News

Kennedy's dispute with Rhode Island bishop attracts national attention

November 12, 2009

Bishop Thomas Tobin's public rebuke of Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy has captured the attention of the mass media. Bishop Tobin, the Boston Globe notices, has rejected the idea that Christian leadership consists of being "nice" under all circumstances; he has challenged public officials on both sides of the political spectrum.

While Rep. Kennedy has complained that his bishop has made a political disagreement into a personal quarrel, Bishop Tobin pointed out in a radio interview that it was Kennedy who began the dispute, with a public statement criticizing the American bishops for their failure to support the health-care reform bill in the form he preferred.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Verbally, bishop isn’t turning cheek (Boston Globe)
• Rep. Kennedy and Bishop in Bitter Rift on Abortion (New York Times)
• Bishop Tobin publicly calls Rep. Kennedy to ‘conversion and repentance’ (CWN, 11/10)
• 'Disconcerted' Rep. Kennedy unhappy with bishop's public statement on his duty as a Catholic (CWN, 11/11)

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• Posted by: TheJournalist64 - Nov. 14, 2009 2:35 PM ET USA

  Contrast this with the NYT story of the ostracism and criticism being felt by Abby Johnson, who resigned Planned Parenthood, from her "church" the Episcopalians of Bryan Texas. Prepare for more liberal backlash, but also for men and women of good will to take a second look at Catholicism as the bastion of pro-family activism. High time for both!

• Posted by: extremeCatholic - Nov. 14, 2009 1:01 PM ET USA

  Bishop Tobin was direct, articulate, to the point, informal, non-threatening, non-equivocal, in short, everything that a public communication to a obstinate sinner should be.

• Posted by: ltoscan2645 - Nov. 12, 2009 1:39 PM ET USA

  God bless, help, guide and protect Bishop Tobin. May he continue with his correct and very strong witness to his role as a Shepherd of his flock. He is being a true Bishop, may his brother Bishops ALL follow his example.

• Posted by: normnuke - Nov. 12, 2009 12:37 PM ET USA

  Kennedys aren't used to being called to account. They don't think it's fair.