Catholicism,Politics
Diocese: Priest wrong about Obama votersPosted by Michael Paulson November 15, 2008 10:39 AM
The diocese of Charleston, SC is publicly rebuking the Rev.
Jay Scott Newman for suggesting that Catholics who voted
for Barack Obama should refrain from presenting themselves
for Communion unless they go to confession first. The
comments caused an enormous firestorm, and Newman then
suggested that he had been misinterpreted, but his diocese,
in a highly unusual step, is now saying that Newman
misrepresented the church's position, and that Obama voters
do not need to go to confession before seeking Communion.
The diocese has no bishop at the moment, so the statement
was issued by the diocesan administrator, Monsignor Martin
T. Laughlin, who said, "Father Newman’s statements do not
adequately reflect the Catholic Church’s teachings. Any
comments or statements to the contrary are repudiated."
Here is the statement in its entirety:
"Statement of Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin, Administrator
of the Diocese of Charleston
This past week, the Catholic Church’s clear, moral
teaching on the evil of abortion has been pulled into
the partisan political arena. The recent comments of
Father Jay Scott Newman, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic
Church in Greenville, S.C., have diverted the focus
from the Church’s clear position against abortion.
As Administrator of the Diocese of Charleston, let me
state with clarity that Father Newman’s statements do
not adequately reflect the Catholic Church’s teachings.
Any comments or statements to the contrary are
repudiated.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, 'Man has
the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as
personally to make moral decisions.' ...
-snip-
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