Kennedy left out of church rite

Last Updated: 2:19 PM, November 23, 2009

Posted: 4:08 AM, November 23, 2009

Comments: 12

PROVIDENCE, RI -- An ultraconservative bishop has banned Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving Holy Communion because the Democratic congressman supports abortion rights, Kennedy says.

The ban escalates a dispute between Bishop Thomas Tobin and the nation's most famous Roman Catholic family.

"The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said he had instructed priests not to give me Communion," Kennedy told the Providence Journal for an article published yesterday. "[He told me] I am not a good, practicing Catholic because of the positions I've taken as a public official."

PATRICK KENNEDY Bishop bans Communion.

The bishop's spokesman declined to discuss what he told Kennedy.

In Albany, former Gov. Mario Cuomo warned church leaders yesterday, "If you're required [by the church] to make everybody follow your Catholic role, then nobody would vote for Catholics."

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Comments (11)

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just jim

11/27/2009 12:10 PM

I agree with DrRisk, toss the kennedys out of the catholic church, let them go start their own church, with a rusty old car hanging from the cross.
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sinclair

11/24/2009 1:15 AM

Patches, you know the dogma of the church regarding abortion and gay marriage. If you no longer want to adhere to the teachings of the church, here's an idea, LEAVE! You won't be missed. Go join the Episcopalians or the Lutherans or some other chuch that supports your politics. Why would you want to stay in a faith that apparently is so out of touch with your views? Looks like pandering for votes is far more important to you than the faith you were born and raised in. Sad for you.
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Fradelin Hilda Detmolders

11/23/2009 10:09 PM

WHAT A FREAK!!! JUNKIE!!! WEIRDO!!!!!!!
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Whitey

11/23/2009 7:35 PM

There shouldn't be any filthy Irish at all in my Roman Catholic Church!!......GTFO
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laffinatyou

11/23/2009 3:38 PM

Patrick, next time please close the little squirrels eyes before he goes on your head.
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Rand2410

11/23/2009 12:56 PM

Mr. Kennedy is free to find a new house of worship and to take his financial contributions with him. That's exactly what I did.
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3tall

11/23/2009 10:42 AM

This is not a church and state issue. Its about a clergyman actually following the tenants of his faith and not being cowed by a powerful and corrupt political dynasty.

I'll bet he will be re-assigned to missionary work in the Mojave Desert.
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Dr. Risk

11/23/2009 10:41 AM

It never ceases to amaze me when people find out a priest, a bishop, a cardinal or the Pope are actually Catholics who believe what they preach. The entire religion is a farce. Praying to statues is known as idolatry; check the 10 Commandments on that one. Adultery? Just confess, and be on your way. Again, check the 10 Commandments. Cafeteria Catholics—those that pick and choose the parts of it they like and don’t like—do the church no good.

If he had any cojones, Pope Benedict would excommunicate the entire clan of Kennedy trash. Is he did, it might recover from their plundering and mockery of it over the past half century.