[gridlock]

This ruling has nothing at all to do with Tony Blair. To put his name in the headline makes about as much sense as saying that the law of gravity prevents Tony Blair from being able to leap tall buildings with a single bound. It's a true statement, but it has nothing more to do with Tony Blair than it does to you. (I, however, can leap tall buidlings with a single bound, but that's a story for another time).

I am confident that Mr. Blair will abide by the Pope's ruling with respect. It's not exactly new, anyway. The Pope is just re-stating long standing policy.

[showme_the_Glory]

Very rough days for the Catholics. Their leadership has run amuck. My prayers are with them.

[AnalogReigns]

Since the Pope only has authority over Roman Catholics, and Blair is not one, I don't see how this "ruling" is relevant... The pontiff can forbit a priest from serving him communion, but what penalty can he confer on someone not a part of his organization?

It's up to Blair if he wants to follow Roman teaching or not.

[The KG9 Kid]

What does the pope say about tamale sales going on in the back rectory of Catholic churches after mass?

I have a pal that mentioned that goes on in his Catholic church. Didn't Jesus clear out a market at a temple over that?

[Ajnin]

Communion? Who cares about communion? If you don't handle rattle snakes, you don't have religion:)

[crz]

Interesting. Anyone who believes that Christ is the son of God and is from God must not be denied by any church preaching the gospel. Those accepting this are actually the church, being that they have the spirit within them being the body of Christ. If the believers are of the body of Christ and are denied, than are'nt those who do these things denying Christ? (The Messiah)

[ColdSteelTalon]

Why am I not suprised. Compare the doctrine of a Church with the Bible and the truth will be revealed.

[Roughneck]

The POPE is a hypocrite.

The POPE is, in my opinion, not a man of God anymore. If thats "bashing the POPE" - TOO BAD. We bash celebrities in here, we bash newscasters, we bash journalists, and leaders of free countries, I've heard name-calling that makes even ME blush, yet the POPE can not be critisized?

(Note, I've been "warned" to go easy on the POPE I was TOLD not to mis-spell his HOLY NAME or that is considered bashing.)

The POPE is no exception. He IS NOT holier than Tony Blair, he could not lick tony blairs shoes.

I say down with the POPE.

[A2J]

As much as I admire the pope's stand on abortion, he's wrong on this one.

[SavageRepublican]

On a slightly different note, I read a story on this encyclical in the Columbia MO Tribune (my local paper) that is attributed to the Associated Press. I don't know if they're misquoting, but has anyone seen anything about Catholics not being allowed to take Communion in a non-Catholic church???

Here's the excerpt:

John Paul also warned Catholics against receiving Communion in non-Catholic churches, an admonition that is likely to stir up protests in the United States and other countries where interfaith services are a fundamental part of efforts to bring Christians closer together.

Link to full story

Again, this may be a misquote, but does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[gcruse]

The Pope also made it clear that he disagreed with Mr Blair about war in Iraq.

Yeah, all those children released from prison and not a Catholic among them.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

A large part of my family is Catholic and when I attend Church with them or go to one of their funerals it is always made clear that the Communion is for Catholics and the rest of us may receive a blessing.

On the other hand at my Presbyterian Church our minister always makes it clear that all Christians are welcome at the Lord’s Table.

An interesting difference, and one that has made me keep my seat, even when a pall bearer, rather than receive a blessing where I am not really welcome.

[Paleo Conservative]

John Paul II is issuing a new encyclical that The Times has learnt will explicitly forbid Protestants like the Prime Minister taking Communion with Catholics such as Cherie Blair and their children.

As far as some Catholic theologians are concerned, Protostants are equally as much heretics as Muslims.

[BigLittle]

No Toad-in-the-holes for the Pope, either.

[Puddleglum]

The gist of some of the arguments here seems to be "We left the Church because it sucks and we demand to be able to cme back whenever we please." What, isn't the Elm Street Non-Affiliated Church of the Sub-Sub-Splintered Denomination good enough anymore?

[Kevin Curry]

On its face this is a fully defensible and proper decision. All those on this thread expressing horror that the Pope is somehow denying Blair something essential that, as a Christian, Blair has a right to are impliedly admitting that the Pope has power to "bind on earth and loose in Heaven." That is, they are fully acknowldging the Pope's authority. I'm not sure some of them really want to do that, for in the next breath they argue the protestant position that Christ intended that there be no ntervening layer of clergy and priests between Christian believers and God. If that's the case, Blair can simply act as his own priest and hold his own Eucharist at home, i.e., he has been denied nothing.

What I want to know is, why are Ted Kennedy and other brazen defenders of abortion (including late term-vivesection) considered by the Vatican to be "in full communion with Rome"?

[SuziQ]

John Paul II is issuing a new encyclical that The Times has learnt will explicitly forbid Protestants like the Prime Minister taking Communion with Catholics such as Cherie Blair and their children.

There's nothing new about what the Pope is saying. He's having to put it in writing because of the abuses by 'compassionate' Priests over the years. My b-i-l, who is a Priest, always explains before Communion why people who are not baptized Catholics may not receive Holy Eucharist, and he invites them to come forward with their family and friends to receive a Blessing as they reach the front of the line. Ecumenism isn't supposed to mean giving up an essential part of the Faith so as not to offend others who do not share that Faith.

I guess this writer was looking for a way to take a cheap shot at Tony.

[FirstTomato]

John Paul II is issuing a new encyclical that The Times has learnt will explicitly forbid Protestants like the Prime Minister taking Communion with Catholics such as Cherie Blair and their children

If John Paul really wants to be helpful to the Church, he will clean out the seminaries in the United States that for decades have been taken over by leftist apostates for radical causes such as gay clergy, church pacification, pro-abortion, and other causes that directly contradict traditional Catholic teachings. In the past few years after the pedophilia/sex scandels some lip service has been paid to these points, but not enough direct action to clean out the "pink palaces" which many seminaries have been known as because of the rampant gay sexual behavior encouraged by the leadership. In the last 3-4 decades extremist liberal thought has been allowed to almost destroy the credibility of the Catholic Church, and Rome has virtually ignored the problem.

And with all this going on, the Pope is centering his attention on restricting Prostestants from partaking in Communion. I don't think the Church has its priorities straight. (no pun intended, lol)