Bishop Tobin Take Patrick Kennedy to Task

VirtueOnline: Michael J. McManus: Pro-Abortion Politicians Receive Communion? So the question keeps getting asked, "Well, Catholic pro-choice politicians have been receiving communion for decades.  Why are they picking on this guy?"   Some are calling it politically motivated. The real issue here isn't that they are denying Patrick Kennedy holy communion.  The real issue is that the church has not been consistent on the issue.  According to their own canons and theological beliefs, this is the stance they likely should have taken all along but have not.  So now they do it and appear inconstant. Why haven't they enforced this through the years?  Maybe that was politically motivated too. In the linked article the Bishop really takes Kennedy to task.  Here's one quote: "Rep. Kennedy defended himself: "The fact I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic." Bishop Tobin issued a tart public response: "Well, in fact, Congressman, in a way it does. Although I wouldn't choose those particular words, when someone rejects the teachings of the Church, especially on a grave matter, a life and death issue like abortion, it certainly does diminish their ecclesial communion, their unity with the Church."