What is the Deal with Kerry and the Catholic Church?

Jan Larson

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of the Catholic Church. My wife is a former Catholic, but is no longer a member of that faith. Most of my in-laws are practicing Catholics and I have the utmost respect for those who are sincere in their practice of their faith.

That said, the Catholic Church, on the national and global level, is dysfunctional in many ways and the controversy surrounding Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's contradictory positions as a practicing Catholic and on record as a supporter of a pro-choice on the issue of abortion is bringing this dysfunction to light.

The doctrine of the Church does not allow for abortion. Period. The Vatican recently issued a statement stating that priests must deny Communion to politicians that support a pro-choice position.

John Kerry, who this week stated that he believes life begins at conception but yet is on record as pro-choice, continues to receive Holy Communion from the Catholic Church.

Kerry, like many Catholics, doesn't practice or embrace one hundred percent of Catholic doctrine one hundred percent of the time. If that were the requirement for being a member of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church would not have many members.

It is disingenuous for some in the Catholic Church to call for the excommunication of Kerry on the abortion issue unless, of course, they practice one hundred percent of Catholic doctrine one hundred percent of the time. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. If Kerry were to be excommunicated, the Church had better get ready to turn away millions of members worldwide.

On the other side of the coin, Kerry, given his pro-choice position, is clearly taking an ala carte approach to the teachings of the Catholic Church, as is the case with many others that don't follow and practice all aspects of Catholic doctrine.

The bigger problem for Kerry is that it is absolutely contradictory to claim that life begins at conception and then support the right to terminate a pregnancy after conception.

Kerry's public appearances attending Mass and receiving Communion appear to be nothing more than an exploitation of the Catholic Church for his political gain. He is mocking the Church when he takes this contradictory position.

Cutting to the chase, Kerry is not going to be excommunicated nor will anyone else who might not be one hundred percent Catholic one hundred percent of the time. The Church, having taken a body blow to its stature in the United States following the priest pedophilia scandal, is not going to thrust itself into the spotlight in the middle of a political campaign.

Kerry, knowing that the Church will not likely take the extraordinary step of excommunication, will continue to capitalize on his membership in the Catholic Church when it suits his political ends while continuing to thumb his nose at one of its most basic tenets.

My question is how Kerry can sleep at night if he truly believes that life begins at conception and simultaneously supports a position that allows for the taking of that life?

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Jan A. Larson is currently employed in private industry in Texas. He is a staunch supporter of honesty in government, fiscal conservatism and equal opportunity for all. He holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska, a master of science degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Colorado State University.

jan@pieofknowledge.com