According to projo.com, Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has forbidden Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy to receive the Roman Catholic sacrament of Holy Communion because of his advocacy of abortion rights.
Patrick Kennedy, the former president John F. Kennedy´s nephew and son of the late senator Edward Kennedy, said to the local press that “the bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion.”
Thomas Tobin, expressed his “disappointment” and “surprise” at Kennedy’s decision to make public a matter that was private and aimed at his spiritual well-being
Kennedy also said that Bishop Tobin allegedly explained the penalty by telling him “that I am not a good practicing Catholic because of the positions that I’ve taken as a public official.”
Kennedyy declined to say whether he has obeyed the Bishop’s request.
After the press got wind of the PR disaster, Bishop Tobin issued a statement clarifying the terms of his decision.
“I am disappointed and really surprised that Congressman Patrick Kennedy has chosen to reopen the public discussion about his practice of the faith and his reception of Holy Communion. This comes almost two weeks after the Congressman indicated to local media that he would no longer comment publicly on his faith or his relationship with the Catholic Church,” Bishop Tobin writes.
Church Asks Patrick J. Kennedy To Forego Communion
Good for you, Patrick Kennedy! I think you are right. What would be the difference between Christians or Muslims controling our lives and beliefs? This would quickly become a police state.
I hope rep P Kennedy will have time to meditate about his total life. Rep P. Kennedy you are one and indivisible human person. Hence, you either love Christ or hate him. You cannot serve both God and the world. You cannot be Christian on Sunday and murderer on weekdays. May God help you. I will be praying for you.
To Rev. Ogundare: Communion is not a Catholic, Baptist, Methodist or any other denominationl entity. Communion was ordained by Jesus (God), who stated quite succinctly,” as often as you do this, do it in rememberance of me”. I do not know what Bible you read, but those are words from the Holy Bible. How can any Church, denomination or person reject the Word of God and continue to consider themself (selves) as Christians? Ask yourself just what did Jesus come down to earth for? My concrete understanding is, His coming was to forgive sinners like you and me. Who then are we to denigrate another who does not play by our so-called rules? Jesus also said, “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”. No one, but no one, is in a position to deny another Communion, regardless of their so-called title or position in the Church. Remember, Jesus came to serve, not to be served.
Finally a true Christian! Congratulations John.
John, PK not being allowed to receive communion is not a communion “rights” matter. Receiving Christ in communion is the center and soul of Catholic Mass; one must come to it without sin. Indeed you quote from the Bible; good for you. Try this one, too: “Thou shalt not kill.” Clearly, as abortion is murder, one cannot be Catholic and be pro-abortion (or pro-capital punishment);to do so violates this commandment. If PKs thinks killing babies is not covered under the commandments (by the way, they are not called “suggestions”), he should quit pretending to be Catholic and announce his agnosticism. The rest of us are tired of trying to justify this type of “Catholic” behavior. What does this behavior say to non-believers who witness those who profess to be Catholic as they pick and choose which parts of the Bible they will follow? I say good for Rev. Ogundare.
To John,
I am not sure what bible you are reading either! But, I hope we are reading the same one! One does not practice religion in their heart and not in their mind. The two have to be in syc with each other in order for the rest of the body to follow. To be pro abortion is breaking the sixth commandment “though shalt not kill” and any “christian” person that is serving and passing laws for the supposedly public good by advocating breaking a commandment over and over again is not a christian, but a hypocrite! From King James version: John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments”. Our country is in a total state of spiritual chaos because we no longer follow or demand that that our governement govern based on spiritual principles that our founding fathers provided for us! And this comment is not advocating a state run church, but governing basis right and wrong and not pandering to special interests that we all have to live by in order to be lawful. There comes a time when mortal men and women have to make a choice between God’s law and man’s law. At least the catholic church is finally standing up to it’s own doctrine and calling out one of our elected elitest. The church should have done the same thing with Sen. Ted Kennedy as he was declorated as the champion of abortion rights in this country and I think he did it for power! He certainly didn’t do it to obey the sixth commandant or to protect the unborn and that is another thing we could discuss here regarding the bible…..but I think I have provided something for everybody to think about. One last thing, I do agree with you that we all sin everyday and should be praying for forgiveness and we are suppose to correct and abstain from sin. How does advocating abortion save a person’s soul? Wouldn’t you rather error to the spritual side, just in case christainty is right?
