News and Politics | November 14, 2008 | 84 comments

Priest: No Communion for Obama voters

source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2008/11/priest_says_no.html

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TrikyNiki
"The pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Greenville, SC, is urging parishioners who voted for Barack Obama not to present themselves for Communion unless they go to confession first because they have cooperated with "intrinsic evil'' by voting for a candidate who supports abortion rights over a candidate who does not.

The Rev. Jay Scott Newman told the Greenville News that he doesn't intend to deny anyone Communion, but made it clear that his view is that Obama voters should not present themselves without seeking penance first "lest they eat and drink their own condemnation.''

I wonder if the priests that have raped little, innocence boys have ever been denied Communion?
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84 comments // Priest: No Communion for Obama voters

  • mrjohnson
    • 0
      mrjohnson  

    • While I understand that this is not the forum for this thought, I have to point out that I read the bible, have read it a few times now as an adult. The most astonishing thing to me is how far off many religions are from what they're supposed to be doing. This is a good example, btw.

    • 3 years ago
  • blabHERmouth
    • 0
      blabHERmouth  

    • Does this mean he’s repented for participating in the “intrinsic evil” perpetrated by the Catholic church, both historically and presently? After all he is affiliated with an organization that has admitted to committing deplorable acts against children. I am sure God would not smile upon the molestation of children or the elaborate rouse constructed in an effort to hush such despicable acts. Did he issue a statement for officials at the Vatican to abstain from Communion when the molestation scandals broke? Of course not! I find it interesting how Christians can be very “selective” when it comes to sin. Very “selective” when it comes to condemning others.

      Trust, the Catholic Church should abstain from any argument that touches on the wrongful treatment of children.

      This is the problem most non-believers have with the church and structured religion in general…. It can be incredibly judgmental and hypocritical.

      -Jaye

    • 3 years ago
  • Patio_Patty
    • 0
      Patio_Patty  

    • My email to this almighty priest: I thought it was always normal policy to keep the church business out of state business. That said, I wonder if you refuse communion to priests who rape little boys?? Shame on you for inflicting your opinion and judgment on your parishioners! No one nailed YOU to a cross and as close to God as you believe you are, I'm certain He would not agree with your "Policies".
      Signed,
      A VERY Proud Obama supporter!
      Peace!

      I hope he gets it!

    • 3 years ago
  • oldgerman
  • QCBUCKI
  • QCBUCKI
  • QCBUCKI
    • 0
      QCBUCKI  

    • Surely this is some sort of sick joke. Did these parishioners contact their Bishop and demand his removal? You see what you started, Sarah Palin?

    • 3 years ago
  • dameskee
  • YesWeDid
  • dameskee
  • HaloedGriot
    • 0
      HaloedGriot  

    • I'm so fed up with these religion nutters in America. It is funny how the recruiters pretend like they have no idea how whacked in the head their colleagues are when it comes to people's rights.

    • 3 years ago
  • amazume
    • 0
      amazume  
    • HaloedGriot:

      Obviously this priest is not a true spiritual leader. If he lives by and preaches the 10 commandments, then McCain voters equally should be made to 'confess' (to each their own...). McCain's views and voting record, as well as behaviors show: he disregards several of the 10 commandments, worst of all causing severe injury to and killing of Iraqi and American men, women and children.

    • 3 years ago
  • Brockie
    • 0
      Brockie  

    • So this priest hates Obama and all that he stands for. So the only logical conclusion is for him to take it out on his own parishioners by way of him telling them they are destined to go to hell if they voted for Obama? Why doesnt he just excommunicate them from the Catholic church and really get his point across.

    • 3 years ago
  • GinaDoll
    • 0
      GinaDoll  

    • What a hypocrite!!! When the Catholic church is responsible for so many child molestations and causing people to have permanent mental and physical scars from what was done to them as a child!! What a crock!

    • 3 years ago
  • stephenthomson
  • themanwithadog
  • ultravphunter
    • 0
      ultravphunter  

    • As a Catholic, I've been told to prayerfully look at the issues and the candidates and decide based on that, and to understand that there may not be a candidate or "Yes" or "No" that fully jives with my religious views.

      I think we should understand that this particular priest is just one guy, and doesn't represent the attitudes of every Catholic in the US.

