Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Getting harder to sling BS these days

The very public debacle that was the funeral for Sen. Ted Kennedy left a bad taste in the mouth of many a Catholic.  Not all, but many.  Perhaps emboldened by the over the top treatment his father received in both life and death Rep. Patrick Kennedy has been in a "pissing match" with his Bishop regarding abortion and other life issues.  The exceptional Bishop Tobin in his episcopal role as teacher and defender of the Faith has responded to Congressman Kennedy's very public slap at the Church in kind.

Your letter also says that your faith “acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity.” Absolutely true. But in confronting your rejection of the Church’s teaching, we’re not dealing just with “an imperfect humanity” – as we do when we wrestle with sins such as anger, pride, greed, impurity or dishonesty. We all struggle with those things, and often fail.
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 re-affirmed 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. 

Bishop Tobin hits Rep. Kennedy with a broadside of truth.  The entire letter bears a read.  It is far kinder than I would have ever written.  Thus why he is the Bishop and I need to go to confession more often.

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