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E-mailBishop slams Kennedy after Senator’s son reveals Communion ban
Published Monday, November 23, 2009, 7:56 AM
Updated Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 12:56 PM
No winners here: Bishop Tobin of Rhode Island who has banned Patrick Kennedy from Communion over Kennedy's position on abortion
- Original report / Bishop bars Patrick Kennedy from Communion over abortion stance / Click here
- Story / Vicki opens up to Oprah about her late husband Teddy Kennedy / Click here
- Niall O'Dowd / No winner in Kennedy - bishop standoff / Click here
Bishop James Tobin of Rhode Island has slammed Congressman Patrick Kennedy after he revealed that Tobin has banned him from receiving communion because of his abortion stance and his criticism on the Catholic Church lobbying on the health care bill.
“I am disappointed that the Congressman would make public my pastoral and confidential request of nearly three years ago that sought to provide solely for his spiritual well-being,” said Bishop Thomas Tobin in a strongly worded statement on Sunday.
“I have no desire to continue the discussion of Congressman Kennedy’s spiritual life in public.
“At the same time, I will absolutely respond publicly and strongly whenever he attacks the Catholic Church, misrepresents the teachings of the Church or issues inaccurate statements about my pastoral
ministry.”
The public bitterness came yesterday after Kennedy, 42, told the Providence Journal newspaper that Tobin has barred him from receiving communion “because of the positions that I’ve taken as a public
official.”
Kennedy has criticized the church over its insistence on anti-abortion provisions in the health care bill currently before Congress which Kennedy believes may endanger passage of the bill.
“I thought they were pro-life. If the Church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health-care reform because it’s going to provide health care that (is) going to keep people alive,” Kennedy told the Catholic News Service in October in an interview.
Tobin vowed to “continue to pray - sincerely and fervently - for his conversion and repentance, and for his personal and spiritual well-being.”
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Posted by BishopSean on Jan 21, 2010, 07:46 PM ESTDear Newyorklass,
I would respectfully draw your attention to the fact that the USA was founded as a Christian nation and the underlying moral philosophy of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution is Judeo-Christian moral philosophy. This has given us the greatest freedoms and prosperity of any nation in recorded history. We were not founded as a secular humanist nation (as were the USSR and Red China, etc.) and at very most 15% of Americans would identify as non-theist secular humanists. Secular humanism is defined as a non-theistic religion according to the 1961 Supreme Court Decision Watkins v. Torcaso. I think you will agree that the only thing worse than having the majority dictate to the minority, is having the minority dictate to the majority. It is not wrong for Roman Catholic Bishop Tobin to disassociate his church (I am of another Church--not at all a rich church, mind you) from the public statements of self-declared Roman Catholic statesman, if his statements are diametrically opposed to foundational Roman Catholic (and Christian) moral teachings. If Sen. Kennedy must, in conscience, hold opposing views, he should have the integrity and courage to publicly disassociate himself from the Roman Catholic Church, or any other Church that believes in orthodox Biblical theology. I am sure that his loyal constituents would advise Sen. Kennedy in this same way. It would appear that perhaps your moral views and my moral views differ. So whose are right? I would suggest that ours are right--and ours are those upon which the USA were founded, as noted above. Thank you for reading my comments.
Posted by newyorklass on Dec 04, 2009, 11:18 AM EST
Here we go again -- these righteous bastards -- sitting on their gold thrones. It happened, Kennedy spoke about -- good for him. I always thought that Church and State were separate entities -- am I wrong here???? Kennedy is doing his job -- and that's representing the public that put him there. Get over yourselves -- all religious zealots -- you don't belong in politics.
Posted by kickstar on Dec 03, 2009, 05:57 AM EST
Take the plank out of your own eye you arrogant bollix before you go looking at the speck in anothers, You are a bishop in the international church of buggery and child abuse So DEAL with That.
Posted by MotherIrish on Nov 30, 2009, 09:26 AM EST
Well lahallberg, I am not Roman Catholic so I do not have to explain why that church is so wealthy. If you are, then you need to start a program to get the Vatican to relief itself of some of its wealth. If the Kennedy's want to show their support of the down trodden, if they want to have health care for all, if they want so many others have 'rights' then they should be willing to give their wealth up to the downtrodden. Now Ted never held a job out in the market place of business - his business was to suck off the American people. IF he had the same Medicare insurance that I have and what it will become due to his influence, he would have been a dead man long before.
