Voting for Kerry is now considered a sin.

[Pah]

New York Times - registration required.

In an interview with The Times's David Kirkpatrick, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver said a knowing vote for a candidate like Mr. Kerry who supports abortion rights or embryonic stem cell research would be a sin that would have to be confessed before receiving communion. "If you vote this way, are you cooperating in evil?" the archbishop asked. "Now, if you know you are cooperating in evil, should you go to confession? The answer is yes."

This church, silent to Hitler, considers Kerry worse?


-pah-

 

[Sunstone]

The bishop of Colorado Springs, which is 50 miles south of Denver, also holds the same view as the Archbishop of Denver. He disseminated his views in a letter mailed to the town's Catholics. It caused quite an outcry here, but the most surprising thing was how many Catholics stood up for the bishop's right to withold communion from anyone who votes for Kerry without first their having confessed. Personally, I think the tax-exempt status of the Church should be looked into to see whether this constitutes endorsing a candidate.

 

[painted wolf]

wait, how are they going to know who to keep communion from? Are they going to try to get record on how all thie followers vote?
Isn't this illegal?

wa:do

 

[Sunstone]

I think it's on the honor system. If you vote for Kerry, it's up to you to come forward and confess your sin of having voted for him before taking communion.

 

[Pah]

The bishop of Colorado Springs, which is 50 miles south of Denver, also holds the same view as the Archbishop of Denver. He disseminated his views in a letter mailed to the town's Catholics. It caused quite an outcry here, but the most surprising thing was how many Catholics stood up for the bishop's right to withold communion from anyone who votes for Kerry without first their having confessed. Personally, I think the tax-exempt status of the Church should be looked into to see whether this constitutes endorsing a candidate.

I would recommend that those two dioceses you mentioned and any others following suit lose their tax-exempt status - but then that would compound the problem of paying restitution to all the victims of clerical rape and abuse.

-pah-

 

[bandgeek500]

i do not agree with that archbishop. i'm for Bush, but the archbishop has crossed the line. catholic church has done it again

 

[_salam_]

This whole thing is retarded

 

[bandgeek500]

ok, i take back the comment about the catholic church.

 

[Pah]

Doesn't this constitute a bribe? Is the Church not buying votes by threatening a denial of a sacrement? We'll give you salvation in exchange for your vote!

-pah-

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I think it's on the honor system. If you vote for Kerry, it's up to you to come forward and confess your sin of having voted for him before taking communion.

Kind of funny - I need some input from SOG on this one - I always found it incredibly odd that a person needs to confess their sins to another human being, cause I'm pretty sure that God knows (if He cares or if He exists).

SOG - if you read this, please give me a little clarification on this one.

Thanks,
TVOR

 

[Sunstone]

ok, i take back the comment about the catholic church.

Well, this isn't the first time that an institution as respectable as the Catholic Church has shot itself in the foot. It won't be the last time, either.

 

[robtex]

Actually, Kerry is a catholic.

 

[bandgeek500]

Doesn't this constitute a bribe? Is the Church not buying votes by threatening a denial of a sacrement? We'll give you salvation in exchange for your vote!

that is exactly what fustrates me, and thats why I'm a Luthern

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Actually, Kerry is a catholic.

That is true - but he stated very clearly in the second debate that he would not support a ban on abortion. He said that he personally thinks abortion is wrong (and mentioned his faith), but that he could not, in good conscience, force his morals or views on others.

TVOR

 

[Green Gaia]

I heard this on NPR, it all just baffles me....

 

[Sunstone]

I genuinely hate to say this, but I think these bishops have lost some of their moral authority by their declaration that it's sinful to vote for Kerry.

 

[retrorich]

George Bush is the one who needs to confess--that his tragic, unjustifiable decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Now that's what I call a "sin"!

If voting for John Kerry is a sin, my only regret is that I won't have the opportunity to commit that sin more than once on November 2. Although, I have influenced my partner to vote for Kerry also, which I guess makes me a double sinner.

 

[Jaymes]

The religious right never fails to scare the hell out of me... why isn't it a sin to vote for Bush, who has killed so many people, both as commander in chief and the governor of Texas?

I don't think I'll ever get tired of that political cartoon. "We don't NEED to be consistent, we're HOLY!"

 

[Ronald]

SIN: Transgression of the Torah/LAW. This just one of the things Chrisrianity refuses to see. 1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

[retrorich]

SIN: Transgression of the Torah/LAW. This just one of the things Chrisrianity refuses to see. 1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Ronald:

In the context of this forum thread, is there anything in the Torah that says that voting for the candidate of your choice is a sin?