Rhode Islanders react to Tobin-Kennedy dispute
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Gerry Moniz didn't hesitate when asked what she thinks of the nationally publicized dispute between Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin and Patrick Kennedy over whether the congressman should refrain from taking Communion given his support for abortion rights. "I think Patrick Kennedy is wrong," Moniz, 56, said when asked to comment on Monday at an East Providence shopping plaza. A Catholic from West Greenwich, she added, "If he doesn't want to be Catholic, he should go to another church. The rules of the Catholic Church are, "We don't approve of abortion.' And he doesn't like that." At St. Francis Chapel in downtown Providence, several members expressed support for Kennedy after receiving Communion. "I think the bishop should let it go. The Kennedy family does so much good," said Dorothy Boisseau, of Providence. "Jesus welcomed everyone." Rhode Island Catholics interviewed on Monday had varying reactions to the escalating rift between Tobin and Kennedy that first erupted in October after the congressman criticized the church for opposing health-care reform efforts that would result in taxpayer dollars supporting abortion. On Friday, Kennedy said that Tobin had instructed him not to take part in Communion because of his abortion stance. But on Sunday, Tobin released excerpts of a 2007 confidential letter he sent Kennedy that he said supports his contention that he simply made a "request" for Kennedy to decline Communion. One day later, a cold rain fell as a cluster of people gathered for the daily 12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Francis Chapel. Afterward, several said Kennedy should be able to be among them receiving Communion. John Healey of Providence made the sign of the cross as he talked about Kennedy's history as an Irish Catholic, and said the congressman should be able to receive Communion. "The Holy Communion is the bread that gives us the strength to fight evil," Healey said. The Rev. Charles O'Connor, a priest at the Church of St. Mary on Broadway who was attending the St. Francis service, cautioned against using Communion as a punitive measure. "As a priest, I can understand where [Tobin] is coming from. He's speaking from church teaching," Father O'Connor said. "But this is a controversy that has been going on for a while. I think you have to be careful when you use the denial of Holy Communion to punish someone. That's not the intention of the Eucharist." The private disagreement between the bishop and the congressman had become heatedly public, and O'Connor said it was unfortunate that the two couldn't have resolved the matter. He recalled the dilemma that former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo faced in the early 1980s. Although a devout Catholic, Cuomo supported abortion rights as a politician and faced a backlash from Catholic leaders. Cuomo gave a speech at the University of Notre Dame in 1984 that addressed the issue directly, saying that Catholic lawmakers shouldn't be pressured to work for anti-abortion legislation. "As a Roman Catholic priest, I understand when politicians say they represent their constituency," O'Connor said. "We say that Catholics are bound by the Catholic teachings." O'Connor said he appreciates the conflict faced by politicians who are bound by Catholic teachings and charged with representing their constituency. These lawmakers, he said, are caught "between a rock and a hard place." Meanwhile, he said, some parishioners are now questioning their status in the church when their actions and beliefs don't mirror the Catholic doctrine. "This past Sunday, I had someone come up to me who is engaged in an alternative lifestyle," O'Connor said. "He said, 'What about me? I'm not considered to be 100-percent Catholic, because of what I do in private. Does that mean the bishop could say I can't receive communion?' " O'Connor said he could see a difference between someone whose private life differs from church teachings versus a person whose acts as a public official go against doctrine. O'Connor said he's received no missive from the Diocese telling him to deny Kennedy Communion. "I don't know if I would or not," O'Connor said. "I would imagine the congressman would not put priests in the diocese in that position." At a shopping center on Taunton Avenue anchored by a new Stop & Stop, David M. Borek, 62, a retired police officer from Pawtucket, voiced support for Kennedy. "He's a real Irish Catholic, and he should receive Communion," said Borek. He said the matter between Tobin and Kennedy should have been kept private, "just like a person going into the confession booth." His wife, Mary Meckes, 46, agreed. "It's an outrage what [Tobin] is doing to him," she said. "I never would believe a bishop would do something like that. I don't think they should take Communion away from anybody." She went on to say that "this would never happen to his father [the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy]. I think they put [Patrick Kennedy] in an embarrassing situation. I think they owe him an apology on national television." Renee Rose, 48, East Providence, stood beside her 19-year-old daughter, K'Lynn Johnston, and, while expressing conflicting feelings about abortion, was unwavering in her opinion that it shouldn't distract leaders from far more important issues, including those affecting her own family. "We have nowhere to live," she said. "We lost our house. I was living out of my car. I have no job. "I think people should put their energy on trying to save us, never mind worrying about abortion rights. The economy is really bad." Her daughter supported Kennedy. "I noticed at Catholic schools some people practicing their religions in different ways," she said. "There are certainly guidelines you should follow, but not everything that the Bible says is what you have to do. "You interpret it in your own way." 