If they all want to be Roman Catholic, then you have to abide by the tenants of the religion. If not, get out and be something else, if anything at all. Do not give lip service. I think the Bishop is right and applaud him for standing up to the Kennedy clan. We need more people like him who stand up and speak out. By the way, I am only a poor Presbyterian.
Posted by JamesNoel on Nov 28, 2009, 04:19 PM EST
If you wish to call yourself Catholic then prepare to abide by the beliefs of the Church and her episcopal leaders, who after all were charged by Christ to lead men to eternal salvation. There's a place for those who call themselves Catholic, but adamantly and publicly refuse to follow the teaching of the Church-it's called protestantism. I'll leave it to those "ex-catholics" to select any one of hundreds of more liberal churches to accomodate their misguided conscience.
Posted by liseuxx on Nov 27, 2009, 09:37 PM EST
Way to go, Bishop Tobin. Much of the American Church is backing you!
Posted by andydonegal on Nov 27, 2009, 02:30 PM EST
What utter Episcopal arrogance! How dare anyone interfere in the relationship between a believer and his or her God.
God is more than capable of dealing properly with the matter and certainly doesn't need an assistance!
Posted by vincentruane on Nov 26, 2009, 12:06 PM EST
Since when did Separation of Church and state mean help kill your fellow country men and women. Note these words of the American Constitution. "We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness." and the words of The Fourteenth Amendment: "The due process clause of The Fourteenth Amendment adopted in 1968, states "Nor shall (any State deprive any person of life,) liberty, or property without due process of law." Attempts to pass into Federal law the use of taxpayers money to finance the killings of your fellow country men and women no matter how young they are through abortion is illegal and unconstitutional. It is also a direct government attack on the beliefs of Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and quite possibly many other religions too. Also politicians who support laws to kill there fellow country men and women through abortion, (which is the killing of a weak and defenseless growing human being) are guilty of receiving salaries under false pretence's and if the American President tries to bring into law the Federal Use of taxpayers dollars to finance the future killings of millions and millions of America's future men and women though abortion, he can be impeached on this crime against American humanity alone.
Posted by HorsesInMidstream on Nov 26, 2009, 10:27 AM EST
Darn it, JeanneTherese, that pesky caps lock key got stuck again.
The good bishop is fried because his attempt to browbeat an elected representative has been made public. This is an organization that would not have any of us permitted to use "artificial" birth control. So any of you that support the bishop, but have used the odd condom or pill or other device, should realize that you are not RC any more, under the bishop's interpretation. Or is he just being selective in a medieval attempt to restore the RCC's former ability to control every aspect of our lives? How many other RCs who support abortion rights, or have had abortions have been sent "THE LETTER?"
Hurrah for Rep. Kennedy and for all other politicians who represent all the people.
Posted by willieboy on Nov 25, 2009, 07:35 PM EST
Oh well Kennedys will be Kennedys. Bad BOYS all. Its a shame.
Posted by lahallberg on Nov 25, 2009, 04:07 PM EST
I completely agree with "irishathens" and Italy's statement to the Vatican..."look after our souls not our politics". I am a strong believer in the separation of church and state and believe that the Catholic church has become far too controlling. And to "MotherIrish"...am I to understand that you are critizing the Kennedy Family for being rich? That family has donated much in both service and dollars to this country. If being rich is a bad way of life to you, then how do you justify the wealth of the Catholic Church?
Posted by MotherIrish on Nov 25, 2009, 03:21 PM EST
The Kennedy family for the most part starting with Joe, down to John and Ted and now this Kennedy are a bunch of hypocrites. They speak out of both sides of their mouths. If they are for the poor and downtrodden, give up your rich way of life. Christ asked a young man to do this and the man could not. Neither can the Kennedy's. If they can not live by the rules & tenants of the religion, go elsewhere.
The Kennedy's are really rich scum of the earth.
