The late Senator Edward M. Kennedy seemed to mend his differences with the Catholic Church just before his death. But less than two months later, his youngest son has plunged into a firestorm of controversy with the church.In strong rhetoric, US Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Providence Diocese have exchanged nasty comments over abortion and proposals for a health care overhaul in Washington, D.C. Kennedy is a strong supporter of health care overhaul, even if it includes public funding for abortion services, while the Catholic Church opposes the abortion component.
In a statement released yesterday, Tobin lashed out at Kennedy, a son of one of the nation’s most prominent Catholic families, for incendiary remarks the congressman made in an interview about abortion.
Kennedy, speaking in support of a public option for a proposed universal health care plan, told Catholic News Service in an article posted Thursday that he found it perplexing that the church would oppose the health insurance plan.
“I can’t understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we’re caring and giving health care to the human person - that right now we have 50 million people who are uninsured,’’ Kennedy said.
He added: “You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people life-saving health care? I thought they were prolife? If the church is prolife, then they ought to be for health care reform, because it’s going to provide health care that are going to keep people alive.
“So this is an absolute red herring, and I don’t think that it does anything but to fan the flames of dissent and discord, and I don’t think it’s productive at all.’’
Tobin, like the church and most Republicans, has said he supports a universal health care plan, but one that would explicitly outlaw the use of public money for abortions. Even with a general ban, they said, a public insurance plan could provide coverage that would include abortion services.
Tobin had outlined his concerns in a Sept. 21 letter he sent to the Rhode Island congressional delegation, saying he could not support any legislation “that diminishes human dignity or threatens the right to life.’’
Yesterday, he was more direct, saying that Kennedy’s comments were “irresponsible and ignorant of the facts.’’
“But the congressman is correct in stating that he ‘can’t understand,’ ’’ Tobin said. “He got that part right.’’
The bishop explained the church’s stance, saying that while the church supports health care overhaul, “we are adamantly opposed to health care legislation that threatens the life of unborn children, requires taxpayers to pay for abortion, rations health care, or compromises the conscience of individuals.
“Congressman Kennedy continues to be a disappointment to the Catholic Church and to the citizens of the state of Rhode Island,’’ the bishop said. “I believe the congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments. It is my fervent hope and prayer that he will find a way to provide morally responsible leadership for our state.’’
A Kennedy spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.
But the exchange was the latest joust between the Catholic Church and the storied Kennedy clan. Kennedy’s father, the late senator, came under constant criticism for his stand on issues that crossed Catholic beliefs, such as abortion rights.
The differences seemed to be mended at the senator’s funeral in August, when it was revealed that Pope Benedict XVI, after receiving a letter from the ailing Kennedy asking for prayers, bestowed upon him an “apostolic blessing.’’
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, of the Boston diocese, also participated in the senator’s funeral, in spite of criticism, and explained later that “we will stop the practice of abortion by changing the law, and we will be successful in changing the law if we change people’s hearts.’’
“We will not change hearts by turning away from people in their time of need and when they are experiencing grief of loss,’’ O’Malley said.
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SIC: TBG