Bishop Tobin Responds To Kennedy

[WillyT]

Bishop Tobin responds to Kennedy
Dispute about receiving communion
Updated: Sunday, 22 Nov 2009, 10:57 AM EST
Published : Sunday, 22 Nov 2009, 10:41 AM EST
Stephanie Lane

<snip>

PROVIDENCE, RI (WPRI) - Bishop Tobin has released a response to Congessman Kennedy's earlier statements on not being allowed communion because of his position on abortion.

Statement of Bishop Thomas Tobin in Response to Congressman Patrick Kennedy's Published Interview of November 22, 2009

Bishop Tobin says:

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. The Congressman's public comments require me to reply.

On February 21, 2007, I wrote to Congressman Kennedy stating: "In light of the Church's clear teaching, and your consistent actions, therefore, I believe it is inappropriate for you to be receiving Holy Communion and I now ask respectfully that you refrain from doing so." My request came in light of the new statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that said, "If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly and obstinately to repudiate her definite teachings on moral issues, he or she would seriously diminish his or her communion with the Church. Reception of Holy Communion in such a situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain." (Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper, December, 2006)

In the same letter I wrote to Congressman Kennedy, "I am writing to you personally and confidentially as a pastor addressing a member of his flock . . . At the present time I have no need or intention to make this a public issue." I also indicated, "I am available to discuss this matter with you in person at any mutually convenient time and place. I would welcome the opportunity to do so."

On February 28, 2007, the Congressman responded to me, "I have the utmost respect for the work you do on behalf of the Catholic community in Rhode Island. . . I understand your pastoral advice was confidential in nature and given with the best intentions for my personal spiritual welfare."

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.

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.

As I wrote to the Congressman in February of 2007, and repeated in my public letter earlier this month, I am willing and even anxious to meet with him, to discuss these matters. My door remains open. However, it should be absolutely clear the Congressman himself has once again chosen to make this discussion a matter of public record.

In the meantime, I will continue to pray - sincerely and fervently - for his conversion and repentance, and for his personal and spiritual well-being. I wish him well.

<snip>

Link: http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_wpri_bishop_tobin_responds_to_kennedy_20091122

Dear Bishop Tobin,

Go fuck yourself!

WillyT

[eleny]

1. Some clerics are really full of themselves, aren't they

K&R

[Ocracoker16]

2. especially some of these Catholic bishops

[WillyT]

3. The More They Get Involved In Politics...

the less they deserve any type of tax exemption.

In fact... they could truly help the poor by giving up their tax exemption right now!

:shrug:

:hi:

[movonne]

19. and in the meantime they are having fun with the young boys and girls....

[jakefrep]

31. What the hell does that have to do with the topic at hand?

Take your ignorant anti-Catholic bullshit elsewhere.

[pipi_k]

4. Honestly, are people so enamoured of their religion

that they can't/won't say a big "Fuck you very much, but I've had enough of your crap and I'm switching to a different religion"

???


And what is up with the Catholic Church, huh?

What with all the pedophile priests, and a whole bunch of church closings (in my area, anyway), do they really think they can afford to be so damned arrogant?


Maybe it's just me. I would not tolerate any religion that acted so stupidly.

[SpiralHawk]

5. We don't need to hear from any more hypocritical 'priests'

The can just get to work excavating the beams from their own eyes, and maybe show a little respect for free will.

[HopeHoops]

6. Another chapter in the Catholic church's saga to attract new members.

How stupid can you get?

[JVS]

7. Does his original letter constitute a formal excommunication?

[FLDCVADem]

8. No n/t

[Ineeda]

14. I woul'd think that the prohibition of Kennedy's receiving one sacrament

would also apply to all other sacraments -- marriage, last rites, etc. So what's the point in remaining a member of the Catholic church? The lack of personal morality of priests who break their holy vows of celibacy to predate on young boys is exempt from 'the rules'?

[FLDCVADem]

15. A formal excommunicaton would have been

issued, with the bishop making public that Rep. Kennedy was no longer to receive Holy Communion or any other sacrament, with the exception of reconciliation.

There are also automatic excommunications (having an abortion is one), but as this wasn't mentioned by the bishop, I would be surprised if it applies.

[dancingme]

9. what about all the Catholics who are pro death penalty

are they told to stop receiving communion? Because the Catholic church is morally opposed to the death penalty.

[WillyT]

10. Great Question !!!

Anybody have an answer???

:shrug:

[FLDCVADem]

12. The prohibition against the death penalty is not absolute

The prohibition against abortion is

[WillyT]

16. Well That's Convenient For Them...

Sort of an unequal application of beliefs, no?

:shrug:

[Engineer4Obama]

27. Thats so Pope John Paul II

Don't you know this is the Age of Pope Benedict!

