Doug Kmiec, the former Reagan/Bush official and abortion-opposing Catholic who is supporting Barack Obama, has been the topic of much discussion, here at Pontifications and elsewhere.
In today's NYTimes, columnist Peter Steinfels interviews Kmiec. Here's one of many fascinating--and likely controversial--exchanges:
Q. You have been fiercely attacked by some Catholic abortion opponents and in one instance barred from receiving communion. How do you feel about that?A. To be the subject of an angry homily at Mass last April 18 and excoriated as giving scandal for endorsing Senator Obama and then to be denied communion for that "offense" was the most humiliating experience in my faith life.
To be separated in that public manner from the receipt of the eucharist, and to be effectively shunned or separated from the body of Christ in the sense of that particular congregation, has left, I very much regret to say, a permanent spiritual scar. Thankfully, it has also given me a new appreciation for the significance of the sacrament in my daily worship. And the priest, having been called to order by Cardinal Roger Mahony, sent me an apology, which of course I have accepted.
Read more here.
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Funny how time has changed the definition of "Catholic"---Believe me Mr. Kmiec you turned in your Catholic badge of honor when you decided to disobey not the church---but your God. We had one high toned, mesmerizing President in John Kennedy. Most Irish Catholics, (and I'm one) could pull the wool over anyone's eyes. Ask the Cubans about the Bay of Pigs. John Kennedy like Obama was a good orator but that does not make them presidential material.Talk is cheap. Ask Helen Keller.
Time hasnt changed the definition John, the Holy Spirit is changing the church for the betterment of everyone.
Here's a novel thought: God has room for all of us in HIS church, not just those who prefer legalistic orthodox fundamentalism
When the Catholic Church cannot persuade its members, or others, to do, i.e., not have abortions, it now is trying to steamroll anyone who does not toe the RC line. Bear this in mind: "Vigorous minds will not suffer compulsion. To exercise compulsion is typical of tyrants; to suffer it, typical of asses." Erasmus
The problem is clericalism and authoritarianism. Russell Shaw put it best in a 1993 book of his: "By clericalism I mean an elitist mindset, together with structures and patterns of behavior corresponding to it, which takes it for granted that clerics—in the Catholic context, mainly bishops and priests, are intrinsically superior to the other members of the Church and deserve automatic deference. Passivity and dependence are the laity’s lot. By no means is clericalism confined to clerics themselves. The clericalist mindset is widely shared by Catholic lay people."
Russell Shaw, "To Hunt, to Shoot, to Entertain: Clericalism and the Catholic Laity" (1993)
I envy those on both sides of this abortion issue who are so adament in their pronouncements and sure of the correctness of their positions that they feel very comfortable attacking anyone who doesn't agree with them totally. I am very conflicted with this issue because I have always been a devoted Catholic/American/Democrat. I have lived for 74 years with no concern that I would have to explain how I could live with my firm beliefs in all of these areas and indeed be criticised and even vilified for trying to do so. As a Catholic, I consider abortion to be a personal mortal sin. As an American, I believe in the Constitutional rights of every person to live her/his life according to one's own religious beliefs and not have them dictated to by any other faith or governmental interference. As a Democrat, I see this mindset incouraged and always with a reaching out to those who are poor helpless and in great need as Jesus modeled for us. In my church we have groups of people who pray constantly for the victims of war,abortion and those who have their lives taken by the death penalty. These are all "Life Issues"and to choose one as a rallying cry for a political party or any particular religious faith to try to guilt or bully fellow Americans into forgetting all other important issues that face our country today is dispicable at best and anti-american in everyway. They are throwing up this one issue as a smoke screen to win an election once again. Will it work again - we don't have long to wait and see. Molly
If Molly is torn between being a Catholic and an American, she should realize that being an american is only for this life/world. She will have her Catholic seal of Baptism for eternity whether in heaven or hell. the Church is and has been crystal clear for 2000 years that to cooperate in abortion is a MORTAL SIN.
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