Another Kennedy acts as theologian
December 09, 2011
Another member of the Kennedy family dabbles in theology, with a predictable political slant.
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend announces that the "conservative bishops" of the US are "out of step" with their people insofar as they oppose contraception. Most Catholic women use contraceptives, she observes, and so it is unreasonable for the hierarchy to oppose the practice. (She does not address the question of whether the bishops should renounce the Decalogue, since most Catholics sin.)
The former lieutenant governor of Maryland argues that the US bishops are hypocritical in their opposition to a proposed mandate that would require contraceptive coverage in health-care programs. She charges that "they have chosen to engage in supreme doublespeak by choosing to cite 'freedom of conscience' as a justification for denying women their own freedom of conscience in resolving this intensely personal issue for themselves." She ignores the central point of the bishops' opposition: that the proposed policy would not merely allow women to use contraceptives--a practice that American law already makes legal--but coerce others into paying for the practice.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: -
Dec. 09, 2011 7:44 PM ET USA
Sounds to me like she's got that "doublespeak" thing nailed down pat.
-
Posted by: -
Dec. 09, 2011 7:25 PM ET USA
oh the joy of being your very own pope.
-
Posted by: AgnesDay -
Dec. 09, 2011 5:11 PM ET USA
And I, for one, shall regard Lt. Gov. Kennedy's theology with the same regard I have that of all the other Kennedys. I know I'm impressed.
