Patrick Kennedy, a member of Congress from Rhode Island has been requested by Bishop Thomas Tobin to refrain from receiving Communion due to his position on abortion.

What I find most interesting about this story is that Tobin is the former Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, and he was the Archbishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh during the 3.5 years I lived in Pittsburgh.

Also, it would be interesting to know how many practicing Catholics that have the same opinion as Kennedy with regards to abortion take Communion at Mass. My guess would be that there is a high percentage of practicing Catholics(close to 50%) that take Communion even though they support a woman's right to have an abortion.

Bishop confirms banning Kennedy from receiving Communion
http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/2009/11/22/Bishop-confirms-banning/1258928353.html

Just another example of a church totally out of touch with reality.

Tinkertrain wrote: Just another example of a church totally out of touch with reality.

or people out of touch with the reality of their church

I think it may be a mix of both as i know alot of catholic's who feel the church doesnt represent what they believe but still attend basically out of habit and tradition.

CharlieHog wrote:

Tinkertrain wrote: Just another example of a church totally out of touch with reality.

or people out of touch with the reality of their church

^^^^This

Tinkertrain wrote: I think it may be a mix of both as i know alot of catholic's who feel the church doesnt represent what they believe but still attend basically out of habit and tradition.

When a church does not represent what I believe... I leave.

Catholic Church makes me LOL.

ccrunner609 wrote: I believe that if you jump into the bible one time you will find that it is not open to interpretation. Its black and white. You cant believe in all of it but pick and choose what to practice.

This just might be the funniest thing i've ever read. I suppose you burn your sheet's after your wife get's off her period and make her cover he heard when she enter's a church right? I suppose their is something later in the bible that make's it ok to just ignore those specific passages.

You'd be the most faithfull and bible observent christian i'd ever met. I'd also assume you had a chat with your neighbor's about not worrying about those blood stained sheet's you were burning every month lol.

Tinkertrain wrote: You'd be the most faithfull and bible observent christian i'd ever met.

No, I think that would be a strictly observant orthodox Jew(?)
I'm no expert, but that might be a sketchy area for Jews concerning Leviticus.

" My guess would be that there is a high percentage of practicing Catholics(close to 50%) that take Communion even though they support a woman's right to have an abortion."


Your guess would be wrong....50% of Catholics believe abortion is grievous sin under ANY circumstances. In actual practicing Catholics, (those that attend mass every week) it is higher. Some practicing Catholics believe abortion could be justified in the event of rape, incest, or when the mother's life (not lifestyle) is threatened. Kennedy supports abortion rights on demand. No where near 50% of Catholics support that.

The Catholic church is consistent with it's teaching and doesn't bow to secular pressure, persecution nor to how many idiots LOL at it's teaching on the sanctity of life.

Kennedy is no better than his father when it comes to having a moral center.

HE is the one who went public with this after the church sent him a letter informing him of their decision.

Now why do you suppose he did that?

I'm guessing to firm up his base of support among those who already believe abortion is a "right". Otherwise, why do it.

Which brings me back to that bit about lacking a moral center.

Ok, saying close to 50% support abortion was a bit high, but saying 40% of Catholics do not believe abortion is morally wrong is accurate, and 40% isn't all that far away from 50%.

Catholics Similar to Mainstream in Support for Abortion, Stem Cell Research
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090330/catholics-similar-to-mainstream-in-support-for-abortion-stem-cell-research/index.html
Mar. 30 2009

"While conservative Catholics protest the invitation of a pro-choice president to speak at the University of Notre Dame, a new poll shows that many Catholics are not on the same page as them when it comes to moral issues.

According to a Gallup poll released Monday, 40 percent of Catholics say abortion is morally acceptable. When compared to non-Catholics, there is almost no difference in opinion with 41 percent saying the same."...



Support for legal abortion drops in U.S.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15841
May 1, 2009

..."The picture for Catholics appeared to be mixed, with Catholics surveyed by Pew in August 2008 more likely to say abortion should be illegal than those polled in April 2009, at a rate of 47 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

The number of Catholics who said abortion generally should be legal declined by two points from 49 percent to 47 percent. However, their numbers peaked at about 56 percent in mid and late October, according to two other Pew surveys."...

unique_67 wrote: Ok, saying close to 50% support abortion was a bit high, but saying 40% of Catholics do not believe abortion is morally wrong is accurate, and 40% isn't all that far away from 50%.

Catholics Similar to Mainstream in Support for Abortion, Stem Cell Research
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090330/catholics-similar-to-mainstream-in-support-for-abortion-stem-cell-research/index.html
Mar. 30 2009

"While conservative Catholics protest the invitation of a pro-choice president to speak at the University of Notre Dame, a new poll shows that many Catholics are not on the same page as them when it comes to moral issues.

According to a Gallup poll released Monday, 40 percent of Catholics say abortion is morally acceptable. When compared to non-Catholics, there is almost no difference in opinion with 41 percent saying the same."...



Support for legal abortion drops in U.S.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15841
May 1, 2009

..."The picture for Catholics appeared to be mixed, with Catholics surveyed by Pew in August 2008 more likely to say abortion should be illegal than those polled in April 2009, at a rate of 47 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

The number of Catholics who said abortion generally should be legal declined by two points from 49 percent to 47 percent. However, their numbers peaked at about 56 percent in mid and late October, according to two other Pew surveys."...

What is your point? So if a majority of cathlics say Jesus is not the Son of God, does that mean he is not?

Again I will say if you do not believe what your church believes leave the church.