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Dorothy Boisseau said, "Jesus welcomed everyone". Has she ever heard of Jesus Christ casting the money changers from the temple? Jesus Christ died for our sins and infanticide would clearly qualify as a sin. Anyone who believes that Jesus Christ would endorse terminating healthy and normal pregnancies because the child is an "inconvenience" knows virtually nothing about him. The Catholic Church's tents and beliefs are no secret, if Patrick Kennedy doesn't understand them he's bettor off OUT of the Catholic Church. Bishop Tobin didn't start this but he has no choice but to finish it. Kennedy is dead wrong here.
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Mr Kennedy brought it upon himself. It's one thing to vote the way he's going to vote because it's his job. It's completely another to wage war with the Catholic church. Catholics, and most other Christian faiths by the way for all Caholic bashers out there, believe that abortion is the taking of an innocent life. If he doesn't believe that, it's certainly his right but he is not "in communion" with the teachings of the church and I do not understand how he could accept communion in good conscience. He was not ex-communicated as he really did claim. He just lost his father very publicly and this has taken him off track. Stop bashing my faith and get back to work.
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The bishop is an absolute hypocrite. How dare he use Holy Communion to punich a Catholic. He makes me sick, listening to him on TV. What about all the hundreds of youth that were violated and now half of those priest are still passing out communion in our diocese. Give me a break. I have no respect for Thomas Tobin, we need a new bishop in RI
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Bishop Tobin should be ashamed to even 'ask' Kennedy to give up Holy Communion. We should not have to declare our political leanings when we approach the altar of God. It is none of Tobin's business what Kennedy does as part of his job. There is a separation of church and state in this free country just for such situations. Does he think Jesus would turn any of us away from the altar?
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The Bishop not only has the right but also the ABSOLUTE DUTY to defend the teachings of the Church! If just anybody and everybody can call themselves Catholic just because they feel like it, without actually respecting or following the most important teachings of the Catholic Church, then there would be no definition at all of Catholicism! If someone is pro-abortion (which means that they are in favor of the slaughter of innocent human beings) then they should obviously NOT expect to be able to receive communion. How could people like Kennedy, Reed, Lynch, Caprio, and even Langevin possibly think that they should be able to receive the Eucharist (which is the body, blood, soul and divinity of God) when they are all actively promoting the destruction of God's own creations - the most innocent and defenseless among us? The 5th commandment, contained within the Old Testament of the Bible, clearly states that THOU SHALL NOT KILL. This is not a nebulous commandment and it is not open for interpretation. It reads THOU SHALL NOT KILL. And abortion KILLS. Abortion is MURDER. Abortion literally STOPS A BEATING HEART. For everyone reading this, think about this and decide what kind of person you want to be! Do you want to be someone who will stand by idly while innocent babies are killed? Or do you want to be pro-life and be able to stand before God on Judgment Day and know you did all you could to defend the most defensless among us and STOP THE SLAUGHTER? Please choose wisely - choose life! - because your soul depends on it!
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Bishop Tobin is personally chasing away more catholics from an already emptying religion. Shame on you, you should be more worried about making sure priests don't molest children any longer or covering it up only to happen at another parish.
Jesus welcomed all, the roman catholic church only welcomes those with the same beliefs, mind set and with money.
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Bishop Tobin has every right to do what he's doing. If Kennedy doesn't agree with the beliefs of the Catholic church, he shouldn't call himself a Catholic and shouldn't even bother to go to and RC church, let alone take communion.
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Looks to me like the church is being punitive. My Mom isn't going to like this but the church should pay attention to what has happened in its own house over the past several years instead of punishing someone who has opinions that run counter to the church. I thought religion was supposed to bring people together and not divide them.
