Will Catholic Church withhold communion from politicians who support wars.

[Postman]

...of aggression, such as in Iraq?

The Governor of my state, James McGreevey, has bowed to the wishes of the Bishop in Newark, NJ in that he will not take communion out of deference to the Catholic Church's position of not giving communion to politicians who support a womans right to choose.

When will the Catholic Church announce they are not giving communion to those politicians who supported this illegal, immoral war of aggression/imperialism in Iraq?

.....F**king hypocrites.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Indeed

[Loonman]

2. Getting into politics

If the fucking bead-mumblers want to get involved in politics, they should pay taxes like everyone else.

Fucking Catholics. Fuck them.

[DU9598]

3. Great Point

All catholics should be suggesting this to their diocese.

[demnan]

4. Those who don't approve of molestation of boys

should also avoid taking communion in the Catholic church.

[Justice]

5. Question

I read that article and thought there was also an issue about a divorce and remarriage. That is a bigger issue (can't have communion if remarry, unless first marriage was annulled). Article did not say his first marriage was annulled, so I am assuming this is an issue - which itself would prevent him from taking communion. Since this relates to his personal situation, I would agree with McGreevey's decision.

I thought McGreevey said he would not take communion in public (not that he wouldn't take it at all).

[2Design]

10. Baptized Catholic Take communion by God's rules not church

When I go to church, I take communion. If the reason for communion is to bring you closr to God and bring God's grace to you...why would anyone not be eligible all the time. I play by God rules not some sick individuals in the church.

Never got an annulment, back when they were $150. I decided I didn't need the church to tell me that there were problems and it was ok with them for me to divorce. I knew God knew and for me that is all that counts.

I ignore their rules. They are stupid rules and the people making them obviously don't live by them. Instead of marrying they abuse their parishioners. Again it is a problem with authoritarian people believing they can make a moral judgement when they don't follow rules themselves...

If you want communion, you just walk up and take it. Yes it is harder with a politician since their face is known but there are rogue priest who don't go along with rules too.....So you find another church......

I would NOT put space between me and my God based on some humans idiotic rules.

[Bridget Burke]

6. Right now, it's a local issue.

Which bishop wants to stand up for his beliefs? Or get on the front page, more likely.

[dedhed]

7. Good for McGreevey!!

The Catholic Church will never make such an announcement... here's why:

The Church stands to lose more donations by offending the Patriotic tendencies of its congregation, as opposed to those who lean pro-choice.

Good for McGreevey! I think that the bishop of Newark would rather McGreevey denounce Choice and take communion. But McGreevey is not ashamed of his priorities, or his responsibility to his constituents, despite what his Church says.

[robbedvoter]

8. Beautifully said. The pope opposed the war in Iraq specifically

let's remember, this is the same church that allowed itself to be used by Hitler to confer him respectability and legitimacy.

[vi5]

9. I like how McGreevey handled it....

He respected the wishes of the church by not receiving it, but made sure to make a very public statement as to the difference between the personal and the political which too many people seem to forget.

[ima_sinnic]

11. what gives these pedophiles, robbers & war-mongers the right

to judge ANYONE?

The Catholic Church owns the most real estate in the world. The Vatican is a treasure trove of gold looted from its conquests. The hypocritical higher-ups in their self-righteous smugness live like kings while admonishing the poor of the world that that is their "fate." For centuries it tortured "nonbelievers" and sodomized children. I hear no condemnation from them of the wanton murder of more than 10,000 Iraqis. As far as I am concerned they hold no moral authority whatsoever about anything.

[EdGy]

12. Don't forget the death penalty...

If they are going to do this on abortion, they must also do it on the death penalty.

That will be the true test of whether they are sincere or just political opportunists.

[lapislzi]

13. The Catholic Church has a loooong history of warmongering

OK, it might have been 500 years ago, but it did get right dirty with it. Just because it's out of the war business at the moment doesn't restore its credibility, imo.

[kskiska]

14. Will Rudy and Arnold be next?

Strangely, they're rarely mentioned when the subject of communion is raised. Joe Conason did a column on it, but the focus is always on Democratic leaders.