Vietnam-and that black gunner from his swiftboat,and the Medical Officer who treated his first
purple heart--he is unfit to lead as Commander in cheif.
But there are the jacki who will vote for anybody but Bush
simply because they have been told that is what they ought do.