NY TIMES: Letter Supports Anti-Kerry Bid Over Abortion (Kerry Excommunication)

The New York Times ^ | October 19, 2004 | PAM BELLUCK

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[pyx]

That would be a base dispiriting bomb

Uh huh. Only in Kitty Kelly's wet dreams, it would. The LEFT is more than happy to puke up any lie and present it as an October surpise.

[hipaatwo]

I'm not Catholic so I need to ask, if he is excommunicated can he take communion?

[TheCrusader]

"Seriously, how do you think Kerry et al will personally take this?"

My sense is that Kerry will just try to ignore it. Failing that, he will claim that there is no official Decree from the Vatican with his name on it, and he will claim it's all a Republican 'ruse'. Another angle he could use is to claim that he himself is "personally opposed" to abortion, but that as an elected government official he cannot force his personal religious views onto others, especially non-Catholics. He'll bob, weave and dance; but for certain he won't change his political views, he'll remain an abortionist.

[TheCrusader]

"I'm not Catholic so I need to ask, if he is excommunicated can he take communion?"

The answer is no, and if he does then he heaps sin upon sin. Not that he cares.

[lara]

They can't stop there. How about Dick Durbin, of Illinois?

[TheCrusader]

"If God has forgiven someone's sins, what right does anyone have to condemn that person allegedly on God's behalf?"

Nobody condems the person, he condemns himself by his actions.

What most people don't understand is that the excommunication is to bring people back into the fold, not put them out. For they have already put themsleves out.

Excommunication is issued when a person obstinately remains in sin, refusing to repent. It disallows that person from receiving Communion because that person has removed himself/herself from Christ's community by sinning and not desiring to repent of the sin. (For example, John Kerry has been told repeatedly by the Church that abortion is murder, and that he needs to change his position on the grizzly practice in order to remain a Christian). So in reality excommunication is issued as a dire warning, to help the person to repent and accept God's Commandments and the teachings of the Church He founded.

There are many examples of excommunication in the New Testament, here's one:

"And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican" (Matt., xviii, 17).

[PROUDAMREP]

Only since 10-15-04? Just sign up to pass this little tidbit on, did you?

You guys just don't give up on the garbage. However, I do know that the evil campaign tactics of the dims will create dirt and lies even if there is none. Just where is the smoke? In Kerry's campaign strategy meetings?

Kerry is despised because of who he is. Bush is despised because he closed down the DC Hilton and doesn't like to party with the elite.

If Kerry wins, the country loses.

[supercat]

"If God has forgiven someone's sins, what right does anyone have to condemn that person allegedly on God's behalf?"

Nobody condems the person, he condemns himself by his actions.

If the person continues to sin, that is true. But if someone has turned from their evil ways, and has sought and received forgiveness and atonement, I would think that such a person would no longer be condemned by his actions. Indeed, if Christ didn't come to save such people, why'd he come at all?

[AnimalLover]

Bump

[NYer]

A spokesman for Mr. Kerry, Michael Meehan, would say only: "Kerry's a Catholic who attends Mass regularly and receives communion. That explains his standing in the church."

An odd comment. Going to mass does not a catholic make. The pertinacious denial or doubt of an infallible dogma of Divine and Catholic Faith committed by a baptized Catholic, against the Faith, is considered heresy. Kerry has excommunicated himself.

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

[ThomasMore]

hourly re-posts of wishful thinking on this

This is far from wishful thinking...and the NYT is not need for credibility. Excommunication latae sententiae is something Catholics should be very in tune with and be vigilant in their own lives. There is no need for a public excommunication for someone to incur an automatic excommunication. And as extreme as an excommunication may seem, it is an act of charity that the one who has sinned so severely might be brought back to their senses and repent.

Deacon Francis

[narses]

The NY Times on the Keretic.

[kstewskis]

As usual, the NYSlimes doesn't check out all sides of the story.

This is the one time I wished what they printed was true.

bad news, everyone...

[Boundless]

>> hourly re-posts of wishful thinking on this

> This is far from wishful thinking...and the
> NYT is not need for credibility.

The "wishful" I was referring to was media traction.
And now that's in place.

Any idea why?

[Aquinasfan]

NY Times coverage. This ups the ante and, God-willing, will force the Vatican's hand for the good. We can only hope.

[AmarilloMorning]

I am not for Kerry, I have already voted for Bush. We will see who's right. If they don't drop it or something like it, you can ridicule me, but if they do, I want an apology.

[Aquinasfan]

if he is excommunicated can he take communion?

He would be barred from receiving any Sacraments except Confession if he repents. If he repents of his position and gives a good confession, he would be readmitted to full communion with the Church and all Sacraments would be available to him. I don't know if there is any formal process of readmission to the Church.

[Aquinasfan]

if someone has turned from their evil ways, and has sought and received forgiveness and atonement, I would think that such a person would no longer be condemned by his actions.

See #59