    • 3 years ago
  • wilmo1975
    • 0
      wilmo1975  

    • Good gravy! Vote for someone based on one issue? Forget that everything else they stand for is whack just as long as they are against abortion??? CRAZY!

    • 3 years ago
  • smitty_57
  • themanwithadog
    • 0
      themanwithadog  

    • Yet another Wacko priest!

      When Obama moves into the White House he should get in a priest he trusts to flush out that prince of darkness god who used to chat regularly with Bush and told he he should go to war with Iraq.

    • 3 years ago
  • Seahoay_Mordy
    • 0
      Seahoay_Mordy  

    • This is such a gross misrepresentation of Catholic beliefs. People fail to realize that Catholics are actually an accurate cross-section of the voting populous. These isolated incidents aren't a true picture of the largest unified religious organization in the world.

    • 3 years ago
  • megagrigg
    • 0
      megagrigg  

    • The catholic church is responsible for more death than any organization in history, no? So Rev. Jay Scott Newman get off the cross cause we could sure use the wood.

    • 3 years ago
  • samthesixth
  • YesWeDid
    • 0
      YesWeDid  

    • Yes, because the Catholic church can afford to alienate anyone else. I think it's time so pull someones tax exempt status.

    • 3 years ago
  • thorstein
    • 0
      thorstein  
    • YesWeDid:

      The leader of the catholic church doesn't reside in the US. You'd be pulling a small arm of their church that historically has "agreed to disagree" with the Pope and has been a strong proponent of rights for many unrepresented groups. You wouldn't be pulling the tax exempt status from him. You couldn't touch him with a 1000 yd pole.

      But you would use the government which holds as seperate church and state, which would be unconstitutional! You would have to remove the right from many others and endanger the right to freedom of speech.

      Which is more dangerous? Your idea or his stupid notion that he thinks he can still pressure people to vote when he is already a minority voice among Catholics. He just shot himself in the foot!

      What worse could happen to someone of his position for such a joke of a statement?! And I bet it was just that, a joke!

      Ha, ha, Newman! The joke's on you!

    • 3 years ago
  • oi812
    • 0
      oi812  

    • True believers of faith probably shouldn't vote for a president anyway.....ever heard of the Iraq War, the Cold War, Vietnam, WWII.....point being, all Commanders in Chief are calling orders that are causing harm to others. Religious people need to stick to religion not politics.

    • 3 years ago
  • thorstein
  • oi812
  • flaco85
    • 0
      flaco85  

    • first the pope saying that pollution is a cardinal sin, now this. This is why I don't care for religion, too much crap.

      I'll follow God, not religion

    • 3 years ago
  • samthesixth
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  
    • flaco85:

      More people need to think like you flaco85 :)

      Theres nothing wrong with believing in a God or Gods....I think faith is a wonderful thing for someone to have. Religion on the other hand....

    • 3 years ago
  • Cuddlebones
    • 0
      Cuddlebones  

    • Ok. First off, if you are reporting news on a serious subject don't add on shit like "I wonder if the priests that have raped little, innocence boys have ever been denied Communion?" It's so professional of you, let me tell you that.

      It pisses me off when the religion Catholicism can't be brought up without that being said. I know of baptist and other type of churches having the same shit happen. Just because it's Catholicism people go fucking crazy.

      I voted for Obama. I'm catholic. I hate abortion. Do you know how partial abortion works!? It's disgusting! And to think some states have not banned that procedure yet is mind blowing! I voted for Obama because if something ever happened to McCain and Palin became president, I'd throw up all over america. But I still think Barack is an excellent choice.

    • 3 years ago
  • thorstein
  • flaco85
    • 0
      flaco85  
    • Cuddlebones:

      lol, i tried explaining the same exact thing to my friend who's becoming a priest, he wouldn't have none of it.

      when the election results came in, he went on a religious craze saying things like "the nation that doesn't follow God's law will fall"

      (sigh) the hold that religion has on people i tell you.

    • 3 years ago
  • TrikyNiki
    • 0
      TrikyNiki  
    • Cuddlebones:

      People will always bring up priest sand child abuse because it is outrageous on how the church dealt with the situation. People just don't forget about things like that. The church would relocate priests and pay huge sums to protect their image. For the church it was 1. image, 2. priests, take care of your own no matter what. 3. give money to the families and shut up. The church handled the reports of sexual abuse very poorly. I keep the church to a higher standard, because they give guidance to others. Stories like this help keep the church in check.

