Maine bishop threatens to punish vocal activist

[moobu2]

Advocate for those sexually abused by priests could be denied communion

PORTLAND, Maine - The leader of Maine's Roman Catholics has taken the unusual step of threatening to punish an outspoken advocate for people who were sexually abused by priests, possibly by denying him communion.

Paul Kendrick of Freeport has been banned from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, and warned in a letter that if he tries again to contact Portland Bishop Richard Malone he risks losing any right "to participate fully in the sacramental life of the church."

Kendrick, a co-founder of the Maine chapter of the lay reform group Voice of the Faithful, has been a vocal critic of how church leaders have responded to abuse claims and treated victims.

"It's a not-so-subtle attempt to silence me," Kendrick said Monday. "My response is that it's not about me. It's about protecting children today and helping and supporting those who were abused. He will not silence me from speaking out on those issues."

More here

[MichiganVote]

1. Go Paul...you're getting to them!!

[charlie]

2. They say this one guy's confrontations

could "undermine Malone's ministry." One guy. Derail a bishop's business.

So, when Spain's government enacts social reforms -- including protections for female victims of domestic violence, liberalizing access to medical abortions, and legalizing same-sex marriages -- and Il Poperino puts on his best dress and amasses a throng of several 100K in opposition, what the fuck do you call that?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. If Kendrick cant take communion there

he should go to another church--like the Episcopal Church--and take it there. Sacraments are only sacred because of the sacredness that the participants put into them.

[Libertyfirst]

4. Right on to Kendrick and right on to you, ayeshahaqqiqa. n/t

[knitter4democracy]

6. The RCC is in communion with other churches. Good point.

He shouldn't miss out on Communion because of that asshat.

[cosmik debris]

5. Will the Bishop ban his children from attending?

:)

[rug]

7. The bishop is violating Canon Law.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. How so?

It has always been my understanding that in those denominations that maintain the historic authority of the episcopacy (Roman Catholic and churches in submission to it, the Orthodox churches, the Anglican Communion, probably a few more), bishops had exactly this kind of power. All it takes is a declaration that the person is formenting dissent against church authority -- in other words, promoting apostasy -- and the person suddenly becomes an "unrepentant sinner" who must be denied the Eucharist.

[rug]

9. Canons 212, 213 and 227

Can. 212 §1. Conscious of their own responsibility, the Christian faithful are bound to follow with Christian obedience those things which the sacred pastors, inasmuch as they represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or establish as rulers of the Church.

§2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.

Can. 213 The Christian faithful have the right to receive assistance from the sacred pastors out of the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments.

Can. 227 The lay Christian faithful have the right to have recognized that freedom which all citizens have in the affairs of the earthly city. When using that same freedom, however, they are to take care that their actions are imbued with the spirit of the gospel and are to heed the doctrine set forth by the magisterium of the Church. In matters of opinion, moreover, they are to avoid setting forth their own opinion as the doctrine of the Church.


Per the article, this bishop is complaining of what he calls a pattern of harassment because this man is persistently expressing dissatisfaction with the Church's handling of sex abuse. The man's actions do not implicate doctrine, theology or apostasy and do not warrant cutting him off from the sacraments. If the bishop doesn't like it, let him try to get the man civilly arrested for harassment. Or perhaps he can actually address his complaints.

Under Canon Law the laity have the right to receive sacraments and this right cannot be abridged because someone has pissed off a bishop.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. Got it now, thanks. n/t

[CatholicEdHead]

10. "One of the biggest sins in the Catholic Church is to criticize a bishop," Doyle said.

No, not at all, many Bishops would like that way as there is an complete inability to deal with the sexual abuse scandals. Historical Catholic Theology are a paternal design where the clergy are stern fathers and the rest of the people children. Since the 60s'/Vatican II it became a more peer-to-peer relationship which Bishops and many clergy (not all but fewer and fewer) cannot relate too.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. Guess he hit a sore spot, huh?

Good for him, and shame, shame on them.

I read recently that a RICO suit is being brought here in CT against the Diocese of Norwich. Will be interesting to see how that one pans out.

[olegramps]

13. People will only begin to realize the damage that John Paul II did.

He appointed bishops that agreed without reservation with all the Church's teachings. These include the church's teachings on the contraception, ordination of women, premarital sex, and homosexuality. The bishops and many of the newly ordained priests will only succeed in further alienating the laity. You have a church in which the leadership is totally out of touch with the vast majority of the membership. The American church will follow the path of the membership in Europe. There will not be a shortage of priests since they will have more than enough to minister to those who are left.

I really wonder just how many Catholics actually believe in the majority of the Church's doctrine. Do they actually believe that Mary was conceived without Original Sin and was consumed body and soul into heaven? Do the really believe in the virgin birth of Jesus? Do they accept that the bread and wine are actually transformed into the body and blood of Jesus? I decided long ago that I couldn't accept these teachings and I wonder if people were truthful about their faith what they would say the really believed in.