[malaise]

30. Great question indeed

Don't expect an answer.

[spanone]

11. it's mr kennedy's prerogative to go public with this letter. he who is without sin, bishop

when you play god, expect some repercussions

[FLDCVADem]

13. While I don't agree with the bishop's stand

he is hardly playing God - he's simply stating church rules. We don't have to like them, we don't have to abide by them, but it's kind of silly to expect him or any other church leader to not speak out on what the church teaches.

[WillyT]

17. If They Want To Keep Their Tax Exemption...

they might just wan't to keep their god damned teachings out of our politics.

:mad:

[FLDCVADem]

22. Like what he said or not

and I don't, this is no way a violation of tax exempt status.

[DaveinJapan]

40. Of course it's a violation.

The guy is trying to strong arm a public servant into changing his public policy positions by using threats of repercussions.

In other words, the church is using extortion to try and influence public policy.

Screw them.

[quiller4]

36. The church doesn't have to keep teachings out of politics to retain exemption

You misinterpret the restrictions on 501C3's. They are not barred from all political activity. They must be able to show that their primary wokr is not political and they cannot take partisan stands but going public about issues is not verboten.

[WillyT]

37. Oh, They're Getting Mighty Close Here:

First paragraph on charitable orgs:

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Link: http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html

More: http://www.irs.gov/charities/churches/index.html

[MarthaM]

21. No, what's silly is...

... how bishops like this guy apply this 'rule' in such an arbitrary fashion. At the same time that Rep. Kennedy is banished from the Communion Rail, there are hundreds in that diocese who share his views yet are able to march up to the altar every Sunday. I have little respect for organized religion anyway, but I lose even more respect when church 'leaders' politicize spirituality this way.

[FLDCVADem]

24. Unless those hundreds in the diocese vocalize their beliefs

how would the bishop know and thus issue the same prohibition to them?

[MarthaM]

28. My point exactly

Since no bishop can know what everyone's 'views' are in his diocese, he's really punishing the honest person who says what he thinks, while everyone else with the same view gets a pass. I guess the Catholic Church wants its parishoners to lie. Terrific.

Unless Mr. Bishop can act in a fair and consistent manner, he has no business making an example out of one or a few. Rep. Kennedy is a public figure, so Mr. Bishop knows his views. Is it fair, then, to punish him for being in a position where his views are known while the unknowns' views aren't? It's nonsense. And it's just politics.

Organized religion needs to butt out of politics, period. Jesus would be doing a happy dance if they did.

[azmouse]

18. Shit like this is why I'll never be a Catholic.

My husband is Catholic. I told him before we were married that I would never join his church.
I have no respect for a church that covered up pedophilia and treats women like dirt.

[JohnnyLib2]

20. Sad, sad, sad.

Publicity on private faith issues = big stink, no winner.

[TheCowsCameHome]

23. Go find a little kid to molest.

[jakefrep]

32. How is that relevant?

[HughMoran]

35. Abortion = bad (legal); Child molesting = bad (illegal)

One is illegal & they covered it up.

[LaydeeBug]

25. As a lifelong Catholic, let me find ONE Pro Death Penalty Member of his diocese...

Let me find *ONE*. rotten ass motherfucker.

[FLDCVADem]

26. And as a lifelong Catholic

I'm sure you're aware that abortion and the death penalty are viewed differently by the Catholic church, right?

Rightly or wrongly, one is completely prohibited by the church and the other is not.

[and-justice-for-all]

29. Its a fucking cracker!! nt

:banghead:

[DU GrovelBot]

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[HughMoran]

34. Burn in hell hypocritical hate monger

Burn.

[bkohatlanta]

38. Pope John XXIII loved the poor and comforted the sick and dying.

Bishop Tobin is a leader in The Vicious Christian Church. He is anti-abortion, which is quite distinct from being pro-life. More children born, lower wages, more money for the VICIOUS RICH. Starving Millions pay for Yachts and Palaces of the Vicious Rich.
Pro-Life means against Abortion, support of the minimum wage, support for health care. But mostly it means love of all God's Children.
Bishop Tobin is willing to murder 12-year-olds for being gay(the Mathew Shepard Doctrine) and kill 50 to 100 Thousand every year who can't afford health insurance.
Bishop Tobin is not pro-life. He is pro-death. Arrogant, egomaniacal and cruel, he is everything that John XXIII wasn't and nothing that he was.
John XXIII loved the poor.
Bishop Tobin Crucifies the poor.

[nini]

39. What the bishop doesn't seem to realize.. Kennedy took an oath to uphold the laws of the land

Abortion is legal whether he fucking likes it or not. Now would he want Kennedy lying during his oath to uphold the constitution of the US?

Fuck this asshole and it's about time tax exempt status is reviewed for these shitholes.