[Apologetics] Spectator.org

[Bob Griesemer Jr.]

On Tue, 2004-04-06 at 16:34, Art Kelly wrote:
> Well, first of all, the Spectator is NOT a Catholic
> publication. I don't know if they know what they are
> writing about on Kerry or not. 

No one said they are a Catholic publication. One need not be a
"Catholic" publication to write an article about a politician's
religious views.

> 
> Second, red flags go up whenever I see any publication
> refer the the Catholic Church as the Roman Catholic
> Church, which is a term invented by Anglicans.

The term "Roman Catholic" I believe is a quite valid term which
expresses a theological reality that the Church of Jesus Christ is lead
by the successor to St Peter who resides in Rome as the Bishop of Rome,
thus it is Roman Catholic. What is wrong with that?

> 
> Third, without talking to Kerry, no priest in Idaho
> could know the state of his soul. 


> While he could be told, by a priest who knows him, not
> to receive Communion, it is theoretically possible
> (NOT probable at all) that a liberal politican could
> be strongly opposed to abortion (with some kind of
> documented personal action to support this), while
> believing that criminalizing it would be
> counter-productive.
> 
> So, a priest would need to know all of the facts.
> 

One can know all one needs to know about such a public figure as John
Kerry by looking at his voting record:

http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/e4/cinfo/?id=100193

You will notice that the National Right To Life committee has graded him
almost a complete 100 percent voting record against the life issues,
including an absolutely scandalous No vote on the vote to ban partial
birth abortions. I think the record is rather clear. The Vatican has
made clear in it's "Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the
Participation of Catholics in Political Life"

"John Paul II, continuing the constant teaching of the Church, has
reiterated many times that those who are directly involved in lawmaking
bodies have a «grave and clear obligation to oppose» any law that
attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to
promote such laws or to vote for them."

Are you defending John Kerry's voting record? Your highly improbable
example is not only highly improbable, but even it were to be the case,
would still not justify a vote against life.

A priest or bishop would be well within his rights to deny Holy
Communion to such a politican absent any very public and pronounced
recanting of that politicians beliefs up to that point. To date there
has been no such public mea culpa issued by the Kerry camp, neither are
we likely to hear one in the near future, which is very sad. For that we
can only pray. And, as Catholics we are bound by the principles as set
forth in the Doctrinal Note above and its references to the Catechism of
the Catholic Church and Canon law, to withhold our votes from
politicians who would so flagrantly flout clear moral principles in
their voting.

> 
> Fourth, I'm concerned about a news item indicating
> that Kerry attended a Baptist Church last Sunday
> and--get this!--received "communion" there. There was
> no indication whether he also attended a Catholic Mass
> that day.
> 

Just one more example of the depths to which he has descended.