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Larry O'Donnell: Bishop Who Banned Patrick Kennedy 'A Political Hack'

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Leave it to Larry to fan the flames . . .

On today's Morning Joe, Larry O'Donnell called the Roman Catholic bishop who barred Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) from taking communion a "political hack."

Interestingly, Mika Brzezinski had a totally different take, arguing the controversy was not about the Church but about Kennedy publicizing the matter in a play to his base. Though Bishop Thomas Tobin sent his letter to Kennedy more than two years ago, its contents didn't come to light until Kennedy recently revealed them to a Rhode Island newspaper.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I think this is about Patrick Kennedy . . . All of a sudden this comes out . . . This is about Patrick Kennedy publicizing his rift with the Church so that he can appeal to members of his base.
. . .
LARRY O'DONNELL: This is a political act by a political bishop . . . Political bishops do the church absolutely no good. This guy's—this bishop is a political hack.

Joe Scarborough was quick to disassociate himself from the latest from the man he's dubbed Crazy Larry . . .

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Sister Margaret, I had nothing to do with this conversation, Sister.  Nothing at all!  I love the Catholic church.

 

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backwards, as usual

Shock and surprise, he got it backwards.

Besides, how dare that Christian try to force his ideas on the parishoners? [/sarc]

Poor Patrick Kennedy

I think this is a private thing, but it was Patrick Kennedy that brought it up after two years.  He has always done what he wanted to do, this is just another example of it.  Sympathy for him, never.  When you choose to blab everything, then you become the loser.  He wants to do whatever he wants to do like most people, but now he wants us to feel sorry for him and blame the Bishop.  It shows once again that there are LOSERS in the Liberal Kennedy family.  And...there are those that will support him in the media and like minded.

The Kennedy clan expects

The Kennedy clan expects things on their terms and are insulated from alternative points of view and of reason.

Patrick is one of the more abrasive Kennedys and was brought up with a self-serving view of religion and morals.

I don't feel sorry for him.

and I'm sure

This thread will soon fill up with all the lefties on NB who keep insisting that the progressive agenda will never creep into the church in an active effort to control what ministers do.

Congrats to Mika. She was exactly right: this was a private matter that Kennedy blabbed in public to embarrass the bishop.

This is about pressuring churches to drop their standards to convenience liberals. Today the pressure comes through the media. In the future it will come through the government.

Absolutely right! See my

Absolutely right!

See my comment below...GMTA about Mika!

In the future it will come through the government.

You mean like requiring Roman Catholics to pay for abortions through a "monthly fee"?

Question to NBers for help

Question to NBers for help on how to defend a position...

There is much talk about federal funds for abortion and how you shouldnt make people who disagree with the deplorable act fund it (my position). But then what's the response if they say that people who are anti-war have to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Is it as simple as funding the military is for defense and part of the Constitution and killing unborn babies isn't? But seriously, what's a sound argument for this? Thanks

No doubt the proponents of

No doubt the proponents of abortion expect that these infants, were they born, will launch a violent atack on the United States of America.  Otherwise, one might question the validity of the simile.

Winning both wars

...are in the best interest for our country. Nobody benefits from a weaker America. Abortion only serves the individual and if that indivudual decides to take the next step and do something that is still legal in most states, then the government should not be paying for it.

shawn is correct

The government wages war on behalf of the entire population in order to keep everyone safe. If you want to live in a prosperous country and enjoy the fact that al Qaeda's not in charge, you should at least be willing to pay for the soldiers who fight.

We all pay for highways because we all use them. Much the same as public parks and sidewalks.

Abortion is not a public concern, has nothing to do with my well being, and benefits only the convenience of a woman who will most likely never bother to thank me. And even if I concede to paying for abortions of adult women, that won't stop them from using my money on pregnant teenage girls in the process, who won't get counseling and will end up worse off.

Wars are necessary to stop the likes of bin Laden. Abortion is (usually) a matter of personal convenience. Ask an abortionist to fund the adoption process of a Christian family, and see what kind of answer you get. Suddenly "personal matters" have a whole new meaning.

you might try this

Waging war is a constitutional act of the Federal Government. 

Paying for an individual's personal and individual choice to have an abortion isn't.

I can't recommend highly enough Milton & Rose Friedman's "Free to Choose".  There was a television series by the same name, which I never saw, but I'd recommend the book.  A quick google of Milton Friedman & Constitutional Role of Government ought to load your argument ammo.

