AS KERRY EMERGES, SO DOES CONCERN THAT AS PRESIDENT HE MAY BE DENIED COMMUNION

Spirit Daily ^ | 1-29-04

[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?

[cpforlife.org]

Abortion is the Choice of Satan, the father of lies and MURDERER from the beginning.

[cpforlife.org]

Article: Could Kerry become the first President to be denied Communion? PING

[2banana]

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.

I hope one day the Church does get a spine but I am sure Ted Kennedy sleeps well at night and has no problems going to mass...

[AD from SpringBay]

I'm sure there's a Bishop for sale somewhere.

[anniegetyourgun]

Why would anyone think he would attend mass if there is this chance? He'll simply spend his time visiting black churches who will welcome him with open arms.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Does this mean now he is ELECTABLE?


That's what I keep hearing on TV.

[Happy2BMe]

A "President Kerry" and Communion scenario ping!

[AppyPappy]

I am a believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic,"

With two bastard children from his first marriage that wasn't a marriage in the eyes of the church.

[Just mythoughts]

Why should this be a problem, I thought Kerry was Jewish, why would he want to take communion?

[cpforlife.org]

“Abortion and euthanasia are crimes, which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to ‘take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it’” (The Gospel of Life).

[OldFriend]

Electable and presidential.....that's the phrase from the media!

[cpforlife.org]

True.

I think it was Hannity yesterday, who said look at Kennedy & Kerry together. Kerry is to the LEFT of Kennedy!

The contrasts between W & Kerry are night & day.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Good! I hope these bishops continue to stand their ground!

[dfwgator]

How did JFK get communion if they would deny it to Kerry?

[SuziQ]

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.

Well, then, that will be Kerry's CHOICE, won't it?

[hardhead]

If he were to be denied communion as 'president' that means he has been denied communion all along as a senator, right? Surely his views aren't going to be different. I'm still waiting on the first volley, a 'catholic' politician being denied communion. There is a lot of talk but so far haven't heard it being done. I'm not sure the bishops and pastors have the fortitude for it.

[cookcounty]

" ...seeing that he presents himself both as a staunchly pro-choice politician and as a practicing Catholic."

So, let me get this straight. As a practicing Catholic, he believes that aborted children are humans, made in the image of God. He believes they are sentient beings, and when their skull is crushed and their their brains sucked out, they suffer a cruel and agonizing death, alone, abandoned. His heart and soul are filled with empathy for these little ones.

But, because he's moved from his religious underpinnings, he has a profound moral duty to legalize this practice.

What a wierd, twisted, man.

[AAABEST]

Let's pray that this "no Body for death lovers" policy spreads like wildfire. I think it's wonderful.

[theDentist]

John Kerry, like Ted Kennedy, uses religion as a convenient cloak, loosened and easily discarded for political advantage. I must admit, I'd like to have a camera there if he did try to attend communion, just to see if the priest would deny him.

[The Great RJ]

Kerry, like Tom Daschle and Ted Kennedy, is Catholic in name only. Between their divorces and unwaivering support of abortion they have long ago left the Church, but will call themselves Catholic if it gets them votes. It is about time that the Bishops get some spine and publically exposed their hypocracy.

However, many Catholic clergy have long supported the liberal "social justice" agenda espoused by Kerry and the like and cannot bring themselves to support George Bush who has done more to limit abortion than any President since Reagan.