Posted by
Augsal on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 9:33:38 PM
As I write this blog I am struggling with the title partly because I really want it "say it all." I hope I succeeded. Over the last few weeks I have read and listened to the public debate between Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Providence Bishop Tobin and I must say that in almost every article and every talk show, both radio and television, I can't believe how misinformed people are on this subject. Some people, like Bill O'Reilly, a cradle and practicing Catholic, still got their facts wrong. The only person who actually knew what he was talking about was, of course, Bishop Tobin. The main issue here is this: Can a person who supports or participates in an abortion be in a spiritual state eligible to receive the Body and Blood of Christ? The Catholic Church believes and teaches as DOGMA what St. Paul says in Corinthians: “All who eat and drink in an unworthy manner, without discerning the Lord’s body eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died” (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). Bishop Tobin acted as a good shepherd should, to protect the spiritual welfare of Patrick Kennedy's soul, counseled him not to receive Holy Eucharist. There is no question as to the motives of the Bishop, but the motives of Mr.Kennedy are certainly suspect and smack of politics of the lowest order.
The other issue which is inexplicably linked to this is the gravity of Abortion itself. This is where everyone is making the biggest mistake in this argument. Everyone, including the likes of Bill O'Reilly (who I love, don't get me wrong) miss the point that Abortion is NOT a religious issue!! The Catholic Church teaches, rightly so, that abortion is MURDER pure and simple. No gray areas, no exceptions, not even in the case of rape and/or incest!! And this is why Mr.Kennedy cannot be permitted to receiving the precious body and blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He is committing a sin of the highest order- Murder of Innocent Life and is casting condemnation and judement on himself. Could Adolf Hitler receive communion? Absolutely not! Because he is Guilty of shedding innocent blood. Patrick Kennedy is guilty of nothing less equal. Patrick Kennedy publicly promotes the murder of babies in the womb of their mothers. He supports them openly and shamelessly and now actually purports to tell his Bishop that he does not have the competence to prohibit the sacraments from him. This is arrogance of the highest order and his actions cause scandal and schism within the Catholic Church when he espouses pro-abortion sentiment and promotes himself as a Catholic!! Catholics cannot support abortion just as fish can live out of water, it's impossible! Abortion is murder and NO Person has the RIGHT to do the WRONG thing!! True Freedom is having the freedom to do the RIGHT thing. No one can just decide to rob a bank or shoot someone dead. They would be violating the law, a law which everyone inherently understands without any coercion or persuasion. The Church cannot change it's "mind" on this issue, or "get with the times and modernize its teachings" as I have often heard on newscats and radio talk shows. The Church is incapable of making such a judgement, simply because it is prohibited by the Holy Spirit to do so. Patrick Kennedy has two options- Repent or Leave and work out his salvation in some other murder-friendly church.
It has been said that Bishop Tobin is singlling Mr.Kennedy for criticism, but it was Mr.Kennedy who started the debate when he criticized the American Bishops for not supporting Obamacare/healthcare which specifically calls for public funding of abortion. Wow! Do you believe that??? Yes, it is utterly ridiculous and Patrick Kennedy is now portraying himself as the Catholic Champion of Pro-abortion Catholics and is actively seeking to split the Faithful on this subject. It is this public affirmation by Patrick Kennedy which singles him out, and not his support of abortion, though that is grievous enough. Cardinal Burke stated before the election last year that "No Catholic can be Pro-abortion and remain a Catholic" and he is absolutely right. Pope Benedict XVI did not correct Cardinal Burke but totally agreed with him. Could a Catholic have participated in the murder of Jews during the Holocaust and still remain a Catholic? The Church has often been criticzed for not speaking up enough during WW II about the holocaust (a lie), but when it speaks up about abortion that's a different story. Every Catholic who supports and/or participates in abortion has automatically excommunicated themselves from the Catholic Church and unless there is genuiine repentence, they are permanently separated from the Body of Christ, the Church and its Sacraments and therefore Salvation.
Maybe it's time that the Catholic Church bring back public Excommunication as they did in the Middle Ages. Kings and princes would kneel in the snow (Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarosa) in repentence in fear of excommunication. American Catholic politicians such as Kennedy, Kerry and "gulp" Pelosi have no fear of the consequences of their public support of MURDER and thumb their nose at the Catholic Church. The Church must grasp this opportunity and confront this EVIL face to face. I know the Church has lost a lot of its moral standing with the Sexual Abuse scandal, but that time has passed and the role of the Church has not changed. The Church MUST stand up and preach the TRUTH "in season or out of season." The Church is the standard bearer of Christ in this world and I hope that other American Bishops follow the path which Providence Bishop Tobin has forged. We are living in dark times and it is no time for the Church, and especially its Shepherds to cower and remain silent. I applaud those relgious leaders of every denomination who have signed their name to the Manhattan Declaration. This is, hopefully a sign that Christians in this country are finally standing up and saying ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!! Come on and let's draw the line in the sand and get ready to rumble!!! We are a NATION UNDER GOD!!!
Here is a small list of American Catholics (some local:Mass. politicians) who have excommunicated themselves, though I do support a Public Pronouncement by Bishops.
- Patrick Kennedy- Excommunicated!
- John Kerry - Excommunicated!
- Nancy Pelosi - Excommunicated!
- Ted Kennedy RIP??? -Excommunicated!
- Mario Cuomo and son - both Excommunicated!
- Arnold Schwarzenegger- Excommunicated!
- Rudy Giuliani - Excommunicated!
- Katheen Sebelius - Excommunicated!
- Rep.Capuano - Excommunicated!
- Martha Coakley - Excommunicated!
- Jerry Brown - Excommunicated!