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Have you ever noticed that the only people that are in favor of abortion are alive?
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Let Patrick alone, if I wanted a Bishop in Congress I would have voted for him.
Let Tommy Tobin take care of Catholics..
Worried about abortion, OK, but does he stop a catholic woman who has an abortion from receiving communion?
Nah, stick to cleaning up the pedophiles Tommy, that should keep you busy enough
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Rep Kennedy was elected to represent ALL of his constituents - he was NOT elected to promote the Catholic Church. To me what the Bishop is doing is no different than a mobster threatening to break his leg, or hurt a family member, if he doesn't vote his way.
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I am tired of hearing from th both of them. Both should know better esp Bishop Tobin and knock off acting like little children!
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Abortion in a catholics eyes is murder.
The economy ,unemployment, all other issues pale in that light.
I am proud that the bishop does not back down.
If you don't believe in this why do you want to call yourself catholic and receive communion.
That's the part I don't understand.
Your catholic because you have faith in the teachings of the catholic church.You pray this in the Creed at each Mass.
The Catholic Church is not a democracy. You believe that Jesus gave the pope the keys. If I disagree with the pope, personally it is set aside. If the pope were to state that abortion was ok , I would have a problem with it. Personally I think it is barbaric that we kill our own young,but God wants my obedience more than he wants my opinion.
If you are a public person proclaiming to be catholic but attacking the views of the catholic church then why confuse those with little faith.
He should review what he believes in and go with it.
I respect all religions, I think that it is people trying to understand and obey God in whatever way they have faith in.
So why is Patrick trying to force an issue in a faith he obviously has no faith in ?
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What is the big deal. Patriarca was buried in the Catholic Church when he died so it seems the church makes rules as they go. I think the Bishop is wrong and should try to keep his flock that is slowly leaving the church.
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Dear fellow Americans and fellow Catholics,
Now I know why I have backed away from my own Church...due to over-zealous Leadership that thinks the Catholic way...is the only way.How wrong can the Leadership be? Totally wrong!
Is this Bishop trying to act like a Mormon????
To deny someone communion,even to a person whom works for in the Government,is shameless!
Ths Over-zealous...and pompous Bishop,forgets that
Rep.Kennedy,represents every person in your State,not just the Catholic sector.
So, by using guilt by asociation,this Bishop,is trying to strong-arm a ....Public offiical to se things his own way, and Rep.Kennedy knows that he represents all the people,regardles of faith. And he does it equally, as equal rights,what ever those right are,must be given a chance tosucceed or fail, to all people, of every faith,not just a Golden-dome few.
This Bishop needs to be reminded of the fact that our Constitution, runs this country,not the company policy from Rome.
Continue to seek communion Rep.Kennedy, and may
God forgive those that deny you,with their hidden agenda of Ego and pompous attitudes towards those that serve even them.
sincerely,
Alex Reyes,
California
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Everybody's against abortion until their 15 year old gets pregnant. Then we make an exception, but remain against it publicly. What would the priest and the people at church think if we didn't tell the paper what we're supposed to say?
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In a Related story, an afghan woman was publicly stoned to death .........
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That's right folks, you only have to follow the laws you think pertain to you. Yep, just pick and choose the laws you want. Imagine if all these laws were enforced, how many many people in the run for gov. would be charged with adultery or tellin lies. You either obey them or quit acting so pious folks. This is a state of hypocrisy. Don't commit murder but fine and dandy to abort a healthy fetus. Have nice day.
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do you refuse a dying man last rites because you don't agree with 10% of his life? who made the person administrating the rites judge and jury?
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Yes, Jesus welcomed everyone, but he also told them to go forth and sin no more. It’s amazing how many people forget the second half.
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This is just like stupid Northeastern Catholics. Bishop Tobin is NOT the one who made this public. Patrick Kennedy did so, precisely to elicit this reaction from his fellow Rhode Island Catholics. Most of those folks have been CINOs for years, because they've been drinking the Democrat Party and Union kool-aid all that time.
I am continually amazed at just how poorly catechized these folks are. Many of them went to Catholic schools through the 12th grade,a nd sometimes through college!
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