A Stitch in Haste

An update, via the U.K.’s Telegraph to my earlier post on Kerry v. Vatican:

American Catholic bishops are trying to defy secret advice from Rome that Communion should not be given to John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate.

The advice is contained in an explosive memo – clearly directed at Sen Kerry – by Cardinal Ratzinger, the Pope’s doctrinal advisor, who is head of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – the institutional heir to the Inquisition.
…
The tone and content of Cardinal Ratzinger’s memo, which was leaked to an Italian magazine last week, leave little room for misunderstanding. Some passages appear to have been drafted specifically with Sen Kerry in mind. …
The leaking of Cardinal Ratzinger’s memo has hugely embarrassed Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the Archbishop of Washington and head of the “domestic policy” commission of the US Catholic Bishops Conference.
…
Michael Novak, a Catholic theologian, said: “Ratzinger’s letter was stronger and firmer than we were led to believe. It’s pretty dynamite stuff.”

Only four American bishops, including Archbishop Raymond Burke of St Louis, have so far said they would refuse communion to Sen Kerry. Conservative Catholics believe the publication of the memo will boost their credibility among mainstream Catholics.

If I have to take sides, I guess I’ll support Kerry and the Rome-defying bishops on this one. The real issue, however, is how will Mr. “World Leaders Prefer Me” and Mr. Vice “Let’s Make America Respected in the World Again” react to this particular world leader?

Similar Posts:

• A Kerry Excommunicado Update
• Sorry, He’s Excommunicado Right Now…
• Kerry, Catholics, Catechisms, Kooks, Etc.
• Judge Rules Pope Immune from U.S. Liability
• Naked Bigotry Update: Pope Urges Anglicans to Reject Gays

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