Posted by irishathens on Nov 25, 2009, 12:31 PM EST
This whole rigmarole makes me very angry...Quite a few readers think that Kennedy should say nothing "put up and shut up" Please for one minute sit back and look at what you are defending. The church for centuries was able to bully and abuse people because they knew that nobody would talk through either shame or fear. We all know the saying "you shouldn't wash your dirty laundry in public" I however disagree and admire people who have the courage to expose bishops, priests and nuns. Bishop Tobin sadly,only regrets that his words have been made public. He has not appologised to the American people for trying to influence the manner in which the senator votes by withholding communion.This to me is a form of emotional blackmail. Plus, more importantly, he tried to influence a decision that is purely governmental.Do we want to arrive at a stage where we will no longer be able to elect practising Catholic politicians, who for spiritual reasons are practically obliged to follow the politics of the Vatican. I nearly said Rome..but remembered that Italy as a whole firmly told the Vatican that it was not Rome and to "look after our souls not our politics". Tobin states that he is praying for the senators "conversion and repentance" Again the emotional blackmail tactic. I suggest the Bishop spends his time praying for his own soul and tending to the spiritual needs of his diocese and leaving political decisions to democratically elected people.
Posted by jamthecat on Nov 25, 2009, 11:37 AM EST
I'm not Catholic so I got no dog in this race, but I have to say -- the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church is legendary, and Bishop Tobin's "shock" at it being revealed he told Kennedy not to have communion is so transparent, it's laughable. Just as laughable as the church's shock at realizing the sexual abuse of a child was illegal and its demand that it be allowed to do whatever it damned well wants with government funds, even if it violates government tenets. I have yet to see that church take any real responsibility for its actions and doubt I ever will, so the bishop can whine and complain all he wants, he gets zero sympathy from me.
Posted by DrArthurIde on Nov 25, 2009, 10:43 AM EST
The Roman Catholic church can create conditions it feels will enhance its congregants spirituality, but once a bishop or priest makes a political statement, that cleric is no longer an religious pastor but the agent of a foreign country (Vatican City) and is therefore no longer entitled to speak without losing the church's tax exempt status. Thomas Jefferson worked hard to build a strong wall separating state and church, and the USA has benefited from it, while other states where the church is powerful and controls (or controlled) governments (such as Spain and Italy, and even Ireland) the people have suffered, for not all citizens are Catholics nor do all Catholics agree with public policy. Individual faith is one thing, but decreeing action in a public specter makes the bishop of Rhode Island one of the worse representatives of the Church and he should be excommunicated and removed from office and house. He is a disgrace to democracy and the USA. Representative Kennedy represents his constituents--and has done a good job--as not only are they not all Tobineque catholics nor even Catholics and he must represent everyone. Tobin is a throwback to the dark days of the Inquisition and must go.
Posted by joanmoody on Nov 25, 2009, 10:07 AM EST
Kennedy made the mistake of publicizing a very private communication between the Bioshop and himself. The Bishop made the request to Kennedy in private correspondence and Kennedy's big mouth made a mountain out of a molehill. On stuff like this since it does not reflect their covernment responsiblities, why can't the Kenndy's shut up?
Posted by PatrickLee on Nov 25, 2009, 10:00 AM EST
If Kennedy had the spine... he would leave the Catholic Church. ...and hopefully if Kennedy keeps up the negative crapola, he gets ex-communicated. It is not blackmail for the church to "bar" anyone from receiving communion because of their support on abortion. Kennedy stated “because of the positions that I’ve taken as a public official.” That is not true, it is because of his stance as a Catholic and a poor one at that.
Posted by Padraig8 on Nov 25, 2009, 09:40 AM EST
I think that the refusal of Communion is Blackmail.
the Bishop is trying to control legislation,that is
Blackmail pure and Simple.
Posted by liseuxx on Nov 24, 2009, 10:14 PM EST
I disagree that it is only personal. Kennedy made his remarks publically, and he is giving public scandal by saying that abortion is okay and still claiming to be a Catholic in good standing.
Posted by CalPa82 on Nov 24, 2009, 02:41 PM EST
This is a personal issue between the church and congressman kennedy. kennedy brings something that occurred approximately 3 years ago and makes it public. He deserves to be slammed. He also screws up the message. It was a request, not mandatory.
Bishop Tobin has done his job!
Everytime kennedy tries to bash the church, it backfires. he is crying about the fact tha Bishop Tobin stands up to him.
BTW, kennedy has gone on record stating "I never worked a [bleeping] day in my life". And he is proud of it! Way to go RI, you elected this idiot.
