Denied communion because of politics
A conservative, pro-choice Roman Catholic professor of law, Douglas Kmiec, says he was recently refused Communion because he supports Barack Obama for president.
Having been drawn to Senator Obama’s remarkable “love thy neighbor” style of campaigning, his express aim to transcend partisan divide, and specifically, his appreciation for faith ("secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square"), I did not expect to be clobbered by co-religionists.On the blogs, I have been declared “self-excommunicated,” and recently at a Mass before a dinner speech to Catholic business leaders, a very angry college chaplain excoriated my Obama-heresy from the pulpit at length and then denied my receipt of communion.
Andrew Sullivan says on The Daily Dish,
That's an outrage - and a declaration by some elements in the Catholic hierarchy of a political war. Kmiec has an extraordinary record of pro-life advocacy and passion. Perhaps that's why he was singled out. But this is an extraordinary sign of how extreme the theocons have become.
It appears that Kmeic is not alone. dotCommonweal.org reports that "he joins Kathleen Sebelius in the small but growing group: “not at my Communion rail.”
See The Daily Dish: Denying Kmiec Communion
His endorsement of Obama
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/convictions/archive/2008/03/23/endorsing-obama.aspx
included a statement of his anti-abortion views and this: As a Republican, I strongly wish to preserve traditional marriage not as a suspicion or denigration of my homosexual friends but as recognition of the significance of the procreative family as a building block of society.
Following the announcement of the California court's decision yesterday he produced a long op-ed here:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/convictions/archive/2008/05/15/in-re-california-marriage-cases-something-old-something-new-something-borrowed-something-blue.aspx
He begins: As a matter of law, history, social policy, and faith, it is my view as articulated in a brief I helped draft in the California cases that marriage is properly reserved to a man and a woman. In other words, I lost. That said, the California Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage in both the majority and dissent is written in reasoned and intelligent voices.
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 16, 2008 9:23 PM
The Body and Blood of Christ as a weapon for enforcing someone's idea of political conformity?
No, thank you.
Posted by Christopher Worthley![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 17, 2008 2:37 PM
Dear Douglas Kmiec and Kathleen Sebelius and others -
If you believe that the Roman Communionm (which hasn't a democratic polity) is the only real Church... you have really, only one course of action: submit to her teaching in order to remain in communion with her. And yes, your status is decided by the action of the local representative - at the altar rail.
If you believe the rest of us are Christian Churches, too, I suggest you vote with your feet. No Episcopal Church nor mainline Protestant parish - only only a hand-full of Orthodox Parishes on the fringe - would deny you communion because of your political views. If you think the rest of us are Church too, make a bold step of faith and come rejoicing to God's table where you are welcomed.
In any case, as a public person, leave your choice of Altar out of the political arena: We are not worthy to come to God's table, no matter where we stand on secular issues.
On the other hand: since even the Pope gives communion to politicians he doesn't like maybe American Rightwingers should chill?
Posted by Huw Richardson![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 17, 2008 8:00 PM