      It is never unprofessional to question, but it is quite unprofessional if you cannot verbalize your opinion without swearing.

    • 3 years ago
  • thorstein
    • 0
      thorstein  

    • The "church" as a referent is so cliche! Take away the tax exemption and you make void the seperation of church and state. And that includes every philanthropic.

      Ninepounds6, do you want to take away freedom of speech too?! Heck, the Catholic Church would love that! It's not like they've never done it themselves!

      Let's just play right into "their" hands and piss all over our Constitution! The very thing that protects you and me right now!

      For cryin' out loud this isn't the middle ages and it certainly isn't the 50s and 60s!

      Get off your high horse! Let him say what he wants or shut up yourself!

      Wake up!

    • 3 years ago
  • ryanroe
  • VitaminStolz
  • bedeboop
  • ninepounds6
    • 0
      ninepounds6  

    • arctic... the church has a long history of hiding the accusations, moving priests around once accusations have been made, and this goes back centuries. All four of my brothers were molested by a catholic priest, and one of my sisters. One brother by two priests at two different times in his life. To my knowledge, not one of the 6 instances were reported to the church, a therapist, attourny, or prosecutor.

      So, using logic even stretched, your 4% reflects a very, very, very small part of reality. Just as with women who are molested, most cases go unreported. Now add the stigma of tattling on God, and the stigma of it happening to a boy/man in this society, and you have an epidemic.

      The chuch condoned it for centuries. Protected them until mass media forced their exposure. And even if 96% are innocent which is a HUGE leap of faith, I contend that they knew of its exsistence and condoned it through apathy.

      They deserve the reputation.

    • 3 years ago
  • pokesmot
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  

    • Good news is that Newman is the only priest in the U.S. known to have taken this position -- the Catholic bishops met this week in Baltimore and this idea was not even discussed, at least in public session.

      I think he overstepped his role as a pastor or a priest. I am sure that others do as well. Could be the likely reason this didn't happen at the other thousands of Catholic churches in America.

      One note: Taking holy communion in a Catholic church is totally different from any other Christian church.

    • 3 years ago
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  
    • arcticspirit:

      I saw a reoccurring theme in posts about catholic priests molesting children. This made me upset. I did some research on the topic. For anyone wanting some facts to back what they do or don't think.

      In 2004-FEB, CNN was able to view a draft copy of a survey prepared by the church. It reveals that 4,450 of the 110,000 Roman Catholic clergy (4%) who served between 1950 and 2002 have been accused of molesting minors

      The vast majority of cases appears to be by abusive hebephiles -- adults sexually attracted to post-pubertal adolescents. This often takes the form of sexual activity by homosexual priests "with young seminarians or 16- or 17-year-old boys. While such homosexual activities with minors are criminal offenses -- and immoral -- they are certainly not examples of pedophilia or child molestation."

      The Seattle Archdiocese broke new ground under then-Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen in the late 1980's. They created a new sex-abuse policy which involved the creation of semi-independent review panels composed of both Catholics and non-Catholics. The makeup of the panel has included therapists, attorneys, prosecutors, church-law experts, and priests. The panel is headed by a bishop. They hear from accusers, review psychological evaluations of the alleged abusers, and listen to testimony from counselors. The panel makes recommendations to the Archbishop which may include having the priest defrocked or ordering him to undergo psychological treatment.

      I'm not defending priests that molest. But I think that assuming that all priests do this is wrong. As most do not, have not, and will not.
      Only 4 percent did in more than 50 years, meaning that 96 percent were innocent of those crimes and served God. Just FYI for those don't know.

    • 3 years ago
  • alicynx
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  
    • alicynx:

      They, the clergy, are becoming more and more outspoken, I believe, because they feel there are more and more people on their side in this. Mormons, Catholics, and other religions (the people in charge) are becoming more brazen in their attempts to sway political opinion when they should not be influencing it at all in this country. Not as far as politics are concerned, it is a no-no.

    • 3 years ago
  • ninepounds6
    • 0
      ninepounds6  

    • How Christain of him. A further example of the Lie of Religion.. it is not about inclusion at all, it is 100% about exclusion... sort of like Nazi Germany...

