Kennedy, Catholics and Abortion

One cannot claim to be pro-life and pro abortion at the same time. It’s an oxymoron; its a contradiction in terms; its a cop-out.

So when politicians say that they are “personally” against abortions, but claim to believe in a woman’s “right” to chose, they are either:

1. Incredibly stupid about what those terms mean, or
2. Incredibly naive about the issues (most unlikely), or
3. Trying to have their cake and eat it too (most likely)

If you believe that abortion is the termination of a life, then you must also believe that all life is sacred. It is nearly impossible to support the sanctity of life and, at the same time, think that it is permissible to destroy a life because a woman has an alleged “right” to select the termination of a life growing within her body. The logic doesn’t hold.

You are either in favor of abortion, or you are against it. And if you are against abortion because you believe it terminates a life, then how can you possibly support anyone terminating a life through the abortion process?

One such politician who wants to have his cake and eat it too is Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.). Kennedy is also a member of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.

Catholics believe as a matter of dogmatic faith, that abortion is the taking of a human life and such an action is evil. This position is clearly spelled out in the Encyclical Letter of the Supreme Pontiff, Paul VI, entitled “Humane Vitae.” The Encyclical was published on July 25, 1968.

How can Patrick Kennedy, who calls himself a Catholic, also be in favor of abortion? He cannot. At least not as a matter of faith. Again, to call yourself a Catholic and pro-abortion at the same time is an oxymoron; a contradiction in terms. Such Catholics who take the pro abortion position are often referred to as “cafeteria catholics.” And correctly so. A Catholic politician cannot, in good conscience, ever vote in favor of any legislation that supports abortion. Period.

In an excellent opinion piece, published in the Wall Street Journal by Anne Hendershott , she asks: “Until the clerics begin to counter the pro-choice claims made by high-profile Catholics such as Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and, now, Caroline Kennedy, faithful Catholics will continue to be bewildered by their pastoral silence.” How Support for Abortion Became Kennedy Dogma

But such a cleric has countered the pro abortion position of the Kennedy’s. He is Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. Who, according to Rep. Kennedy himself, has forbidden Kennedy to receive the Roman Catholic sacrament of Holy Communion because of his [Kennedy's] advocacy of abortion rights.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is one of the 7 Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. It is a true belief that the bread consumed at a Catholic Mass, the Holy Eucharist, is transformed into the body of Christ. For a Bishop of The Church to ever forbid a member of the Catholic faith to participate in a sacrament is rare, but it does happen.

And to all of that I say “Bravo!” And it is about time the hierarchy of the Catholic Church takes a more meaningful stand about these cafeteria catholic politicians.

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1. 

   Tu Ne Cede says:

   November 23, 2009 at 10:31 am

   While the Catholic Church can (and does) determine who can receive its sacraments, it’s troubling that the church also ties itself so directly to politics. Kennedy’s political position regarding a federal law has now prevented him from receiving the Communion (via a bishop’s decision); is this not an entanglement of the First Amendment’s “free exercise” clause? Jefferson’s intent in including it would seem to be clear: one should be able to worship as one chooses, seperate from the state. Further, Congress “shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Is the Roe v. Wade decision now a law made by Congress that interferes with his choice of religious practice?

   I understand that the church receives special treatment from the state in terms of tax exemptions–it’s always been a tricky 1A issue. Seems to be a conflict of interest.

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2. 

   Jacknhoo says:

   November 23, 2009 at 3:02 pm

   A person of Faith is a person who believes their religion. A Catholic, or any Christian, believe in the dignity of the human person. Christians know that human life begins at conception and ends at death…this is God’s Word. Science tell us, all 46 human chromosomes are present at the instance of conception…the life created is not the life of a dog or a fish or a carrot, it is human. This life from that instant on, receives nothing but food, air and protection from the mother. there is no instruction from the mother to the life that is busy creating its own vessel. Her body is not building that life a body. That life is building its own body…its own human vessel. Potentailly there are more life vessels being built, but the life form itself only knows.

   Until the world stops lying about the dignity of the human person, we will fail. We are not lowly beasts, hence we are not speciesists. We are not of this world, we are of divine origin. We are the only being God, our Creator, has loved for our own sakes.

   Kennedy has a choice…human dignity or atheism. It is the same choice for all of us. Any Christian who denies the dignity of the human person is no Christian at all. The Sanctity of Life is the most fundamental law of all Christian beliefs. To deny that human dignity, is to deny Christ and every reason for God sending His Son for us…for all humanity.

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3. 

   Jacknhoo says:

   November 23, 2009 at 3:21 pm

   It is truly ashame that many in this republic think like Tu Ne Cede in his comment above.

   How would it ever be possible for someone in political office to truly have a Faith and separate that Faith from their actions. The answer is simple, they can not separate the two, if they truly have Faith. Because that Faith is belief in who your Creator is and in Whom you answer to for your actions.

   Now, in the instance of a secular humanist, the situation is quite different. These humanists can do whatever they want and they only answer to mere man and, in a sense, they are their own god(s). So, no worries for them right? Well, except they are stuck with only pure human nature which history has proven that humans have, innate to their physical person, violence and bigotry.

   In this great republic, we are free to practice our religions without government interference or without the government endorsing a state sanctioned religion.

   In other words, Tu Ne Cede, you are free to be the atheist/humanist you, most likely, are and I am free to be the Catholic I am. Either of us could get into public office. Your beliefs would let you vote to kill people for the State (i.e. cost, bad genes, goin’ green, racism, etc.) and your secular humanism would ask that you only answer to the whim of man for your human actions. My Catholic Faith tells me I cannot do this and be in good standing with the Church and of course God would also want my absolution of sin.

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