Speaking of John Kerry

By Domenico Bettinelli, Jr. ( articles - email ) | Mar 31, 2004

Is John Kerry planning on seeking out a parish where he can be photographed being refused Communion so he can be seen as the heroic dissenting Catholic standing up to the Church? So says the American Spectator.

The Kerry campaign was said to be surprised at the coverage their candidate received for attending Mass while on vacation in Idaho. "You saw conservatives all up in arms that he was receiving communion, when most American Catholics do the same thing and live a life very similar to the senator's: divorced, pro-choice, etcetera," says the Kerry adviser. "It just highlights how out of touch the right wing is with America, and we can play to that."

To that end, according to other sources inside the Kerry camp, aides are attempting to identify a Catholic diocese, and perhaps even a specific priest and church, where Kerry could attend a Mass with reporters present, and be turned away at the altar attempting to receive communion.

If this actually happens, can the US bishops continue to ignore this assault on their pastoral authority? (That's a rhetorical question.)

The question is whether he will be able to find such a priest and parish that will deny him Communion. That's the real scary thought.

[Thanks to Amy for the link.]