Kerry Communion watch
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Apr 25, 2004
John Kerry received Communion at the Paulist Center in Boston on Saturday, one day after the prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship said he shouldn't.
A spokesman for the Paulists said that they were following directives from the Boston archdiocese. The Boston archdiocese said that they were awaiting directives from the US bishops' conference. The Vatican said that bishops-- that's individual diocesan bishops, not the conference-- should enforce existing Church norms.
BTW, check the news photo against the Vatican document, and you'll notice another clear violation of Church liturgical norms. Do you suppose the Boston archdiocese will be cracking down on the Paulist Center this week? Or passing the buck again?
Oops! Sorry; my mistake. The photo of Kerry taking communion came from Palm Sunday, when he participated in a Protestant church service. (The altar rail should have been a giveaway; you won't find that at the Paulist Center.)
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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