Today's Providence (RI) Journal reports that Catholic Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has barred U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) from receiving communion because of Kennedy's views on abortion rights. Kennedy told the newspaper: "The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion." This take the dispute between the two-- that has become public in connection with health care reform proposals-- to a new height. (See prior posting.) Tobin's office declined to comment on any conversation between Tobin and Kennedy, but denied that Tobin had spoken with diocese priests about the matter.
UPDATE: Former New York governor, Mario Cuomo, reacting to Church pressure on Patrick Kennedy, warned that if Church leaders pressure Catholic politicians to follow Church teaching in their political roles, this may well lead to people being hesitant to vote for Catholics. According to AP on Sunday, Cuomo said in part: "The American people need no course in philosophy or political science or church history to know that God should not be made into a celestial party chairman."
UPDATE2: Bishop Thomas J. Tobin issued a statement (11/22) in response to Rep. Kennedy's remarks. He says he wrote Kennedy in Feb. 2007 asking that he refrain from receiving Holy Communion in light of his consistent actions in opposition to Church teachings. The letter said that Tobin was writing Kennedy "personally and confidentially as a pastor addressing a member of his flock." Tobin says he is disappointed that Kennedy has now made this public.
