Posted on 07/16/2004 12:52:51 PM PDT by Between the Lines
John F. Kerry, a lifelong Roman Catholic, carries in his briefcase an unmarked manila folder stuffed full of religion articles, scriptures, personal reflections -- and a sermon the Democrat has been fine-tuning since the early 1980s.
In the latest iteration Kerry borrows the words of James, reputed brother of Jesus, to condemn President Bush's leadership. "It is not enough, my brother, to say that you have faith, when there are no deeds," Kerry told thousands of African American Christians gathered in Indianapolis earlier this month for the annual convention of the AME Church. "We look at what's happening in America today, and if you have a conscience and if your eyes are open, you have to say, 'Where are the deeds?' For the last four years, all we have heard is empty words."
The speech, based in part on James's New Testament teachings on Christian social responsibility of nearly 2,000 years ago, was revealing, overtly religious in tone -- and one of the rare times Kerry has expounded at any length about his views on faith during this campaign.
Outside of black churches or meetings with African Americans such as those at the NAACP convention yesterday, Kerry has been largely silent about the personal Catholicism that once inspired a flirtation with the priesthood and the Christian beliefs friends and family say guide his life and political thinking.
Kerry has on occasion touched on the complications of running as the first Catholic since John F. Kennedy in 1960 to win the party's nomination. While Kennedy found himself vowing that he would not be controlled by the pope, Kerry has had to explain his differences with the church on the issues of abortion and gay rights.
"There are many things that are of concern and taught by the church with respect to war, with respect to the environment, with respect to poor people, our responsibilities to each other, and I am very comfortable with where I am with respect to those," Kerry told reporters one month ago in Kentucky. "But I am not a spokesperson for the church, and the church is not a spokesperson for the United States of America."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
--Matthew 23:27
LOL, Kerry has plainly stated his personal beliefs do not guide his politics. You know, I am personally against abortion, but I vote for government sponsored abortions every chance I get.
Washington Post = Kerry's PR department. Not as bad as the New York Times or CNN or Newsweek though.
It is not enough, my brother, to say that you have faith, when there are no deeds," Kerry told thousands of African American Christians gathered in Indianapolis earlier this month for the annual convention of the AME Church. "We look at what's happening in America today, and if you have a conscience and if your eyes are open, you have to say, 'Where are the deeds?' For the last four years, all we have heard is empty words."
What are the consequences of Kerry's "deeds" (votes)?
I'll tell you, America heading over the cliff at Mach 10.
"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." MATT 7:5
No, he's happy to talk about religion when it comes to saying how the teachings of his faith mean nothing to him so that he won't act on his beliefs in public. He's happy to state that he dissents from Church teaching on the legality of abortion, same sex marriage, homosexual activity.
Here's what some Catholics think about Kerry:
http://www.catholicsagainstkerry.com/
"John F. Kerry, a lifelong Roman Catholic..."
Um, except when he likes to claim his Jewish heritage.
What's "flip-flop" in Hebrew?
Kerry's position on Christian matters is not exactly a model study in piety. Kerry does not merely hold a private opinion in disagreement on an ethical issue of grave matter. Nor does he merely not advance the Catholic position in public. He CAMPAIGNS and promotes with wild-eyed abandon perhaps the greatest and most monstrous abomination of the modern era of godless Frankenstein scientism. He is a cheerleader FOR the culture of death. For creating embryos in labs and slaughtering them for parts. He wants our tax dollars to FUND this abomination. How on earth can any bishop or priest of the Catholic Church say this is OK and fine for such a monster to receive Holy Communion???
>>"It is not enough, my brother, to say that you have faith, when there are no deeds," Kerry told thousands of African American Christians gathered in Indianapolis earlier this month for the annual convention of the AME Church. "We look at what's happening in America today, and if you have a conscience and if your eyes are open, you have to say, 'Where are the deeds?' For the last four years, all we have heard is empty words."<<
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Kerry has done zilch. At least Bush understands the Scripture and feel his 'call to duty' by standing up to terrorist oppression and persecution. I certainly hope these few words come back to haunt Kerry.
Gospel of Kerry ping.
Seems to me Kerry was in Washington for the past four years too.
"Seems to me Kerry was in Washington for the past four years too."
Right-o! In fact he's been there almost 20 years!
Douay-Rheims Bible, Catholic for you non-Catholics:
Epistle of St. James, Ch 1 verse 22-26
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass.
For he behold himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was.
But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed.
And if any man think himself TO BE RELIGIOUS, NOT BRIDLING HIS TONGUE, BUT DECEIVING HIS OWN HEART, THIS MAN'S RELIGION IS IN VAIN."
Tell me again that Kerry is not culpable for the murder of children while he speaks of a religion he doesn't observe.
"The speech, based in part on James's New Testament teachings on Christian social responsibility of nearly 2,000 years ago, was revealing, overtly religious in tone."
Man - this church he was talking to must be really on the wrong path. (It says right there - "Christian" rsponsibility...."religious" tone.)
I don't recall Jesus telling the emperor to feed the poor, etc. Jesus was talking about a PERSONAL way of life. Yes, as a Christian we can be involved in government, and can influence government. But it was the individuals, and the groups of people ("churches") that did the outreach.
Bush had the right idea (with some problems perhaps) with his "faith based" inititives to help promote churches and religous groups helping people.
Kerry just wants the government to do the deeds, which shows where Kerry's "faith" is.
"And I just want to say that I will focus my administration on jobs for Americans."
Uh-Huh! Yeah!
"And my administration will be about seeing that health care if FREE for all Americans."
Oh, Yeah! Ummmm Hmmmm! Yeah!
"And my administration will see that every child is a wanted and educated child."
Good God! Oh, Yes! Lawd have mercy!
"And did I tell you that I served in Viet Nam? Can I get an Amen on that?"
Praise Jesus! Amen!
MEDIA SUING TO OPEN KERRY'S SEALED DIVORCE PAPERS
More Bias and spin in the many newspaper articles to protect the liberal democrat. Kerry provided NO evidence of an annulment and he was married to Heinz, his second wife worth Billions, in the back yard of a home on Martha's Vineyard which is not ordinarily allowed for Catholics and there is also NO evidence of any RC priest who married them.
I wish the reporters would question him for the truth. Dream on.
Teresa on the Stump, Teresa Heinz Kerry, from Mozambique, PRO-ABORTION Catholic, UN Employee, etc.
Teresa Heinz Kerry, Drummond Pike and the Communist TIDES FOUNDATION
The Bible and homosexuality [Kerry thinks the bible is for homosexuality]
Kerry’s Dirty Deeds (How, pray tell, do they comport with religious belief
Catholic Pro-Abortion, Pro-Homosexual
Catholic and 100% Pro Abortion
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
DOCTRINAL NOTE
on some questions regarding
The Participation of Catholics in Political Life
Living the Gospel of Life:
A Challenge to American Catholics
A Statement by the Catholic Bishops of the United States
Faithful Citizenship:
Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium
Canon Law and Abortion
Sign Petition: To Excommunicate Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians
The Gospel of Life--Evangelium Vitae
Herod's Heroes, Sign Petition
Kerry, Candidate and Catholic, Creates Uneasiness for Church
A Primer on Canon 915 Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion
Catholics Against Kerry
1400 Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, "have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders."236 It is for this reason that Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible for the Catholic Church. However these ecclesial communities, "when they commemorate the Lord's death and resurrection in the Holy Supper . . . profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory."237
Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.
Sin to vote for pro-abortion politicians?
By Father Matthew Habiger, OSB
Kerry Will Hold Pro-Abortion Rally Prior to Sunday's Abortion March
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