Emily
MikeCatholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has taken the next step in his escalating war against Patrick Kennedy and abortion. (See my most recent post on Tobin and Kennedy.) According to an interview with Kennedy published today in the Providence Journal, Kennedy says that Tobin “instructed” him not to receive Communion because of his abortion rights stance and that ” diocesan priests have been told not to give him Communion, but he did not explain how he knew that.”
Filed under: Abortion, Politics, Religion | Tagged: Abortion, Bishop Thomas Tobin, Catholic Church, Patrick Kennedy
In the escalating fight between Thomas Tobin and Patrick Kennedy, it strikes me that a conflict of interest is involved in one of the parties being the umpire or mediator. It also strikes me that both parties are in a position to abuse their position to further the fight…under the rubric of a higher purpose. I recommend the following post: http://deligentia.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/so-the-last-will-be-first-and-the-first-will-be-last/
Thanks for pointing out that Tobin is abusing his position. In the link you cite, the writer is absolutely correct that: “Tobin’s first mistake was in violating his pastoral role by getting into a brawl with Kennedy. Any subsequent ‘pronouncements’ are tainted by Tobin’s self-interest as a party to a brawl of sorts, and thus illegitimate.”
Unfortunately, Tobin is escalating the brawl rather
forthan looking for ways to mediate.