Bishop again attacks Kennedy over abortion stand in...
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Bishop Tobin raised the question: What makes Kennedy think he's
Catholic? "Your baptism as an infant? Your family ties? Your cultural
heritage?"
Being Catholic involves much more, he said, including acceptance of
essential church teachings on matters of faith and morals, belonging to
a parish community, weekly attendance at Mass and regular reception of
the sacraments.
And support for abortion rights is not in the same category of those who
struggle with sins of anger, pride, greed, impurity or dishonesty and
then fail, the bishop declared.
"Your rejection of the Church's teaching on abortion falls into a
different category -- it's a deliberate and obstinate act of the will, a
conscious decision that you've reaffirmed on many occasions.
"Sorry, you can't chalk it up to `an imperfect humanity.' Your position
is unacceptable to the Church and scandalous to many of our members. It
absolutely diminishes your communion with the church....
"I write these words not to embarrass you or to judge the state of your
conscience or soul. That's ultimately between you and God.
"But your description of your relationship with the Church is now a
matter of public record and it needs to be challenged. I invite you, as
your bishop and brother in Christ, to enter into a sincere process of
discernment, conversion and repentance. It's not too late to repair your
relationship with the church, redeem your public image and emerge as an
authentic `profile in courage,' especially by defending the sanctity of
human life for all people, including unborn children."
Bishop Tobin raised the question: What makes Kennedy think he's
Catholic? "Your baptism as an infant? Your family ties? Your cultural
heritage?"
Being Catholic involves much more, he said, including acceptance of
essential church teachings on matters of faith and morals, belonging to
a parish community, weekly attendance at Mass and regular reception of
the sacraments.
And support for abortion rights is not in the same category of those who
struggle with sins of anger, pride, greed, impurity or dishonesty and
then fail, the bishop declared.
"Your rejection of the Church's teaching on abortion falls into a
different category -- it's a deliberate and obstinate act of the will, a
conscious decision that you've reaffirmed on many occasions.
"Sorry, you can't chalk it up to `an imperfect humanity.' Your position
is unacceptable to the Church and scandalous to many of our members. It
absolutely diminishes your communion with the church....
"I write these words not to embarrass you or to judge the state of your
conscience or soul. That's ultimately between you and God.
"But your description of your relationship with the Church is now a
matter of public record and it needs to be challenged. I invite you, as
your bishop and brother in Christ, to enter into a sincere process of
discernment, conversion and repentance. It's not too late to repair your
relationship with the church, redeem your public image and emerge as an
authentic `profile in courage,' especially by defending the sanctity of
human life for all people, including unborn children."
