Dear Congressman Kennedy

[NewEnglandPriest]

I expect politicians to engage in public fueds. I do not expect it of our church leaders. IMHO, Bishop Tobin has diminished his position by engaging in a public weeing contest with a politician.

I think that’s a little bit strong. Patrick Kennedy accused the US Bishops of not being pro-life and of throwing out a red herring to kill health care. It was Tobin’s duty to correct Patrick Kennedy as to the US Bishops’ history and reasoning on this issue. Then Patrick Kennedy declared that he can be pro-choice legislator and be in good standing as a Catholic. Once again it was Tobin’s duty to correct these errors that KENNEDY put out into the public realm.
In 2007 Tobin wrote a confidential and pastoral letter to Kennedy encouraging him to re-examine his abortion position and until he corrects it to refrain from communion. Kennedy decided 2 years later to leak this fact but tried to erroneously link it to the current issues. Thus Tobin had to correct the misconception that his request was linked to the current public debate and to correct Kennedy’s claim that priests had been told to refuse him communion.

Tobin only responded to Kennedy’s public statements that were erroneous. What else was he going to do? Allow Kennedy to lead others to believe its morally ok to be pro-choice and further its legality? Was Tobin supposed to allow Kennedy to smear his name with half-truths and lies?

I predicted this from the moment Patrick opened his mouth, but he’s sadly mistaken if he thought a bishop from Pittsburgh was going to be wowed by the Kennedy mystique. Kennedy could have simply apologized and met privately with the bishop but instead Kennedy chose to keep trying to publicly stick it to the Church. And now he’s trying any angle to make himself look like a victim.

 

[Sihedas]

I expect politicians to engage in public fueds. I do not expect it of our church leaders. IMHO, Bishop Tobin has diminished his position by engaging in a public weeing contest with a politician.

Bishop Tobin did not come across in his letter as “weeing.” Rep. Kennedy made the issue public, after two years had passed. Bishop Tobin has been more than gracious in this matter.

 

[JReducation]

I expect politicians to engage in public fueds. I do not expect it of our church leaders. IMHO, Bishop Tobin has diminished his position by engaging in a public weeing contest with a politician.

The bishops have made every effort to deal privately with Catholic politicians on this and other issues. Most of them have been very prudent and have not gone to the press and made accusations against the bishops. Kennedy did.

The bishop has a moral obligation to his diocese to correct the misinformatioin that Congressman Kennedy was presenting. It is a bishop’s job to make sure that the faithful in his local Church know what was really said. In this case, the bishops of the USA have never said that they were against reforming healthcare. If truth be told, the Catholic Church has been pushing for healthcare reform long before Hilary Clinton made it fashionable. For Congressman Kennedy to come out and say that they are sabbotaging the effort was grossly unfair, because it was not true. Catholic citizens have a right to know that this was not the case. Non Catholic citizens have a right to know that Catholics are not sabbotaging healthcare reform, but that Catholic citizens are interested in healthcare reform that protects the dignity of life and the freedom of those healthcare providers who are pro-life to be so without impunity.

The bishop has acted consistently with his position as bishop. Bishops have been challenging kings, emperors, presidents and other civil leaders since the time of Peter. In the past, not only did bishops challenge civil authorities, but so did religious and lay people.

If you read the rule that St. Francis wrote for the Secular Franciscan Order, he forbids the taking of oaths to the state and serving in the armed forces. This was written in 1221 and was in effect until 1978 when Paul VI mitigated it to a just participation in public affairs. By just, Paul VI meant that the Secular Franciscans were allowed to serve in the armed forces and pledge allegience to their homeland, provided that they did not support unjust actions by their governments or actions that the Church condemns or calls into question. In other words, their first allegience is the the papacy, then the nation.

