Patrick Kennedy clashes with outspoken RI bishop

[WillParkinson]

Patrick Kennedy clashes with outspoken RI bishop

(Providence, RI) Thomas Tobin, the Roman Catholic bishop of Providence, has made a career out of putting politicians in his crosshairs, but his latest battle over abortion threatens to spiritually exile Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a son of the nation’s most famous Roman Catholic family.

Their feud over a proposal expanding the nation’s health insurance system has escalated to the point where Tobin has publicly questioned Kennedy’s faith and membership in the church and said he should not receive communion, the central sacrament in Catholic worship.

It’s an uncomfortable tangle of faith and politics for a congressman whose uncle John F. Kennedy was elected the first Roman Catholic president in 1960 after declaring to wary Protestants that he did not speak for his church on public matters, and that the church did not speak for him.

“I don’t think there’s any winner here,” said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a church observer and senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. “I think this is the kind of thing that would be better discussed between a member of Congress and his bishop behind closed doors.”

http://www.365gay.com/news/patrick-kennedy-clashes-with-outspoken-ri-bishop/

[imdjh]

1. "If I want advice from a man in a dress, I'll call RuPaul Charles." - Patrick Kennedy

Well, in my fantasy anyway.

[foxfeet]

2. And he'd get better advice, too.

That's no fantasy.

[sui generis]

3. snork

thanks a lot now I have to wipe coffee off my new monitor :hi:

[Sal Minella]

4. It's the Bishop who's got Faith and Politics all tangled up.

Kennedy's thinking on the separation of the two is crystal clear.

I'm so sorry the RC church is allowed to throw its weight around without being slapped down.