Patrick Kennedy says bishop banned him from Communion

I don’t get the whole “impose its beliefs on others” gripe? Doesn’t every existing social organization want everyone to side with them, and see things the way they do? From the gay and lesbians to the young republicans, Acorn to Amnesty International. They all believe that their causes are just and right, and want us all to join them.

Last time I looked, the Catholic church wasn’t a mandatory organization. Membership is voluntary, and I don’t recall ever seeing a “check here if you’re Catholic” box on any ballot I’ve ever filled out in my lifetime. Never seen government benefits denied if you weren’t a practicing member. Never seen anything in our modern society, that anyone has truly been denied, all because they weren’t Catholic. So how do we “impose” our beliefs on others, any more than any other social organization? Is Joe Leiberman a Democrat, or has he been ostracized by his own party for not siding with them? From what all of you have posted, the Catholic church is the only organization that has ever thrown anyone out, ever voiced an opinion, ever expected it’s voluntary members to follow it’s laws, etc. Get off your high horses, look at history, look around you, and go pick a fight with someone else. Your fight isn’t with the Catholic church any more than it is with the NAACP. This is America, you’re free to go be whatever you want. Just remember that any membership usually comes with strings attached, and if you don’t like those strings, don’t become a member. How many of you have ever said (and rightfully so) if you don’t like America, leave? How many of you have ever thrown someone out of your home, off your property, out of your business? How many of you have ever disowned/disassociated yourself from a family member? Take care of your own house, and leave us to deal with ours. You scream at us because we’re judgemental and biased, then you scream at us when we don’t quickly pass down judgement on any priest “accused” of any wrongful act. Which is it? Do we have the right to pass judgement or not? I thought it was all up to God to pass judgement, and I’m supposed to just mind my own business. But because I don’t pass judgement on all priests, the pope, the church itself, I’m in the wrong? You don’t even know why you’re attacking us. The Muslims are the new number one religion by population, go pick on them for a while. Before to long, they’ll be voting in all our new policies and laws, and we Catholics can just go back to tending to our business.

My response is to pose a few questions to Bishop Tobin.
1. Do priest who partake in homosexual activities take communion? ( I have nothing against homosexuals, but priests who hide behind the Catholic religion are breaking the celebracy laws of the church)
2. Do priest who “ touch little boys” take communion?
3. Do priests who break the celebracy laws take communion? 
  There is no right or wrong side in this argument.  Bottome line, if Bishop Tobin wishes to “instruct” on another Catholics right to communion then all the other people who break church law ( those who are preists) need to stop taking communion.  Honestly, as a Catholic ( who faith in the established church doesn’t exist, but whose faith in my religion is stronger than any priest)I feel those priests who break church law need to be excommunicated.  Has that happend?  No!  They are just sent to another parish!  Why!
  A priest is a role model, and one who wants others to abide by laws then the role model must be a gem with no blemish.  Is the Catholic church a gem? No!

riddle me this Flavor Dave

Why does the CHURCH feels the need to impose its beliefs on others…THAT is the issue and THAT is why others criticize them…as well they should….

Perhaps you folks need to spend more time looking within at your own issues ....

As Alkeryia pointed out previously, why do you never see a group of Catholics sitting around bashing all other religions, but many non-Catholics can find nothing better to do than throw rocks at us? So you don’t agree with what the Catholic church teaches, move on with your life, and live out what you feel is right. All of the other religions in the world, most of which do far less for the less fortunate of the world, but we’re the bad ones. Like other religions have never burned people at the stake, prompted mass suicides, molested children, had sex scandals involving their top ministers, thrown people out for violating their laws, murdered their own children or families, etc. Any one remember the freak show that was Jim and Tammy Faye Baker? Or how about all the televangelists that pray on the elderly and those that can barely afford to live, but are too ignorant to realize that some guy on television can’t sell you salvation. Yet it’s always us evil hypocritical Catholics that are ruining the world as we know it. Are there dirtbag wastes of skin in the Catholic church? Sure, just like there is in every other walk of life. I’m Catholic, I’m proud to say I’m Catholic, I love what the modern day church teaches, and I wish more people truly knew what the church represents in the world today. Even if it’s all make believe, I’ll die a better person than I ever could have been without the church in my life. The Catholic church’s doors are always open. You’re free to come, and free to go, but for the sake of your own lives, find something else to focus on. The Catholic church isn’t trying to force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. This is our congregation, these are our laws by which we try to live our lives, if you don’t agree with what we profess, I believe someone in this chain was inviting you all to join the Episcopal church. Maybe they don’t take a stand on anything, or preach that any of your actions in life are wrong or sinful. Maybe it’s the anything goes, Sodom and Ghamorra lifestyle many of us want to lead. Maybe that’s where the child molesting, ex-Catholic priests all went, because nobody over there would even think about judging them for anything they may have done wrong in their lives. My point is, I don’t know and I don’t really care. I’m not an Episcopalian. I’m Catholic.

Did anyone catch Chris Matthews slamming Tobin on hardball last night. That was classic. Tobin looked like he wanted to climb under a rock! I’d like to see Tobin versus Kennedy in a UFC match. I’d pay whatever they want to watch that!