Bishop Tobin Takes On Obstinant Catholic Politicians

Some quotes from the Providence RI Journal article Bishop Tobin challenges Catholic lawmakers over abortion (emphasis mine):

"Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has declared that Catholic legislators who 'obstinately' oppose church doctrine on such key issues 'really have to question their membership in the church.'”

"Bishop Tobin said the legislation before the House contains 'some backdoor ways of providing subsidies' for what he called the 'grave and intrinsic evil of abortion.'”

"Bishop Tobin was asked in the interview whether he regretted the tone of his remark about Kennedy’s ability to understand the issues. 'Not really,' he replied. 'I never intend to personally insult someone. That’s not my business. That’s not my goal. But the fact is I was pretty irritated by the congressman’s comments.'

At another point the bishop addressed what he called the question of whether church leaders are “trying to impose our moral or religious beliefs on Congressman Kennedy.” His answer: 'Well, the fact is he professes to be a Catholic.' Speaking of Catholic legislators generally, Tobin indicated that the church’s view is that, 'if someone is clearly and consistently and obstinately opposed to the church on something as serious as abortion — which again is a grave and intrinsic evil — then they really have to question their membership in the church and their participation in the life of the church.'”

Here is part of Kennedy's copout (& I do mean copout) to justify his support of ObamaCare even if it includes abortion: "Kennedy . . . added, 'The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy of the church on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.'” Clearly BishopTobin disagrees with Kennedy on this point.

"Kennedy also said that no group 'is getting everything it wants' in the medical overhaul. The church “has every right to promote its position,” he said, but if a group 'seeks to impose absolutes on the debate, we are left standing idle instead of moving our nation forward.'” In Kennedy's statment we see a clear example of relativism at its worst. He is basicly saying there are no moral absolutes that must be fought for no matter what.

Something tells me there will be more fireworks ahead & that when & if the meeting between Bishop Tobin & Kennedy occurs it won't be until after any vote on health care has taken place. & it will be Kennedy's doing for that time schedule.

Kudos to Bishop Tobin for not backing off. Hopefully he will follow these words with the appropriate actions should Kennedy continue in his dissent against Catholic teaching & defiance of Bishop Tobin.

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Another interesting part of the article was this admission about abortion in ObamaCare as it currently stands: "Despite President Obama’s assertion in September that 'no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions' under his plan, several dozen anti-abortion Democrats have withheld support for the House bill. The bill does not include the language that, since 1976, has banned federal subsidies for most abortions under Medicaid and other government health insurance programs."