The point is that the involvement of the bishops and the papacy in civil affairs and with civil leaders is part of our Church’s tradtiion. It goes back thousands of years. Why do you think that Becket was martyred?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[CradleCath]

I think that’s a little bit strong. Patrick Kennedy accused the US Bishops of not being pro-life and of throwing out a red herring to kill health care. It was Tobin’s duty to correct Patrick Kennedy as to the US Bishops’ history and reasoning on this issue. Then Patrick Kennedy declared that he can be pro-choice legislator and be in good standing as a Catholic. Once again it was Tobin’s duty to correct these errors that KENNEDY put out into the public realm.
In 2007 Tobin wrote a confidential and pastoral letter to Kennedy encouraging him to re-examine his abortion position and until he corrects it to refrain from communion. Kennedy decided 2 years later to leak this fact but tried to erroneously link it to the current issues. Thus Tobin had to correct the misconception that his request was linked to the current public debate and to correct Kennedy’s claim that priests had been told to refuse him communion.

Tobin only responded to Kennedy’s public statements that were erroneous. What else was he going to do? Allow Kennedy to lead others to believe its morally ok to be pro-choice and further its legality? Was Tobin supposed to allow Kennedy to smear his name with half-truths and lies?

I predicted this from the moment Patrick opened his mouth, but he’s sadly mistaken if he thought a bishop from Pittsburgh was going to be wowed by the Kennedy mystique. Kennedy could have simply apologized and met privately with the bishop but instead Kennedy chose to keep trying to publicly stick it to the Church. And now he’s trying any angle to make himself look like a victim.

You seem quite knowledgeable about the issue & I really appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut since you’re from the area being addressed. From what you say, Patrick Kennedy is pretty much a “non-player” in the political arena & (sorry if this sounds mean) I’m glad. I’m interested in your view of Bishop Tobin??

 

[Christopher68]

Bishop Tobin did not come across in his letter as “weeing.” Rep. Kennedy made the issue public, after two years had passed. Bishop Tobin has been more than gracious in this matter.

You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, as I am to mine.

To expand on my earlier comments - I believe Bishop Tobin should have sent a personal and private letter to the congressman. If he wanted to address the issue publicly, he could have issued a general letter discussing the issues - without referencing the congressman specifically. I am not saying the ‘content’ of his response was wrong. I am saying I am disappointed in the manner in which it was delivered. IMHO, the way the bishop responded was petty. Again, I expect that type of behavior from a politician, but not from a church leader.

 

[JReducation]

You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, as I am to mine.

To expand on my earlier comments - I believe Bishop Tobin should have sent a personal and private letter to the congressman. If he wanted to address the issue publicly, he could have issued a general letter discussing the issues - without referencing the congressman specifically. I am not saying the ‘content’ of his response was wrong. I am saying I am disappointed in the manner in which it was delivered. IMHO, the way the bishop responded was petty. Again, I expect that type of behavior from a politician, but not from a church leader.

Bishop Tobin did send a private letter to Congressman Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy made it available to the public. Google Partrick Kennedy or visit the Boston Globe and you will see where he makes the information available to the public. The bishop’s response was that he did not wish to discuss Mr. Kennedy’s spiritual life in public. However, he would correrct him in public evertime he publicly misrepresents the teaching of the Church or the position of the bishops. This is a must.

No religious leader of any faith can allow someone to misrepresent his faith. In doing so, he is allowing the people whom he serves to be misrepresented. This means you and me. I do not want Mr. Kennedy telling the American people that I am not pro-life and that I am blocking the healthcare reform, because I don’t care about life.

I don’t know what you do, but I minister in Respect Life for a very large diocese, I also work in a parish with 2,000 families. I don’t want Mr. Kennedy telling all of these people that I stand for something that is not true. If he does and I have a chance to publicly say that he’s lying, I’m going to do so. This is not fair to those of us who are also Catholic.

The bishop is not out of order and is not acting like a politician. He is defending our reputation. You and I should be grateful that someone is doing it.

Mr. Kennedy also did not like it when at his father’s funeral, Cardinal O’Malley pulled President Obama aside and told him that he needed to know that the Catholics would support the healthcare bill only if Mr. Obama kept his promise to keep abortion funding out of it and include a conscience clause. Mr. Kennedy was upset with Cardinal O’Malley because he felt that the Cardinal was blocking the bill. Mr. Kennedy seems to have a tendency to see only is precious bill and not see what the bishops are trying to say. Since he does not see what they are saying, he misrepresents them and by associatioin, he misrepresents his own Church.

