Did any of you see Bill O’Reilly’s show on FNC last night?
He had a segment on Bp. Tobin of Providence who recently slapped down Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI).
In a CNA story we learn that last Friday Bp. Tobin explained the situation:
“Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s statement about the Catholic Church’s position on health care reform is irresponsible and ignorant of the facts. But the Congressman is correct in stating that ‘he can’t understand.’ He got that part right.
“As I wrote to Congressman Kennedy and other members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation recently, the Bishops of the United States are indeed in favor of comprehensive health care reform and have been for many years. But we are adamantly opposed to health care legislation that threatens the life of unborn children, requires taxpayers to pay for abortion, rations health care, or compromises the conscience of individuals.”
The bishop called Rep. Kennedy a “disappointment to the Catholic Church” and to the citizens of Rhode Island.
“I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments. It is my fervent hope and prayer that he will find a way to provide more effective and morally responsible leadership for our state,” Bishop Tobin’s statement concluded.
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Good for the Bp. Unlike some of his fellow Bishops he appears not to be intimidated into silence because of the Kennedy name. If he had been the celebrant perhaps the coronation of the late Senator Kennedy would have been a true funeral Mass instead of the media show it was.
I think this is a great start. Imagine! A Catholic bishop has verbally chastened a Kennedy in a northeastern state, and in clear language!
Thank you Bishop Tobin. When Bishops act like real Bishops it gives me such hope. I pray that all of our Bishos would understand how much we need them to speak out. Regardless of how negative the media gets, these kind of actions can convert souls and give people a glimps into the true and beautiful teachings of the Catholic Church.
“The bishop called Rep. Kennedy a “disappointment to the Catholic Church” and to the citizens of Rhode Island.”
This needs to happen. Sometimes people only learn when they are shamed. I would say being called a disappointment to the whole church and his state, is adequate.
Yes, we are to love everyone, and sing Kumbaya, but sometimes people just need tough love. Maybe if more people were treated in the way they were required to be treated, we would have less of these discussions
Thank you, Bishop Tobin! I bet he wouldn’t tolerate a certain Sinisawa Dominican working as a volunteer at an abortion clinic in his diocese, either.
“The bishop called Rep. Kennedy a “disappointment to the Catholic Church” and to the citizens of Rhode Island.”
Ah, Love in action.
Tobin was the leader of the team that did our seminary visitation at the late Weston Jesuit School of Theology. I had a good impression then, as now.
It is interesting to note that Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York came out in strong support of Bishop Tobin in his criticism of Rep. Kennedy.
Good for Bishop Tobin! About time one of the Kennedys got a smackdown!
Hurrah for the Bishop but “disappointment”? I think it’s time to start getting very tough with these so-called Catholic politicians who continually misrepresent the teachings of the Church.
But the Congressman is correct in stating that ‘he can’t understand.’ He got that part right.
There is a long list of things the Kennedy’s have never understood.
Good for Bishop Tobin!
Really, though, it seems like some of the readers are more impressed by the Kennedy name than the Bishop was.
C’mon, folks! This is Patches we’re talking about. I don’t think anyone has ever looked at him as potential scion of the dynasty or first in stature among peers in the next generation (neither 2nd, 3rd, nor 4th, for that matter)
Now will he be refused Communion, too?
Thank you Bishop Tobin, if only we had sheperds like you in California, especially Fresno.
I’m not sure what the bishop was trying to accomplish with the use of the word “disappointment” and the phrase, “owes us an apology.” To me it makes the situation seem like Kennedy hurt the poor bishop’s feelings–or the phraseology sounds like something a VERY PC parent would say–rather than directly addressing the moral failing on the part of Kennedy.
The bishop should simply outline what Kennedy did that was wrong in objective, non-emotional language and spell out what Kennedy needs to do to correct his position. This doesn’t need to be couched in kid-glove-speak: “Paddy’s such a disappointment and should say ‘sorry’.”
On the other hand, I don’t think scoring political “smackdowns” with the screaming cable-heads is really part of the Church’s mission.
Somebody once said “let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.” Good advice ;)
Bishop Tobin is a blessing for our diocese. “Strong, loving and wise” as his motto states. Kennedy is a disappointment and embarrassment to our state. Even more embarrassing are our 65% “Catholics” who consistently vote for bad politicians just because of the party or the politician’s name. They will get what they deserve. We are becoming the bottom of the bucket – high job loss and high taxes. Our Lord said, “If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.” If you live and vote as a pagan, you will die as one, and gain your just reward!
Maybe now we will have an end to Camelot. God bless you Bishop Tobin, a true Shephard.
Not the end of Camelot I fear. Too many Kennedys left in the political arena and too few Bishops like Tobin. The coronation of Teddy not all that long ago is proof of that.
All you need to know about Patrick is this:
-The smart Kennedys go to Harvard
-The stupid Kennedys go to Brown
-Patrick went to Providence College!
(this one came from a very bright PC alumnus-so PC is not the intended brunt of this)
I did see the clip on O’Reilly. He had his two people with whom he discussed this (I don’t remember who, other than one was listed as a “Democratic Strategist.”) Even Mr. O’Reilly, who is not afraid to admit his Catholic faith, gave too much on this – For he did not in my mind nip in the bud the “tired” arguments of the pro-aborts regarding so-called separation of Church and State. Hence, his “no-spin, looking out for you” jargon is not as foolproof as he believes.