Kerry as Catholic

Senator John Kerry says that he is a devout Catholic. He has said so and his campaign website alludes to it.

What devotion does Kerry have towards his adopted religion and can he really call himself a practicing Catholic.

Kerry has two strikes against him for saying he is a practicing Catholic.

First, Kerry is divorced. According to Canon Law (church law), Catholics may not divorce. Once married in the church, always married in the Church. Therefore, according to Canon law, Kerry's second marriage is invalid in the eyes of the Church. There are ways around this and Kerry may have done so, but I doubt it. So, as a divorced Catholic, Kerry is ineligible to receive most of the sacraments, including the Eucharist. As we have seen or it is alleged by the campaign that Kerry receives Communion on various occasions. If he does, it is a serious sin.

Second, no matter what Kerry recently said, his record shows that he is pro-choice. Francis Cardinal George of Chicago recently told Catholics that supporting Pro-Choice is against the teachings of the Church. He advised all priests to deny Communion to those openly approving of Pro-Choice, as well as, homosexuals. Both cardinal George and the Vatican have advised all Catholics that they are ineligible to receive Communion if they support Pro-Choice.

Again, Kerry claims that he regularly receives Communion.

So, how much devotion can he have toward a faith that excludes him from participation?

While it is a side matter, Kerry is not Irish-Catholic like some people believe. He is Eastern European with a Jewish heritage. His grandfather converted to Carhholicism to escape Europe during the rise of Hitler and changed his name to the more Irish-sounding Kerry as well.

What does all this mean to the campaign, not much, but it does show that he waffles on his faith.