I seem to recall hearing stuff like this before the election and in 2004 some Catholics saying that John Kerry should be denied Communion but this is coming after the election. I'm also wondering how does the priest know which of his parishioners voted for Obama. From the AP http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27705755/?gt1=43001 Priest: No communion for Obama supporters Priest says it's because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion COLUMBIA, S.C. - A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil." The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote. "Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein. "Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation." Risking their immortal soul During the 2008 presidential campaign, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly than four years earlier, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back. A few church leaders said parishioners risked their immortal soul by voting for candidates who support abortion rights. But bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakers — and voters — should refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from church teaching on abortion. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese. In their annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights. According to national exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. In South Carolina, which McCain carried, voters in Greenville County — traditionally seen as among the state's most conservative areas — went 61 percent for the Republican, and 37 percent for Obama. "It was not an attempt to make a partisan point," Newman said in a telephone interview Thursday. "In fact, in this election, for the sake of argument, if the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same." Click for related content Catholic bishops re-examine message after vote Cardinal laments support for abortion rights Conservative Catholics criticized Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 for supporting abortion rights, with a few Catholic bishops saying Kerry should refrain from receiving Holy Communion because his views were contrary to church teachings. Some say move is too extreme Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said she had not heard of other churches taking this position in reaction to Obama's win. A Boston-based group that supports Catholic Democrats questioned the move, saying it was too extreme. "Father Newman is off-base," said Steve Krueger, national director of Catholic Democrats. "He is acting beyond the authority of a parish priest to say what he did. ... Unfortunately, he is doing so in a manner that will be of great cost to those parishioners who did vote for Sens. Obama and Biden. There will be a spiritual cost to them for his words." A man who has attended St. Mary's for 18 years said he welcomed Newman's message and anticipated it would inspire further discussion at the church. "I don't understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who's a pro-abortion candidate," said Ted Kelly, 64, who volunteers his time as lector for the church. "You're talking about the murder of innocent beings."
I wonder how that priest views voting for a candidate who dropped napalm on villages and confessed to being a war criminal. No communion for anyone who voted?
my former church would always bring in reps to talk, I always hated that crap. I will watch c-span if I want to hear them talk.
seems like the intent is "no church in state matters" - because state matters are law and applicable to the greater population. if there is "state matters talk in church" - people could just walk out of church, or simply, disagree quietly with no repercussions (unless the Reverend prays for the dissenters to go to hell. )
I guess no one bothered reading the article. The priest isn't refusing his parishioners at all, he's asking them not to. In the end all he wants is for the Obama voters to hit the confession booths, then say their three Hail Marys and one Our Father, before receiving communion.
Good catch and my bad on reading too quickly. As far as just saying three Hail Marys I think the priest is considers this pretty serious.
Why do catholics confess all of their sins to a man?some of these same priest are probally the ones who would go behind their members back and have sex with thier kids.I'm sure their are a lot of american preist who are stanch supporters of republican party even before the abortion issue.I know their are a lot of catholics on this board, so i'm sure somebody will answer that for me? I think all churches are get out of hand, when they tell their members who to vote for.
Doesn't make sense. One side supports war and the other side supports abortion. The only people that would be eligible for communion are non-voters.
That's an idiotic defense. In making someone feel spiritually guilty about voting for obama, you are in effect discouraging people from voting for obama. duh. That places you firmly outside the bounds of neutrality, and as such should result in removal of your tax-free status. Period.
who's making a defense about anything??? worzel's post is about the contents of the article and the thread title, the thread title is 100% wrong and misleading. reading comprehension, try it.
wouldn't that be the exact opposite? Separation of church and state does not ban opinions towards each other; It bans the use of power affecting each other. The state stepping in and revoking rights because the church doesn't agree with the government would be ......... violation of church and state. There are lots of things that can violate the non-profit tax exempt status, and I will agree this borders being a violation. I think its a bit foolish to say that from the pulpit, but I don't think his constitutional rights should be revoked because I disagree with him.
i think a priest refusing to give communion to someone bc they voted for a certain candidate would be equivalent to endorsing the other candidate. (this is open to interpretation) i thought non-profit organizations are not allowed to endorse political parties.
It is not the churches place to have political views and when they do, they violate their tax exempt status.
or the quicker method could just be have their flock go to another church and kill off their income instantly.