Posted by vincentruane on Nov 23, 2009, 07:54 PM EST
May the over 70 million weak and defenseless growing human beings killed in America's abortion holocaust, whose killings were and are strongly supported by the majority of the democratic party-RIP.After God eventually cleans up this earth and pupils in classrooms of the future ask,How could a politician have strongly supported the killing of millions of his own country men and women and still claim he believed in democracy? Or how could anybody have claimed to be a Catholic, Jew or Protestant and publicly support an abortion holocaust that was killing millions and millions of defenseless human beings when one of God's Ten Commandments was 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' If the teacher answered his pupils by saying they didn't know God or they forgot about God!Would he or she be right?
Posted by kickstar on Nov 23, 2009, 02:39 PM EST
The Catholic Church's position on Abortion is a legitimate one and a lot of people are supportive of its' long held Anti Abortion stance, I guess if you want to be a RC you have to go along with the Whole Package.
Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 23, 2009, 02:29 PM EST
Paedophile comments are really childish and not fair to the Catholic Church, but comments like that made by divilment are appropriate, correct, and justifiable. As for Jeanne therese, jut drivvel, pure drivvel. continue with your delusions
Posted by divilment on Nov 23, 2009, 12:05 PM EST
A tired, jaded, patriarchal, secretive organisation that has colluded in perpetrating some of the most horrific crimes, is upset by particular positions taken by a democratically elected politician. Who cares?
Posted by tomgallagher on Nov 23, 2009, 11:17 AM EST
Mr. Tobin should seriously consider getting his head out of his butt. I guess the RC has brought all the pedophiles in it's employ to justice, that is why it can move on the really really serious stuff lick this. Oh please.
Posted by athlonejackie on Nov 23, 2009, 10:43 AM EST
And the Catholic Bashing continues-issue after issue
Posted by scarab23 on Nov 23, 2009, 09:50 AM EST
This bishop fellow is a fool. This "church" has acted like a monster for generation after generation. I am completely baffled that there is anything it has that anyone wants. Religion is for those who are afraid of going to hell... spirituality is for those who have already been there. The catholic church is hell, and I am so darned happy to say I left all my religion there. FTCC!
Posted by JeanneTherese on Nov 23, 2009, 09:03 AM EST
HURRAH! HURRAH! for the Bishop and any other Bishops that stand up for the faith. The Kennedys hve been put on a pedastal for tooooooooooo many yearssssssssss...!Patrick kennedy is following in the footsteps of deceased Ted Kennedy..they are both wrong....they are FOR abortion and should not be recognized as practicing Catholics. Both have scandalized many by their pro-abortion, same sex marriage, homosexual approval etc. which is not only the present Catholic teachings but in the Bible.....Sodom and Gomorrah were DESTROYED by GOD for the same moralistic agendas. Senator Ted Kennedy's Mass was a pitiful shame and scandalized many by the show?? of acceptance of Ted Kennedy's life. Many supporters at the funeral should be ashamed for the SPEECHES/EULOGIES of Ted Kennedy that were politically inclined to have millions of people ACCEPT the erroneous Health Care Reform now in the Senate. This reform will bankrupt our beautiful USA...Health reform should be initiated BUT, BUT, BUT by the private sector. We have a responsibility for our own health care...not by the government....this will lead to Socialistic Government and NOT the DEMOCRACY that has been our government given by our forefathers. SHAME ON OBAMA, THE KENNEDYS, THE PELOSIS, THE REIDS AND THE DEMOCRATS and ALL who are backing this bill that will put our children and grandchildren in DEBT for years, if not bankrupting us before that. WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE TED KENNEDY....HE HAS ALREADY BEEN JUDGED BY GOD THE IMMEDIATE TIME HE DIED...I HOPE GOD WAS MERCIFUL TO HIM.....AS TED WAS TO THE 4,400 BABIES ABORTED DAILY IN THE USA....BUT GOD IS ALSO JUST....I HOPE THOSE MILLIONS OF BABIES AND MARY JO MET HIM AT THE GATE WITH GOD AND BLOCKED HIS ENTRANCE. THAT IS TRUE JUSTICE NOT LIKE OUR BLIND JUSTICE!!! PEACE AND GOD BLESS AMERICA....THE AMERICA THAT I HAVE KNOWN...NOT THE ONE THAT SOCIALISTS ARE CHANGING.
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