SC priest: No communion for Obama supporters

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:05am

The Catholic Church and I parted ways a long time ago, and I know this isn't anything new (the article mentions how in 2004 Kerry was told he shouldn't be allowed to receive communion), but this still makes me sad.
SC priest: No communion for Obama supporters

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:21am

Even if I assume for a moment that the Church has a valid point here--that abortion is inherently sinful, and that voting for a pro-choice candidate is somehow the same thing as having an abortion--it seems to me that if I thought members of my congregation had gone astray, I would want to bring them closer into the fold, to help them and to guide them back to the proper path.

Not simply to punish them.

I guess to understand this one you have to be one of those warm-hearted Christians one hears so much about .

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:23am

Well, abortion does trail right behind homosexuality as the worstest sin of them all!
Updated On: 11/14/08 at 10:23 AM

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:32am

Can Sherri Shepherd drink Jesus blood and eat Jesus body?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:56am

Phyllis, you forgot to say "butt sex."

[violet72]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 11:08am

I am a non practicing catholic and this pisses me off...how can a "leader" of a religion that has killed many people in the name of their religion do this? When my parents and relatives ask me why I don't go to church anymore I can point to this and say it's because of their backwards way of thinking and what a bunch of hypocrites they are.

Thank god when my parents didn't raise me to be a staunch catholic and let me think for myself

[violet72]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 11:09am

I am a non practicing catholic and this pisses me off...how can a "leader" of a religion that has killed many people in the name of their religion do this? When my parents and relatives ask me why I don't go to church anymore I can point to this and say it's because of their backwards way of thinking and what a bunch of hypocrites they are.

Thank god when my parents didn't raise me to be a staunch catholic and let me think for myself

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 11:30am

This is no surprise. It's right from the Bible. Jesus said, "Take and eat, this is my body, to be distributed like gold stars for good behavior."

[StockardFan]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 11:34am

How ridiculous!

[Taryn]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 1:17pm

Wow... I never expected it to be someone I knew when I opened the article. That's very disappointing for me to read. It's so sad, because in so many ways, he is such a brilliantly intelligent and compassionate man. It's awful to see this kind of behavior from someone I have loved and respected.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 2:53pm

Excommunication merely removes a person's membership from an organization. It does not take away their faith.

The denial of a sacrament does not take away a person's sacredness.

These things may actually promote more faith. A former member or one deemed not in good standing could go with other like situated and minded people and begin a church of their own with (my goodness) free will and conscience.

Sadly, this priest is full of it, and by "it" I do not mean faith.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 3:25pm

But it's ok if you voted for the adulterer McCain?

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 3:42pm

Oh Silly Billy....yes!

The Church forgives Republicans, not Democrats.

(rolling eyes)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 4:06pm

As a practicing Catholic, this sort of thing frightens me. I have a very hard time picturing Christ denying the Eucharist (if it had existed back then) to people he disagreed with. Many members of my faith are starting to become rather disingenuous and it is very disheartening to me.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 4:09pm

I'm pretty sure the Last Supper was the first time he gave the Eucharist.

[Q]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 4:19pm

*sigh*

Edited for the offended amongst us.
Updated On: 11/14/08 at 04:19 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 4:21pm

PS, I thought you were gay.

[Q]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 4:28pm

PRS - Adam is straight.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 4:42pm

Oh, okay. I was gonna say, I didn't know how gays could take the eucharist. Never mind, then.

[Taryn]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 5:00pm

To be fair, as much as this greatly disheartens me to witness this from a family friend, he is not DENYING the Eucharist. There is a difference between that and what's going on. By Newman's logic, people who have voted for Obama have supported abortion, which would...I'm guessing that abortion is also considered a mortal sin, since it's equated to murder. I'm not sure what you would call endorsing a mortal sin... Anywho, in this logic, it is some sort of sin to have voted for Obama. And he is urging his parishoners to confess this sin before coming to Communion. In reality, one is never supposed to go to Communion with sins in your life that have gone unforgiven. That's why it follows the general confession in the Mass.

There IS a difference between the two. There is no indication that Fr Newman would literally refuse the Eucharist to Obama supporters who came to the altar. I mean, both are hard for me to deal with, but there is some difference.

[Q]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 5:04pm

Taryn - it's mental gymnastics like that that make it almost impossible for me to fathom having participation on any level. Too many hoops to jump through, and too many corners to have to try and see around.

Admitedly, I just have difficulty wrapping my head around looking toward mysticism for answers - BUT, if you do that, why on Earth would you look to something that causes so much consternation and conflict? I would think there might be a better match, even amongst the ranks of Christianity.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 5:16pm

Um, because it is the WORD!

[Taryn]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 5:19pm

I have such a strange viewpoint on all of this, being the daughter of a fairly Conservative Episcopal priest who eventually, several years ago, left the Anglican Church for the Catholic Church. I just ended up growing up in the bleeding heart liberal of the family, but knowing the level of intelligence and compassion that exists in these kinds of people, however misguided I believe their beliefs and actions to be sometimes. My own father is an incredibly intelligent man, and Father Newman is, without doubt, one of the most intelligent men I have ever met, and has done much to help my family over the years. I disagree with them on many fronts, but I have always respected the level of commitment required to be that kind of person in the modern religious world. This kind of religion isn't meant to be comfortable or easy. It's meant to challenge you to be a better person. And while their ideas of what that means, what is right or wrong, may differ from mine, they are in a position where a refusal to compromise their beliefs and values is a public affair. It's not something I envy; it is not an easy position to be in.

I know I'm not the only one from a family with very difficult political and religious beliefs, but that doesn't make it any less difficult when confronted with news like this.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 5:26pm

Taryn, I admire your intellectual rigor and emotional honesty as you work your way through this.

[artscallion]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 5:38pm

Wait. So Obama's support of a sin is a sin itself? To my knowledge it's only support and not direct sin since I don't think he's ever actually performed or had an abortion himself. And then it is further a sin to support him because he supports sin?

So, a supporter of a supporter of a sin is also a sinner? How far can we carry this chain of support/sin? Does someone who supports me then also become a sinner...twice removed?

I don't remember any of this from Sunday school. I thought you had to commit an actual sin in order to have actually committed a sin.

Updated On: 11/14/08 at 05:38 PM