Congressman Kennedy and his Church

The US bishops have been active in urging Congress to remove abortion funding from any health care legislation. Catholic politicians don’t want the bishops ‘interfering’. Kennedy has been more assertive.

The Register summarizes:

Responding to the bishops, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., recently slammed the Church, saying that it was fanning “the flames of dissent and discord” by opposing the health-care reform bills under consideration unless they are amended to explicity prohibit abortion funding.

Really.

That provoked a response from his bishop, Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin.

“Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s statement about the Catholic Church’s position on health-care reform is irresponsible and ignorant of the facts,” said Bishop Tobin. “As I wrote to Congressman Kennedy and other members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation recently, the bishops of the United States are indeed in favor of comprehensive health-care reform and have been for many years. But 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. 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 more effective and morally responsible leadership for our state,” Tobin added.

That’s one. Now, anything on Speaker Nancy Pelosi?