Never quit!

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

Mika Brzeszinski has it partially correct . . .

What really sparked it was earlier when, in the midst of the debate over health care form, Patrick Kennedy openly called for the Catholic Church to essentially abandon its doctrine so that it could endorse a bill that would provide for Federally funded abortions.  Kennedy was calling the RCC out.

Some of the bishops have upped the ante by denying him Communion.  Kennedy revealed this private matter to the public to earn some bonafides among his Lefty lobbyist pals.

Like many Americans, the bishops are getting fed up with arrogant politicians describing themselves as Catholics while telling the RCC what it should and should not be doing.

In the District of Columbia, the RCC has openly threatened to forego government funding of its faith-based community initiatives should the DC city council proceed with a law prohibiting any organization from discriminating against homosexuals.  The RCC is worried that such a law may require them to marry gay couples against Church doctrine, and at a larger stake, permit gay couples to adopt children through Catholic adoption agencies.

If the RCC does so act, the city will be in the hurt locker when it comes to community services.    

 

It wasn't until I started

It wasn't until I started visiting this site daily that I became aware of Catholic/Christian bashing in the media. Because of their pure ignorance on how church teaching works they attack century old positions and the make the priests/bishops doing the right thing out to be some renegades. It's disgusting. But apparently I didn't know the bishop was up for reelection this year and was playing to his base.

A late welcome to

A late welcome to Newsbusters!

I see you've only been here about 3 months, so you weren't here when Matthew Balan posted this classic which is one of my all-time favorites.

Your comment aobut the Bishop playing to his base got me chuckling, because apparently even the Pope is not "representing" what his constituents want. <eyeroll>

The depths of their ignorance of Catholicism  never stops them from lecturing  about what the Church should and shouldn't be doing.

We should have a new word:  a Kennedy-Catholic.  You know, like an "African-American."  They have their own culture and customs within the Church.

Thanks for the welcome. I

Thanks for the welcome. I have been reading this site for close to a year and a half and its this site that made me nausated by the MSM. One drawback is now when I watch things on TV I instantly search for a bias and sometimes think I am just creating one :-D. Anyways, I agree we need a Kennedy-Catholic term because then when they release polls that say "catholics" believe that birth control is ok, gay marriage is no big deal and abortion is acceptable at times then they can clarify its Kennedy-Catholics and not REAL catholics that believe it

You might want to add Kerry to the definition since he also has

been denied communion in the past for his public support of abortion.  What a bunch of 'do you know who I ams' - enough to make one throw up in their mouth!

K-K-Catholics do NOT have to follow the church's beliefs.   Reminds me of a family member who, as the governor's wife with a Kennedy family lineage, believes the laws of the state do NOT apply to her ;-)  'Don't they know who she is?'

Arrogant bunch, aren't they!

Oh, my, Mark.....you're

Oh, my, Mark.....you're going to have to wait while I stop laughing.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I think this is about Patrick Kennedy . . . All of a sudden this comes out . . . This is about Patrick Kennedy publicizing his rift with the Church so that he can appeal to members of his base.

I don't know what's stranger: that Larry O'Donnell takes himself seriously while he's spouting this nonsense,  or that Mika is the savvy and perceptive side of this conversation!

The kennedy Tradition continues

rules and laws are for the riff-raff. NOT the kennedys.

 It's a wonder this guy is still alive.   he seems hell bent on destruction if not for himself then for the rest of us.   I don't understand how these catholics can look themselves in the face and continue to take communion and then push their opinions thru laws on the rest of us. 

 

Relativism

Patrick Kennedy --taught relativism by his daddy. 

BTW, I disagree that this is a private matter for Patrick, just as it is not for Kerry and the rest. I don't care what the dopey ass thinks, but either he is a Catholic or he is not.  Abortion is murder- that's the position of the Catholics. As usual, these hypocritical creeps want no consequences for what they say and do. Nothing is "right" or "wrong" for a relativist.

P.S. The bishop is a "political hack" --maybe so --so what? So that makes Kennedy right???    Another example of relativism in action. 

BTW, This is more than a "rift" with the Catholic church. If he supports abortion, he is NOT a Catholic. Are they too stupid to get it? Or are they deliberately being disingenuous? Methinks it is a little of both. 

NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"

Cheers to the Church

Kennedy's a Catholic-in-name-only much like his dad, and now that he's been barred from communion (LOL), he shows his true colors by going after the church and attacking it on healthcare.

The church would do good to excommunicate him, Pelosi, and probably all of the democrats in congress for all I know.

Who's Barring Who

What's worse –being barred from communion or being barred from being born?

I posted about this info

I posted about this info last night regarding Widdle Patwick K. He releases this info two years later...and expects us all to be dumb as rocks out here, depends on his constituents to be the same as well.

Give me a break!

Mark, I also caught this O'Donnell Nutcase Show this morning, Mika was correct, even ol' Barnicle saw right through this and said as such...seems to me that even the dems in the East Coast in supposedly safe seats seem to have some worry...then again, Kennedy isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer whatsoever...runs in a lot of the family...but the msm always carry their water.

Like I posted elsewhere yesterday...I don't care how old this is, abortion is murder in my eyes...and more Bishops need to do the same in my opinion.

'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart

Civic leaders and Catholic teaching

Civic leaders are taken to task publicly because their behavior can lead the faithful or other onlookers astray on the actual teaching of the Catholic Church if the leaders openly profess to hold a certain serious position against Catholic teaching. A leader who disrespects the Body and Blood of Christ by professing that killing a child is not killing a child and then publicly saunters up to the communion rail as if both acts were harmonious forces the Bishop to take a position to protect the rest of Church or incidentally others from believing that the Church sanctions the murder of innocent children. It is really a very simple thing caused by the politicians public words and deeds. The Bishop , while being autonomous, almost has no choice but to take a public position to protect the faithful. So even though a pubic leader has never participated in an abortion he is called out while Joe Average professing  a similar belief , as long as he has not participated in an abortion, is not deemed unworthy of Communion but merely to be in possession of an uninformed conscience because Joe Average is not a community leader whose office speaks with a certain amount of authority.

Since when is it Larry

Since when is it Larry O'Donnell's business who a Catholic Bishop deems worthy of Communion in the Bishop's Church?  Rules are rules, and Bishops are charged with enforcing the rules within their Diocese of the Church.  Judging by his name, I would guess that L O'D is (or at least was) a Catholic...if he doesn't like the rules of the Church being enforced, he can f*** off to another.

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."  -George Best

Is this the same Patrick Kennedy who had a concrete

 

barrier jump out in front of his car a few years ago in D.C. and then landed in re-hab?  Just checking because if PK was a Republican, I'm sure the media would have reminded me of this incident like they did with other things like:

Cheney was the former CEO of Halliburton

Bush was AWOL from the National Guard.

Sarah Palin's daughter is pregnant.

 

 

Don't Tax Me, Bro.

Another Kennedy who feels

Another Kennedy who feels fit to call him/herself a Catholic and then follow NONE of the rules of Catholicism.

He who eats and drinks, ... judgment to himself

Cross posted comment on http://www.at-the-water-cooler.com/Discernment/2009/11/23/larry-odonnell...

Larry O’Donnell argues for God’s Judgement on Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) on Abortion

Communion is a
Christian scriptural practice based on 1 Corinthians 11:24 “and when he
had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for
you; do this in remembrance of me.” For those who do not believe in
Jesus by their own belief does not believe in communion. And if one
does not believe what the scripture says about communion then its
practice is an dishonest act to pretend to be something they are not.

Those who do should take time and consider 1 Cor. 11:26-29 “For as
often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s
death until He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the
cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and
the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him
eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks,
eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body
rightly.”

I do not know exactly what Larry O’Donnell believes, He has made the statement on National News that ‘Roman Catholic bishop who barred Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) from taking communion a “political hack.”
This is in issue to Partick’s pro-choice positions … there are many
scriptural references against the choice to kill an innocent child
because it is not loved. While what is in Partick’s heart is only known
to God and himself his public actions are know to the world.

Psalm 139:13-15

“You did form my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother’s
womb…you knew me right well; my frame was not hidden from you, when I
was being made in secret…”

Jeremiah1:4-5

“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb, I k(Living Bible Version)

Proverbs 24:11-12

“Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back
and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you
didn’t know about it.”

Proverbs 6:16-17

“The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood.”

Matthew 5:21

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill…”

Psalm 127:3

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward.”

