Boston Globe: Kennedy spars with church on abortion; exchanges nasty comments with bishop

Globe Staff / October 24, 2009

The late Senator Edward M. Kennedy seemed to mend his differences with the Catholic Church just before his death. But less than two months later, his youngest son has plunged into a firestorm of controversy with the church.

In strong rhetoric, US Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Providence Diocese have exchanged nasty comments over abortion and proposals for a health care overhaul in Washington, D.C. Kennedy is a strong supporter of health care overhaul, even if it includes public funding for abortion services, while the Catholic Church opposes the abortion component.

In a statement released yesterday, Tobin lashed out at Kennedy, a son of one of the nation’s most prominent Catholic families, for incendiary remarks the congressman made in an interview about abortion.

Kennedy, speaking in support of a public option for a proposed universal health care plan, told Catholic News Service in an article posted Thursday that he found it perplexing that the church would oppose the health insurance plan.

“I can’t understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we’re caring and giving health care to the human person - that right now we have 50 million people who are uninsured,’’ Kennedy said.

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:hi:

without givin' me a hug, huh? :hug:

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug::hug: :hug:

:* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :* :*

(I'm an over-achiever. :P )

unhappycamper, Call Me Wesley (my husband), and I have been DU moderators together many times over the past four or five years. That you've not been paying attention is no reason to imply what you've implied.

ETA: But thanks for the kick.

Get over yourself. :eyes:

NOT.

Going by your screen name, maybe its time for indulge in non-alcoholic beverages.

You might be in a better emotional place.

Of course, he is much too kind to drop the big one on them, namely: What Would Jesus Do?

He's absolutely right. Those who oppose this can't even claim to know, let alone practice, what their religion preaches.

He was a crazy right wing conservative and he packed the church with as many conservatives in the leadership that he possibly could.

His most egregious act was to recognize Opus Dei. Something that his predecessors refused to do. If Catholics would take out the time to read some of the addresses by the bishops during Vatican II they would soon realize that they were far more progressive than the present lot of brain dead bishops that now dominate the hierarchy.

Disgusting that most of the comments were vicious.Typical RW, personal attacks.

I'ts always OK if you're a Republican.

wrong.

Not saying folks can't sharply disagree on controversial topics, but Kennedy's position is the more respectful of all his constituents because it opens windows of personal choice, and when you respect someone's individual, personal choice, it seems to me you have won the 'respect' component of the argument.

The Church understandably but disappointingly defends its archaic opposition to women in claiming they do not have control over their own bodies. No matter how fiercely the Church holds to this belief, it is globally unpopular for institutions to trespass on individuals' flesh. It is an argument the Church will lose more swiftly in coming years.

Good on Congressman Kennedy. It stirs debate in his home state and his words are clear and convincing.

Recommended.

that snakes thing is sort fo a rumor.

Additionally, the Bishop seems to be sort of a butt.

Being against the health care reform bill in its current form is not the same thing as "...be(ing) against the biggest social justice issue of our time..."

from the article:

Tobin...has said he supports a universal health care plan, but one that would explicitly outlaw the use of public money for abortions.

Tobin had outlined his concerns in a Sept. 21 letter he sent to the Rhode Island congressional delegation, saying he could not support any legislation “that diminishes human dignity or threatens the right to life.’’

Yesterday, he was more direct, saying that Kennedy’s comments were “irresponsible and ignorant of the facts.’’

“But the congressman is correct in stating that he ‘can’t understand,’ ’’ Tobin said. “He got that part right.’’

The bishop explained the church’s stance, saying that while the church supports health care overhaul, “we are adamantly opposed to health care legislation that threatens the life of unborn children, requires taxpayers to pay for abortion, rations health care, or compromises the conscience of individuals.