John I thought your comment was very interesting. Can you show me where in Holy Scripture that Word of God gives individuals the authority to interpret Holy Scripture. And if so please send me the information. Thanks James
Holy Mother of God!!! I pray for nuns like Rev. Francis-Mary Ogundare………..brainwashed!!! I was brought up Catholic and once I was old enough to differenciate between the word of God and the dogma of those that turn the Word of God into whatever suits them best, I became a spiritual human being who will take communion on occassions when I am attending a service be it in a Catholic Church or a Christian service of many other faiths that believe in and serve God. I believe that God will decide my eternal life not man or woman, especially those who are devious and perverted (Catholic priests by the thousands!!!probably Bishops too but they hide behind each other with their secrets). I am sure there are many nuns who are less than stellar in their lives as well. Remember, we all are sinners according to the bible. Patrick Kennedy is one of the most honest and forthright members of the Catholic Church. He tells it like it is and does not hide his views as many of the cloth do!! Bravo for your honesty Representative Kennedy and let us not allow the Church (any Church) to tell us how to live our lives!!
We, in America, laughed out loud when the president of Iran said that Iran doesn’t have homosexuals, lesbians, but the failed to realize that being Iran, supposedly, a theocracy, he has to go with religion and leave politics at the door. The same happens with the catholic church. Abortion, homosexuality are sins, then it’s obvious that the church can’t condone sin, even if those two sins become popular. Being popular or politically correct has nothing to do with religion, the truth, church canon do and it’s up to the representatives of the catholic church to be counselors to help us reach the kingdom of God. A catholic person can’t claim to be catholic, on one hand, and commit, un-repented, sins galore. The only part of this dilemma I don’t agree with is the part about individual responsibilities. Rep. Kennedy is and will the the one to answer for his sins, not the cardinal. The cardinal should state his position, which is and should the chuch’s, and leave at that. On the day of reckoning is Mr Kennedy who has to answer, not the cardinal, but also, I see that the cardinal, for being Kennedy a public figure, is causing scandal to other catholics with his positions and we also know what Christ said about those causing scandal. I know that rep. Kennedy has to defend certain positions to stay a representative, but I think he, for political reasons made the cardinal’s letter public and he shoudln’t have. The only solution for Mr Kennedy is to let the issue(s) die and refrain from going to communion.
It appears that the Kennedy family, as a collective group, has great faith and strongly believes in the teachings of our Lord, albeit they, as all humans, often fail to follow them. I can therefore only surmise, as I am not a public official, that the often dichotomous task of serving rules set down by Church hierarchy and God’s people (from all religious and non-religious backgrounds) is an arduous one. Abortion is a multi-faceted subject that affects a plethora of issues, quite a few of them, legal. As a servant of the people, Congressman Kennedy must follow the laws of the United States. While he should maintain his moral compass, he must make legislative decisions based on facts, judgment, logic and the law. This country has a legally defined separation between Church and state, which is found in the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Christ said, “Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and unto God what is God’s”. Arguably, then, the Constitution and Christ’s teachings are not mutually exclusive. In my opinion, it takes tremendous courage to take a stand on an issue such as abortion, knowing the repercussions it may have on your religious life. But courage is exactly that, isn’t it? While Bishop Tobin can revoke Congressman. Kennedy’s act of receiving communion, I am not certain (not being a cannon lawyer) whether he can unilaterally rescind the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which appears to be what Bishop Tobin has done. It is shamefully ironic that a Church that allows its disturbed and sick priests to destroy the emotional and spiritual lives of young boys and girls allows its representatives to stand on the proverbial pulpit and linearly direct its congregants to fulfill their civic duty on ONE issue. God has two commandments: 1. Love the Lord; and, 2. Love one another. I choose to live by those two Commandments and to ignore those alleged “Christians” who through their hatred, intolerance, and misguided judgment are the antithesis of the Holy Trinity. I too pray for Congressman Kennedy and most definitely for Rev. Ogundare, who may truly find the light of God. By the way, Jesus Christ, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, all of the Catholic saints and those individuals who daily give of themselves to others must be scratching their head at the counterintuitive comment made by Rev. Ogundare, “You cannot serve both God and the world.”
pat you suck after two weeks you broke your word on not talking can the people trust you to keep you word on anything
wow! I love living in the USA where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness combine with “one nation under God” – we are blessed! Now, we take the oath of office and daily swear to tell the truth with hand held on the Bible, so it must have something to say here too. Matt. 18:15-17 gives some guidance here it seems. Even though PK may have acted immaturely, he has David’s Ps. 25:7 plea “forgive me the sins of my youth”. But, our legislators should be mature. And remember that Franklin commended the newly offered Constitution as imperfect, but not a poor effort for the young nation under God.
Why do Catholics and other Christians seem to think that it is ok to steal from God? Fornicators are not “blessed” by God with His beautiful babies. They are robbing Him of His gifts, subjecting His precious ones to sin and many are forcing others (believers and nonbelievers) to incur unmanageable debt for their malfeasance. The unborn have the right to the right life, and sometimes returning God’s stolen property to Him even through abortion (or the Rapture of the Innocents) should be viewed as absolution.