 

 This AP article shows the

 This AP article shows the same kind of bias that Larry has.

"The bishop's attempt to publicly shame Kennedy on his abortion stance comes just a few months after the death of his father, Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts."

That's the journalist's statement and not a quote.  The facts that Bishop Tobin did this two years ago and that Kennedy only outed the restriction himself now contradicts the journalist's judgement of an attempt to "publicly shame" Kennedy.  As if that was possible. 

Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man. - Confucious

Obviously the facts of the

Obviously the facts of the matter aren't as important to the AP as making Kennedy a victim and the church look bad.  Hooray for the "real" news organizations.

Darn...and the AP keeps laying off staff - so-called journalists

who write such biased, INCORRECT articles should not be surprised to find a pink slip on their desk! 

WHERE ARE THE EDITORS????  Does NO ONE give a hoot if the facts are straight?  Or is is ALWAYS slam Christianity at every opportunity??? 

Methinks the Associated Press is soon to understand more clearly that 'as you sow, so shall you reap' is not simply a trite Bible passage, but very meaningful.  May they indeed 'reap' what they have 'sown' - and I hope they enjoy every moment! 

This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Domestic Right Wing Terrorist!  And now by our president as a 'swiftboater' - both titles I'll wear proudly!

It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams

202.224.3121   LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111   WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

 

I love all of these self

I love all of these self appointed Canon Law experts in the MSM.  Any Bishop in any Diocese is within his authority to deny Communion to any Catholic who is not following the teachings of the Church - period.  I love these cafeteria Catholics like Kennedy, Pelosi and Kerry who think they can call themselves Catholic while very publicly totally ignoring the teachings of the Church.  Sorry Patrick, you can’t have it both ways, nor is this a “Private Matter”.  You made it public, now live with the consequences.   

Patrick

Larry has it backwards. The Bishop is an educated, literate individual on a worthwhile career path whilst Patrick has never wasted an opportunity to prove that he is indeed a political hack.

Will we ever be free of

Will we ever be free of these Kennedys?  Talk about needing to "move on".

One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.

RR GOP~

"Will we ever be free of these Kennedys?"

My thoughts exactly.  Please, somebody make them go away!

We're trying here in the Bay State! Have a great Republican

candidate, Scott Brown, who just may become the 'KEY' senator come January!  Mary Landrieu can just sit in the corner when Scott comes to DC - and I trust Scott to NOT be for sale! 

What Senator Landrieu did is nothing more than political prostitution and I condemn her for casting aside her principles for money.  Her state should not be rewarded for her DISREGARD for the majority of Americans.  Mary Landrieu just 'did sex' (thanks, SNL) to the 85%+ of Americans who do NOT want a healthcare bill.  If it ends up passing, she can go to her deathbed knowing she destroyed the best healthcare system in the world.  I sure hope those $300 million were worth it...my bet is that we won't be able to see where $1 went!  Just as the recovery.gov site does NOT show us where the hundreds of billions of stimulus funds went, we can be assured we will not know the final destination of these $300 million!  Sleep well, Senator.  Would you like a cigarette after that royal screwing?????

This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Domestic Right Wing Terrorist!  And now by our president as a 'swiftboater' - both titles I'll wear proudly!

It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams

202.224.3121   LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111   WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

 

CC... Mary's response

CC...

Mary's response would be 'Got a light?'

She could care less, she got what she wanted, she always does and has since Katrina, plus for her agreeing to vote for ANWR before Katrina, she has blackmailed her way through the Senate/tax-payers since I can remember, it's just that for once something like this makes the msm news big time...which will most likely not happen again...but it was high past time it did.

I just wished more people would wake up to how our govt. works, who and how they vote in issues and congress-critters really matter to keep this country a strong, vital number one super power.

I worry we've  lost that....seems we aren't suppose to be proud anymore, it's all supposed to be a level playing field with the twits that have no brain cells that work, all two of their cells are on strike, which is so fitting...with the exception of one major problem, these same people are running our county now.

'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart

Again with the catholic bashing?

Could these people be more apparent in their desire to undermine the individual? The catholic church cannot and will not stand when the government start interfering with the individual's soul.

Lawrence

I have rarely observed a man as angry and unhappy as Lawrence O'Donnell except maybe Barney Frank.

I know what's making Barney hate himself but what is O'Donnell's excuse?

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