Bishop Tobin asks Rep. Kennedy to apologize for 'irresponsible' comments

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Comments: 13

Bishop Tobin / Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Providence, R.I., Oct 27, 2009 / 12:32 am (CNA).- Responding to Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), who charged that the Catholic Church is promoting dissent about proposed health care legislation, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence has replied that the bishops cannot support a proposal that covers abortion. He asked the Congressman to apologize for his “irresponsible comments.”

In an interview with CNSNews.com, Rep. Kennedy, son of the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, had accused the Catholic Church of fanning “the flames of dissent and discord” because Catholic bishops declared that they will oppose the proposed health care reform unless it explicitly prohibits funding of abortion.

In a Friday statement published on the website of the Diocese of Providence, Bishop Tobin replied:

“Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s statement about the Catholic Church’s position on health care reform is irresponsible and ignorant of the facts. But the Congressman is correct in stating that ‘he can’t understand.’ He got that part right.

“As I wrote to Congressman Kennedy and other members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation recently, the Bishops of the United States are indeed in favor of comprehensive health care reform and have been for many years. But 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.”

The bishop called Rep. Kennedy a “disappointment to the Catholic Church” and to the citizens of Rhode Island.

“I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments. It is my fervent hope and prayer that he will find a way to provide more effective and morally responsible leadership for our state,” Bishop Tobin’s statement concluded.

Comments: 13

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Rosa Rotondi
hicksville, NY USA 11/22/2009 08:05 AM EST

Thank you, Bishop Tobin for denying communion to Patrick Kennedy. Finally something is being done about a problem that should have been addressed a long, long time ago. I thank you for your faithfulness to God and the courage to face this situation. it is an answer to my prayers! God bless you and may other bishops follow your example. My prayers are with you.

Published by: mike hynes
buffalo, ny 10/31/2009 06:13 PM EST

Thank you Bishop Tobin for having the Courage and Fortitude to remind Congressman Kennedy that GOD IS GOD, not congressman Kennedy.

Published by: jm franklin
Spokane, WA USA 10/27/2009 06:56 PM EST

Thank you Bishop Tobin for defending the Church. Maybe if a Bishop had corrected Ted decades ago he might have turned out to be a defender of the unborn and the traditional family. God bless you.

Published by: WM
us 10/27/2009 12:58 PM EST

“I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments." -- Well, the Bishops owe US an apology for Cardnal O'Malley's "irresponsible" presence at Kennedy's uncle's funeral, too, but don't expect to get one.

Published by: Debra
Texas 10/27/2009 12:17 PM EST

Amen. Thank you Bishop Tobin for being faithful to the Gospel.

Published by: Gabriel Austin
Los Alamos NM USA 10/27/2009 11:56 AM EST

Having known many of the Kennedy family, the first question that arose in my mind was: was he drunk? It would explain his action, though not excuse it.

Published by: lucy
McKinney, TX, USA 10/27/2009 10:39 AM EST

God bless you Bishop Tobin for speaking the truth.

Published by: leonardo garcia jr
mercedes tx usa 10/27/2009 08:21 AM EST

I thought we were through with the Kennedy liberals. Here we have another son bred to continue the fathers' work. God help us. I pray that he sees the light and that he understands that he should denounce he is Catholic or refrain from saying he is. May God have mercy on all liberals.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 10/27/2009 08:14 AM EST

Rep. Patrick Kennedy is a secular, leftist apostate like his father!! These people should have been excommunicated from the Catholic Church years ago!! Young Patrick isn't going to apologize; and why should he? The Church won't take any action against him like they should! He saw his father get a nice public Catholic burial without any public (and to my knowledge no private) repentance for all of the unBiblical, Godless and anti Catholic things that he did in his personal life, which includes his Godless voting record in the U.S. Senate!

Published by: John
Ma., USA 10/27/2009 07:22 AM EST

YES !!!

Published by: Chas
Greensburg Pa 10/27/2009 06:55 AM EST

Thank you Bishop Tobin for your direct statement. It should resonant with every legistlator and governmental functionary in this country.

Published by: Richard R. Schroeck
Erie, PA, USA 10/27/2009 04:26 AM EST

Thank you Bishop Tobin for your courage in addressing Mr. Kennedy's remarks with such candor and conviction. Unfortunately, the Kennedy's have not been good examples of how to live their Catholic faith.

Published by: TRH
Peachtree CIty GA 10/27/2009 03:38 AM EST

Thank you Bishop Tobin for taking a stand! Faithful Catholics are very tired of hearing our faith misrepresented in the political and media arenas! We need Bishops and Priests to stand true to the Church's teachings! Abortion is wrong, contraception is wrong, socialism is wrong, and saying you are Catholic when you are only partially Catholic is wrong! It is sad to say, but if all Catholics wouldve voted true to their faith we wouldnt be facing Obamacare socialsim! We (our Country and the women who are deceived by their choice over a baby's right) need to turn from abortion - our country is reaping what has been sowed and it is getting to be quite a scary place to be.

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