April 01, 2004
Kerry: Good Little Catholic Boy
HARDLY
John Kerry's Opposition to the Unborn Victims of Violence Act
Priests Should Refuse Communion to Kerry, Leading Catholic Says
James 2: 12 - 17
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Absolutely, there should be compassion. Absolutely, we should aim for fewer abortions. And absolutely, Kerry should be free to act according to his faith -- not only the dogma of his religion, but his faith, too.
I'd like to say this delicately, calmly and without ire: Perhaps his own faith sees something dangerous in the Laci Peterson bill, and acting in accordance with that, his deeds reflect it. Bills in Congress are notorious for containing riders and other pork not pertaining to the issue at hand.
Posted by: MB at April 2, 2004 12:29 AMI appreciate your refrain and further still your well taken point about "riders and other pork". I admit that I have not read the bill myself and will concede there may be hidden issues and agendas in the bill, not being presented by the media.
I would like to add though, that a profession of faith to a church, is also a vow to adhere to the governance of that church. This being the Catholic church, which has spoken out strongly against abortion for biblically founded reasons.
He is certainly "free to act according to his faith", as everyone has this same freedom. These actions do have have consequences though. My prayer is that we would all have compassionate, repentant hearts.
Posted by: Jeff Price at April 2, 2004 09:21 AMJeff, Why would you post this ridiculous article about Kerry being refused communion? If everyone that wasn't perfect was not permitted to take communion, no one would be taking it. Besides, Catholics let child molesters not only take communion, but preach. I wouldn't go by what they say is right and wrong.
Posted by: AM at April 5, 2004 11:35 AMAmy, Not being Catholic myself, I am in no way defending the actions of child molesting priests and did not post that as an endorsement of Catholicism. You are absolutely right about the imperfections of us all and it is true that no sin is greater than another. It is a question of the recognition of that sin and what you do with it after that.
John Kerry while he has the option to choose whether he recognizes his endorsement of abortions as sinful behavior, does not have the option to decide whether abortions are wrong or right in God's eyes. Only God has that authority, not me and not John Kerry.
I posted that article to illustrate the point that our actions do have consequences and if he chooses to turn away from the Bible and his church, a direct consequence of that should be the denial of the sacrament of communion.
I know Christians, that when their hearts are not right, they do not partake in communion. To do so is to eat and drink judgment upon yourself (1 Corinthians 11:28-30).