Subject: Senator Kerry and Catholicism

 For twelve years I have written letters defending Catholic teachings &, through God's grace, copies of each letter reach thousands; Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Nuns, Laity & others. Normally, I do not write on "partisan politics" but I must respond to Sen. John Kerry's constant false portrayal of himself as Catholic in his beliefs, in order to influence Catholic voters. The Senator, responding to a woman questioning his position on "embryonic stem cell" research during a recent debate with Pres. George Bush, said "I'm a Catholic. I was an altar boy." Catholic senators and former altar boys have no indult from Rome to declare mortal sins (such as embryonic stem cell destruction, abortion, sexual relations by other than a man & his wife) no longer "mortal" sins, in fact . . . no longer sins. The Senator favors creation & destruction of embryos for research & has voted repeatedly against a federal ban on "partial-birth" abortion, yet both positions are condemned by the Church!
 
Determined not to appoint judges "hostile to choice", he would eliminate from consideration any judge hospitable to life, thereby allowing the daily slaughter of 4,300 innocent infants to continue. If he had been running for Pres. when slavery was deemed legal by the Supreme Court, would he have been equally determined not to appoint judges hostile to slavery, and claim that his defense of slavery was compatible with Catholic teaching, because he's a former altar boy? I would remind him that the True Supreme Court does not reside in Washington & we are all scheduled for a hearing before it! The Senator believes unborn children are "a form of life", but "not the form of life that takes personhood in the terms that we have judged it to be in the past." He goes on: "within weeks, you look & see the development of it, but that's not a person yet . . .". In doing so, he's now created a dilemma. If he bestows "personhood" only after birth at nine months, in order to prevent early abortions being considered murder, would he greet the parents of a premature child with "congratulations on the birth of your non-person form of life?"

 He'd be fortunate if the husband didn't slug him!
On the other hand, if he acknowledges "personhood" at some time prior to birth, he could not call abortion anything but murder! How fitting the words of G.K. Chesterton: "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything"; and fallen, the Senator has. The Church teaches that life (not "a form of") begins at conception. The Senator preaches otherwise, dismissing the words of Jesus to His Apostles:" . . . whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven . . ." Matt. 16:19 Turning to the "same-sex" relationships which Sen. Kerry approves of, hear St. Paul's words about this conduct.

". . . for their women have exchanged the natural use for that which is against nature . . ." (Rom. 1:26); "the men also, having abandoned the natural use of the woman, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men doing shameless things & receiving in themselves the fitting recompense of their perversity." (Rom. 1:27) Add St Jude: "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighboring cities which, like them, committed sins of immorality and practiced unnatural vice, have been made an example, undergoing the punishment of eternal fire." (Jude 1:7) To any who would claim that any condemnation of the gay & lesbian lifestyle is "homophobic" try pinning that label on St. Paul, St. Jude . . .or God! When faithful Catholics speak against sin, they are not pointing fingers . . . they are extending hands. That's Catholicism. The Senator, on the other hand, denies & contradicts Church teaching while professing to be Catholic. Incidentally, there is a macabre contradiction between his health care assistance plan & his approval of the gay & lesbian lifestyle. While the first offers, (he hopes), a chance for a longer, affordable healthy life, the second promises a shorter one; those engaged in gay & lesbian sexual acts have their lives shortened by 8-20 years. That's a very expensive health premium to pay!

"Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of The Lord unworthily will be guilty of the Body and the Blood of The Lord." (1 Cor. 11-27) When the Senator receives Communion each week, after advocating acceptance of mortal sins everywhere he campaigns, what signal does he send to those in church? Simply this-----forget Catholic teachings & come follow me. To faithful pro-lifers, he offers pain & sorrow. To families attempting to convey Catholic morals to their children, he offers his own morality in substitution. To those seeking the path to Heaven, he offers a highway to Hell. Our Holy Father recently told a group of bishops making their ad limina visit,"your title is one of service-----not honor. Sadly, most US bishops neglect their service when faced with obstinate political figures who ignore Church teachings,and Canon 915 continuously gathers dust.
 
Disgracefully, most gays and lesbians are allowed to receive Communion while wearing sasheswhich proclaim a sinful lifestyle, while faithful Catholics are chided for daring to humbly kneelbefore reception of Our Lord. I keep hearing some bishops saying they would prefer speaking to Sen. Kerry, before considering withholding Communion. Unbelievable-----the former altar boy is about sixty years of age & for about twenty years has been espousing his anti-Catholic beliefs. Where have the Shepherds been all those years? When will they initiate dialogue . . . Nov. 3? That could be very costly. Let them receive brave inspiration from these words of St. Augustine: "I am afraid lest when Christ comes to judge, He may say: "You wicked servants! Gladly did you accept the praises of my people, while holding your tongues about things that meant death to them! (PL 46, 874-81------St.Augustine of Hippo) For those weighing "proportionate" reasons for voting one way or the other, may the spectre of 4,300 innocent infants being murdered daily, for lack of support in the courts and in the world, be the overriding influence in their voting. We are living in difficult times-but at least we are living. Robert Quinn