A dash of cold water

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Jul 02, 2004

It's a nice idea, and the cause certainly has my sympathy, but I'm afraid this canonical action won't go anywhere.

The old Code of Canon Law specifically stated that any Catholic individual can make a "denunciation;" the new Code is silent on that issue. (See the analysis by Ed Peters for more background on the canonical issues here.) Under the new Code, this suit can proceed only if the bishop wants it to proceed. And if the bishop wanted the case, he could have brought it himself, any time in the past 30 years.

Still, the effort may do some good, by calling public attention to the fact-- and it is a fact-- that Kerry's public conduct is a clear, gross, and longstanding violation of his duties as a Catholic.