For the sake of argument let's say Teddy asked God for forgiveness for voting pro-abortion, pro-homo, etc, before receiving Communion (after all, none of us knows what's in another person's heart or soul).
God would forgive Teddy but the condition for forgiveness is a promise that you will not commit that sin again.
Teddy has to live with his conscience but the rest of us do not have to put up with the consequences of his anti-moral votes.
Kennedy and Kerry were both in attendance. The media, always eager to draw new blood, asked O'Malley for the church's position on distributing communion to politicians who support abortion. O'Malley responded with:
"BOSTON (CNS) -- Boston Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley has stated that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion should not receive Communion of their own volition, but the church does not deny Communion to people approaching the altar, presuming they do so in "good faith." The Boston Archdiocese issued a July 29 statement outlining the new archbishop's position in response to a Boston Globe article. A July 27 Globe article discussed a 1992 controversy involving a Catholic politician who backed legal abortion when Archbishop O'Malley headed the Diocese of Fall River, Mass."
Kennedy and Kerry had prime seats. Kennedy, however, left the cathedral before the Offertory. Kerry remained and received communion, but not from O'Malley.
There was an extremely heated discussion on this event in the Religion Forum. We, as catholics, would have preferred that Kerry listen to his conscience and either leave with Kennedy or remain seated during communion. However, the event marked the Induction of O'Malley as Archbishop of Boston. His laser beam was focused on the victims of the abuse scandal and his humble message was directed towards them. Kerry used poor judgement, IMHO; more than likely, O'Malley will have a little heart to heart with him at a time of his choosing.
Excellent post, Liz!