There people who claim to be Catholic, but do not practice their faith on a regular basis. Those 'catholics' outside of the church are certainly more secular in their opinions and would be expected to be in line with secular counterparts. Catholics who miss mass regularly are not to recieve communion anyway without a confession and intent not to repeat their sin. Kennedy could recieve communion if he goes to confession and intends not to continue to condone and ACTIVELY support abortion on demand. As Kennedy does not intend to do that, the Church is completely within its rights and consistent in banning him from Holy Communion.

I'm not very familiar with the Catholic faith. What does it mean to a Catholic to not be able to receive communion? Is he going to go to hell? Will his since be harder to absolve?

Charlie,

No, it does not mean that he is going to go to hell. He will still be able to receive blessings, go to confession, and all the other things that the Church does. Absolutions will not change.
However, if he continues to partake of communion, depending on the judgements of his Bishop, he can be excommunicated.

I believe that Kennedy is using the publicity of this to use as a political wedge. He probably couldn't give 2cents about not being able to partake in communions as long as he is seen by the public as "taking a stand against the church".
JMHO

Catholic Communion is looked at as being in unity with Christ and his Church. Hence, Christians that are memebers of denominations that are not 'in communion' with Rome are not allowed to recieve the sacrament at a Catholic mass. Likewise, Catholics that are knowingly and willfully outside of the Church's teaching with grievous sin are likewise not to recieve communion as they are not in unity with the Church.

I am glad that this bishop has taken this action. It is high time the Church starts to put into action its words/beliefs. It is incredible that so many in the Church have continued to align themselves in one way or another with the liberal radicals who have taken over our government; it cannot continue, and hopefully this is the first step of many in the Chruch divorcing itself from the liberal radicals once-and-for-all.

When Tobin was Bishop of Youngstown, he had no problem writing a letter of recommendation for convicted felon JJ Cafaro asking the judge to go light on his sentencing. Of course, Cafaro is the brother of a prominent shopping mall developer from Youngstown, and the Cafaro Family just happens to make donations in the sum of millions of dollars to the Diocese of Youngstown.

Tobin also spoke fondly of another convicted felon, James Sabatine, who admitted to engaging in racketeering activities between 1993-1999. But, Sabatine is also a "goo Catholic" who gives money to the church, and his paving company did an excellent job of paving the driveway for Bishop Tobin's house.

So, I don't want to hear all this high and mighty talk about the Catholic Church and what a great thing Bishop Tobin is doing, because he had no problem accepting money on behalf of the Youngstown Diocese and going to bat for convicted felons while he was Bishop of the Youngstown Diocese.

unique_67 wrote: When Tobin was Bishop of Youngstown, he had no problem writing a letter of recommendation for convicted felon JJ Cafaro asking the judge to go light on his sentencing. Of course, Cafaro is the brother of a prominent shopping mall developer from Youngstown, and the Cafaro Family just happens to make donations in the sum of millions of dollars to the Diocese of Youngstown.

Tobin also spoke fondly of another convicted felon, James Sabatine, who admitted to engaging in racketeering activities between 1993-1999. But, Sabatine is also a "goo Catholic" who gives money to the church, and his paving company did an excellent job of paving the driveway for Bishop Tobin's house.

So, I don't want to hear all this high and mighty talk about the Catholic Church and what a great thing Bishop Tobin is doing, because he had no problem accepting money on behalf of the Youngstown Diocese and going to bat for convicted felons while he was Bishop of the Youngstown Diocese.

None of which means (1) the bishop still isn't right doing what he's doing here or (2) Kennedy taking this public shows he's not really sincere about his faith but is using it for political means.

Writer,

This shows the hypocrisy of Bishop Tobin. And, whether you wish to admit it or not, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and most(probably all) denominations within Christianity is full of hypocrisy and corruption. This comes from my experience being raised Catholic, and being a practicing member of "the Church" until the age of 38.

The Roman Catholic Church has plenty of it's "shepherds" who do not follow all the rules, so why pick on members of the flock for not following all of the rules?

My guess is this is also true for Islam, Judaism and every other organized religion, and this is why I no longer have any interest at all in organized religion.

^^^Ohhhhh...so now it comes out.

Actually, being a convicted felon and or breaking secular laws really doesn't enter in to the Church's jurisdiction concerning communion.
I myself wrote a recommendation and character reference for a convicted felon....He was a good family man who was active in community affairs and donated tons of his valuable time to charitable works. He made a mistake.

unique_67 wrote: Ok, saying close to 50% support abortion was a bit high, but saying 40% of Catholics do not believe abortion is morally wrong is accurate, and 40% isn't all that far away from 50%.

Catholics Similar to Mainstream in Support for Abortion, Stem Cell Research
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090330/catholics-similar-to-mainstream-in-support-for-abortion-stem-cell-research/index.html
Mar. 30 2009

"While conservative Catholics protest the invitation of a pro-choice president to speak at the University of Notre Dame, a new poll shows that many Catholics are not on the same page as them when it comes to moral issues.

According to a Gallup poll released Monday, 40 percent of Catholics say abortion is morally acceptable. When compared to non-Catholics, there is almost no difference in opinion with 41 percent saying the same."...



Support for legal abortion drops in U.S.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15841
May 1, 2009

..."The picture for Catholics appeared to be mixed, with Catholics surveyed by Pew in August 2008 more likely to say abortion should be illegal than those polled in April 2009, at a rate of 47 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

The number of Catholics who said abortion generally should be legal declined by two points from 49 percent to 47 percent. However, their numbers peaked at about 56 percent in mid and late October, according to two other Pew surveys."...

In the article, it goes on to say that the figure is only 24% when "dedicated" Catholics were polled...i.e. those that attend Mass every Sunday.

Bashing the Catholic Church sure is popular lately it seems. Just saw a preview of Tom Hanks in another "bash the Catholic church" movie theme. Lot of money to be made on this topic I guess.