COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 15, 2008
Communion For Obama Voters? Yes We Can!
Monsignor Repudiates Priest's Statement That Supporters Of Dem. May Not Take Communion Until Doing Penance
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The Reverend Jay Scott Newman of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville, S.C., said earlier this week that parishioners who voted for Barack Obama should perform penance for backing a candidate who supports "pro-abortion" policies. His diocese has repudiated his remarks. (WSPA)
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"This past week, the Catholic Church's clear, moral teaching on the evil of abortion has been pulled into the partisan political arena," Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin, administrator of the Diocese of Charleston, said Friday in a statement posted on the diocese's Web site. Recent comments by the Rev. Jay Scott Newman, Laughlin wrote, "diverted the focus from the Church's clear position against abortion."
Earlier this week, Newman said in a letter to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion without first doing penance for voting for the Democrat.
"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.
"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law."
However, Laughlin wrote that Newman's statements "do not adequately reflect the Catholic Church's teachings."
"Christ gives us freedom to explore our own conscience and to make our own decisions while adhering to the law of God and the teachings of the faith," Laughlin wrote. "Therefore, if a person has formed his or her conscience well, he or she should not be denied Communion, nor be told to go to confession before receiving Communion."
Newman told The Associated Press on Thursday his missive was not intended to be partisan.
"If the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same," he said.
Newman did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Friday.
[While Rev. Newman's original letter has been removed from the church's Web site, a Google cache version of it may be found here.]
Conservative Catholics criticized Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 for supporting abortion rights, with a few Catholic bishops saying Kerry should refrain from receiving Holy Communion because his views were contrary to church teachings.
Four years later, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly, telling Catholic politicians and voters the issue should be the most important in deciding which candidate to back. Some church leaders said parishioners risked their immortal souls by voting for candidates who support abortion rights.
In their annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights.
According to national exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. In South Carolina, which McCain carried, voters in Greenville County - traditionally seen as among the state's most conservative areas - went 61 percent for the Republican, and 37 percent for Obama.
By Associated Press Writer Meg Kinnard
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 68 CommentsNo one is "pro-abortion" and it''s interesting the way the extremists are beginning to use this term, instead of "pro-choice". McBush did the same thing during one of the debates.
In terms of the Catholic Church, shouldn''t it lose its tax-free status in the US if it involves itself in politics like this?
Shouldn''t the IRS investigate?
The amazing thing is, Christians have a wonderful example every day of the evils of faith: Muslims. But it doesn''t make them think; it doesn''t shame them into realizing that belief in some goofy antiquated idiocy is bad for you, bad for everyone.
Not to knock Muslims, particularly. They are no crazier than Christians, their beliefs are no more far-fetched. ALL religion is a pathetic product of willful ignorance and fear, and all religion is harmful.
The Catholic Church better not push it too much, they''re going to be looking at a lot of empty pews.
The National debate is whether it is legal under our constitution. Well, apparently it is. And, now it is established law. So, now those of you who are upset about it it need to find another strategy to make it rare. In fact we all need to work on that.
Since the Catholic Church is against birth control, they will always lose on this subject.
Posted by catlady1412 at 05:30 PM : Nov 15, 2008
You need to join American''s for the Separation of Church and State! They notify the IRS every time one of these crack pot Religious Groups gets into politics and YES they do get their Tax Exempt status revoked for doing that!!
Posted by bobgee_1999 at 05:16 PM : Nov 15, 2008
With this statement you expose ''your'' ignorance. This Christian has first hand knowledge of GOD and JESUS. You would throw out the baby with the bathwater. Don''t be a reactionary, do your own thinking and see the world for what it is.
Well said... and true....
What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it, you''ll die?
(Answer coming next)
Posted by blackyowe at 10:05 PM : Nov 15, 2008
This white baptist from podunc NC would call you brother/sister anytime. We can disagree without hate or acrimony.
I m not stupid. why why Catholic try look for good work and make pay attention of our church power. but white like. and Catholic priest and bishop are wolf to people''s soul.
What about all the dummies who put their souls at risk while voting for George Bush who was killing thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq?
I m not stupid. why why Catholic try look for good work and make pay attention of our church power. but white like. and Catholic priest and bishop are wolf to people''''s soul.
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