Posted on 01/29/2004 6:30:44 AM PST by cpforlife.org
The emergence of Senator John Kerry as a presidential candidate raises crucial questions about how bishops may react, seeing that he presents himself both as a staunchly pro-choice politician and as a practicing Catholic. The issue is of immediate moment, for it is a time when bishops across the United States -- including on Kerry's home turf of Boston -- have been issuing statements or even canonical declarations warning those who favor abortion to abstain from the Eucharist.
Kerry represents Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate and hails from Boston. He has seized control of the Democratic primaries -- at least for the moment -- and professes to paid heed to his religion. "I am a believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic," he has been quoted as saying.
But only a week ago, newly-installed Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley struck out against pro-choicers like Kerry, telling a Catholic website called LifeSiteNews.com, "These politicians should know that if they're not voting correctly on these life issues that they shouldn't dare come to Communion."
Those words appear at great odds with Kerry's voting record and may put him on a collision course with the Church, should he ever assume control of the Oval Office. In fact Kerry even opposes a ban on partial-birth abortion. According to his campaign website: "John Kerry believes that women have the right to control their own bodies, their own lives, and their own destinies. He believes that the Constitution protects their right to choose and to make their own decisions in consultation with their doctor, their conscience, and their God. He will defend this right as President. He recently announced he will support only pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court. Kerry also believes that we should promote family planning and health plans should assure women contraceptive coverage.
These positions are the perfect opposite of the Church's, and if elected his standing as a "practicing" Catholic could generate significant -- and perhaps even monumental controversy -- leaving open the possibility that America's second Catholic President could become the first to be prohibited from receiving Holy Communion, the Church's defining sacrament.
Just last November Archbishop Raymond L. Burke -- now in St. Louis but at the time bishop of LaCrosse, Wisconsin -- issued a canonical notification prohibiting the Eucharist for pro-choice lawmakers.
"Catholic legislators who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion," said the notification. "They are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, should they present themselves, until such time as they publicly renounce their support of these most unjust practices." The document repeated the Vatican's teaching that Catholics involved in lawmaking have a "grave and clear obligation to oppose" any measure that is an attack on human life. "For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them," it says.
This was followed by a statement by New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes -- who less than two weeks ago said that "the Louisiana bishops are sending a copy of this document to each of our elected Catholic public officials in Baton Rouge and Washington. When Catholic officials openly support the taking of human life in abortion, euthanasia or the destruction of human embryos, they are no longer faithful members in the Church and should not partake of Holy Communion. Moreover, citizens who promote this unjust taking of human life by their vote or support of such candidates share in responsibility for this grave evil."
The need is to pray for the potential leaders, as opposed to simple condemnation. Can John Kerry return to faithful Catholicism?
Take comfort in the fact that God won't find him very "electable".
Teddy SHOULD go to Mass, it's only Holy Communion in which he cannot partake. We are ALL sinners to some degree, so we need to participate in Mass, with the community of believers. We gain strength being with others of the Faith, but we should not receive Communion if we are in a state of mortal sin. Their being pro-abortion, especially being so public about it and actively making it possible with their votes is why nominally Catholic politicians should not receive Communion.
The Canadian Trash in the governor's mansion -- Jennifer Granholm -- claims to be a practicing Catholic but the VERY WEEK she vetoed the overwhelmingly-support partial birth abortion ban, she TOOK COMMUNION in a church in Lansing and the presiding bishop/priest/Christ-backstabber didn't bat an eye.
Catholics in the state are urging Adam Maida to take a stand on this, but he's using the lame excuse of staying out of politics. Well, Mr. Maida, if Jenny wants to dabble in politics she should STAY OUT OF THE CHURCH!
Kerry has openly promised to work for the protection of the practice of killing innocent humans.
Refresh me as to what mortal sins JFK wanted to legalize.
JFK was a womanizer, which is not good, but I don't think it compares at all to Kerry's pro-depravity crusade.
Well, Kerry has clearly sided with Satan. He may have to deal with the consequences of that strange leap of faith. Should be an interesting showdown. Christ vs. Satan.
The bishops will have to decide how much courage they have to defend innocent life. Against Satan, John Kerry, and their liberal minions.
From another comment on this thread I gather he got his first marriage annulled. The annulment rules are pretty flexible, and NOT just for famous people. There's usually an argument that can be made. I'm surprised that he actually would go to that length instead of just remarrying outside the Church.
Tom Daschle didn't get an annulment, just divorced and remarried, and again, shockingly, claims he doesn't present himself for communion.
Would you happen to know of something such as a Petition to Interdict or Excommunicate Culture of Death "Catholics" that might be ramped up with special focus on pro-death politicos running this fall?
Please reread the article. The vertebrae are aligning.
The bishop of Madison Wisconsin just said the same thing last week. And, as you may know, Madison is a bastion of Leftism.
Also, based on the unequivocal sermon I heard last Sunday, the Rockford Diocese may be ready to go the same way.
I don't hear of any other church as vocal on this issue as ours.
A believing and practicing Catholic who preaches the gospel of prenuptial agreements.
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