He can do this in private. But when he does it in public he needs a public response. Getting your wrist slapped in public is what happens when you malign someone else’s reputation in public. Can you give me one good reason why Catholics should allow the rest of Amercia to believe that Mr. Kennedy is telling them the truth about us? This is not about Mr. Kennedy and the bishop. It’s about Mr. Kennedy and us Catholics. He accused us of not being pro-life. If you accuse my bishop, then you’re accusing me, because I’m part of his Church. I don’t have to like my bishop, but I also have no choice but to be in communion with him. It comes with being a Catholic. So when someone attacks my bishop, he attacks the entire Church that my bishop represents.

This was not a feather in the bishop’s cap. This was very hard to do. To ask someone not to receive communion is the last step before you excommunicate them. Mr. Kennedy got this request in a private letter. What does he do? Instead of laying low. He goes out and puts his foot in his mouth. He is lucky that the bishop has not told the media that he is excommunicated and that the media is too dumb to figure it out.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

I’d like to try to help those who believe that Bishop Tobin is “too political”. Let’s look at four or five prominent figures in Roma Catholic history.

1. Francis of Assisi: religious superior and founder; writes a letter a public letter to the king and reminds him of his moral obligation to his subjects; writes a rule for his lay followers and forbids them from pledging allegiance to their nation, bearing arms, or fighting in the army, because of the abuses of power.
2. Joan of Arc: Franciscan; leads the French army into battle
3. Catherine of Siena: Dominican; encourages the pope to fight for Rome and return there
4. Rita of Cassia: Augustinian; brokers a peace treaty between two warring kingdoms
5. John Paul II: priest, bishop and pope; leads the polish people on a peaceful march through the city; confronts Communism in Poland; uses every possible connection in the Vatican to bring down the Iron Curtain
6. Thomas Becket: priest, bishop; publicly challenges the king’s immorality

These are just some of the Catholic religious and clergy who have been involved in the fight to protect Catholics from civil politicians and their immoral programs. This is part of what we do. We protect our people.

During the last 100 years or so, Catholic bishops failed to protect people and we had a horrible disaster with the sexual abuse of children and teens. We were all stunned at their mismanagement of the situation in the name of discretion. Now they’re toughening up on everyone, not just politicians who publicly discredit the Church. We can’t have it both ways. Either the bishops toughen up on everyone or they continue to follow the path of discretion at the risk to innocent people. The bishops are not just toughening up when people like Mr. Kennedy say something that is not true. They are toughening up on clergy, religious, and parishioners as well. If you say or do something in public, they are responding and taking no prisoners. We asked them to do this. We Catholics said that we needed this kind of pastoral care from them.

It is very sad that this is happening. As I said above, it is sad when a parent has to tell an adult child to shape up or move out. Bishops are human beings too. They too have feelings. They do not like to get up in the morning and have to deal with all of this heat anymore than any of us would like to do so. We can’t ask them to go back to being discrete, even though people may get hurt. That’s not fair to the rest of us. Nonetheless, they try to be discrete as long as they can. I know many of these guys personally. They are not hatchet men. They are good men trying the best they can to face some tough situations. They need our support.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Fitz]

We, on CA, were ahead of the Trib by a few days: chicagotribune.com/news/sns-ap-us-ri-bishop-kennedy,0,7788669.story

 

[Christopher68]

Bishop Tobin did send a private letter to Congressman Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy made it available to the public. Google Partrick Kennedy or visit the Boston Globe and you will see where he makes the information available to the public. The bishop’s response was that he did not wish to discuss Mr. Kennedy’s spiritual life in public. However, he would correrct him in public evertime he publicly misrepresents the teaching of the Church or the position of the bishops. This is a must.

No religious leader of any faith can allow someone to misrepresent his faith. In doing so, he is allowing the people whom he serves to be misrepresented. This means you and me. I do not want Mr. Kennedy telling the American people that I am not pro-life and that I am blocking the healthcare reform, because I don’t care about life.

I don’t know what you do, but I minister in Respect Life for a very large diocese, I also work in a parish with 2,000 families. I don’t want Mr. Kennedy telling all of these people that I stand for something that is not true. If he does and I have a chance to publicly say that he’s lying, I’m going to do so. This is not fair to those of us who are also Catholic.

The bishop is not out of order and is not acting like a politician. He is defending our reputation. You and I should be grateful that someone is doing it.

Mr. Kennedy also did not like it when at his father’s funeral, Cardinal O’Malley pulled President Obama aside and told him that he needed to know that the Catholics would support the healthcare bill only if Mr. Obama kept his promise to keep abortion funding out of it and include a conscience clause. Mr. Kennedy was upset with Cardinal O’Malley because he felt that the Cardinal was blocking the bill. Mr. Kennedy seems to have a tendency to see only is precious bill and not see what the bishops are trying to say. Since he does not see what they are saying, he misrepresents them and by associatioin, he misrepresents his own Church.

He can do this in private. But when he does it in public he needs a public response. Getting your wrist slapped in public is what happens when you malign someone else’s reputation in public. Can you give me one good reason why Catholics should allow the rest of Amercia to believe that Mr. Kennedy is telling them the truth about us? This is not about Mr. Kennedy and the bishop. It’s about Mr. Kennedy and us Catholics. He accused us of not being pro-life. If you accuse my bishop, then you’re accusing me, because I’m part of his Church. I don’t have to like my bishop, but I also have no choice but to be in communion with him. It comes with being a Catholic. So when someone attacks my bishop, he attacks the entire Church that my bishop represents.

This was not a feather in the bishop’s cap. This was very hard to do. To ask someone not to receive communion is the last step before you excommunicate them. Mr. Kennedy got this request in a private letter. What does he do? Instead of laying low. He goes out and puts his foot in his mouth. He is lucky that the bishop has not told the media that he is excommunicated and that the media is too dumb to figure it out.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Thank you for your detailed response. You haven’t changed my opinion of the manner in which the bishop conveyed his message, but I understand and respect your opinion.

 

[Fitz]

I’d like to try to help those who believe that Bishop Tobin is “too political”. Let’s look at four or five prominent figures in Roma Catholic history.

1. Francis of Assisi: religious superior and founder; writes a letter a public letter to the king and reminds him of his moral obligation to his subjects; writes a rule for his lay followers and forbids them from pledging allegiance to their nation, bearing arms, or fighting in the army, because of the abuses of power.
2. Joan of Arc: Franciscan; leads the French army into battle
3. Catherine of Siena: Dominican; encourages the pope to fight for Rome and return there
4. Rita of Cassia: Augustinian; brokers a peace treaty between two warring kingdoms
5. John Paul II: priest, bishop and pope; leads the polish people on a peaceful march through the city; confronts Communism in Poland; uses every possible connection in the Vatican to bring down the Iron Curtain
6. Thomas Becket: priest, bishop; publicly challenges the king’s immorality

These are just some of the Catholic religious and clergy who have been involved in the fight to protect Catholics from civil politicians and their immoral programs. This is part of what we do. We protect our people.

During the last 100 years or so, Catholic bishops failed to protect people and we had a horrible disaster with the sexual abuse of children and teens. We were all stunned at their mismanagement of the situation in the name of discretion. Now they’re toughening up on everyone, not just politicians who publicly discredit the Church. We can’t have it both ways. Either the bishops toughen up on everyone or they continue to follow the path of discretion at the risk to innocent people. The bishops are not just toughening up when people like Mr. Kennedy say something that is not true. They are toughening up on clergy, religious, and parishioners as well. If you say or do something in public, they are responding and taking no prisoners. We asked them to do this. We Catholics said that we needed this kind of pastoral care from them.

It is very sad that this is happening. As I said above, it is sad when a parent has to tell an adult child to shape up or move out. Bishops are human beings too. They too have feelings. They do not like to get up in the morning and have to deal with all of this heat anymore than any of us would like to do so. We can’t ask them to go back to being discrete, even though people may get hurt. That’s not fair to the rest of us. Nonetheless, they try to be discrete as long as they can. I know many of these guys personally. They are not hatchet men. They are good men trying the best they can to face some tough situations. They need our support.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Excellent post. Thanks.