    • 3 years ago
  • dustan_e
  • alicynx
    • 0
      alicynx  
    • ninepounds6:

      dustan - Catholics are Christian. It could be argued that Catholicism is the first incarnation of institutionalized Christianity, as the Roman Catholic Church was said to have been created by John the Baptist himself. Well, at least the Vatican is said to be built on his grave. The Catholic faith is about as Christian as it gets.
      All Catholics are Christian; not all Christians are Catholic.

    • 3 years ago
  • ninepounds6
  • dustan_e
    • 0
      dustan_e  
    • ninepounds6:

      History has nothing to do with it. Abraham Lincoln set the slaves free as a republican but no one ever cares about the small details do they? This is a country of free. If a man can not say what he feels then whats the use of having such a country? You all sound like socialist pigs to me but I still love you very much as a human.

      Also, Christians and Catholics are very different indeed. If you ever been to either church you would see it.

      Christians who practice the faith are called "Christians"

      Catholics who practice that faith are called "Catholics"

      Also, my name is Dustan. Not dustin or dude.

    • 3 years ago
  • ninepounds6
    • 0
      ninepounds6  
    • ninepounds6:

      Catholic is a branch of the Christian faith... Christian: of or pertaining to the worship of Christ as the Son of God. You are wrong.

      As for Republicans, their platform has changed with every election.. the republican Party of 150 years ago is hardly the same and cannot be compared. You are wrong again.

      Dude.

    • 3 years ago
  • donkeyfly69
  • thorstein
    • 0
      thorstein  
    • ninepounds6:

      Catholics persecuted christians for hundreds of years! Not to mention calling them witches, heretics, antichrists, and killing them with outlandish tortures!

      Ninepounds6, Learn to read!

    • 3 years ago
  • donkeyfly69
    • 0
      donkeyfly69  
    • ninepounds6:

      "Catholics persecuted christians for hundreds of years! Not to mention calling them witches, heretics, antichrists, and killing them with outlandish tortures!"

      they're still one in the same

    • 3 years ago
  • ninepounds6
    • 0
      ninepounds6  
    • ninepounds6:

      Thorstein... you are fighting a losing battle... Catholic faith is a part of the Christian faith. You cannot argue that, but you can keep telling me to read.... it makes you sound so intelligent!

      You are wrong. Christian: of or pertaining to the belief that Christ is the Son of God.

    • 3 years ago
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  
    • ninepounds6:

      It always cracks me up to see people who think Catholics are not Christians. Catholicism was the first Christian church and any religious scholar or priest or pastor or reverend with half a brain will tell you that is true no matter what sect of Christianity they belong to. Once different secs of Christianity developed all non Catholic forms of Christianity were referred to as Protestant but Catholicism is still very much a branch of Christianity.

      And thorstien, the Protestant Christians have done plenty of torturing, name calling and murdering of their own...even against Catholics. So Im not sure what argument you are trying to make with that comment.

    • 3 years ago
  • MadMoxy
    • 0
      MadMoxy  

    • This from a church that has had rampant child molestation for decades?

      Since this is a pro-life issue then is it that they want women to have more children so they will have a larger pool to select their victims from?

    • 3 years ago
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  
    • MadMoxy:

      I'm not defending priests that molest. But I think that assuming that all priests do this is wrong. As most do not, have not, and will not.
      Only 4 percent did in more than 50 years, meaning that 96 percent were innocent of those crimes and served God. Just FYI for those don't know.

    • 3 years ago
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  
    • MadMoxy:

      Exactly arcticspirit, priest molestation has been completely blown out by the media. Yes it happens, but at the same rate as Protestant churches and other non-Catholic religions. Most cases are just people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get a little cash and publicity. So, saying that the church has had rampant child molestations isn't a really accurate or appropriate statement.

    • 3 years ago
  • bansheewail
  • brittjoy
    • 0
      brittjoy  

    • This priest needs to do some biblical research. It's not partaking of the elements while being a sinner that damns you to hell. It's partaking of them while not discerning what the elements symbolize.

    • 3 years ago
  • arcticspirit
  • thorstein
  • bansheewail
    • 0
      bansheewail  

    • Revoke this asshole's tax exempt status immediately. This is yet another example of the abuse of power that we have grown accustomed to under the Bush regime.

      "You vote for McCain or you can literally go to hell".

      This, from a man of God. Not quite.

    • 3 years ago
  • TryThisOn
    • 0
      TryThisOn  

    • when a persons life is guided/dictated by one who claims to have a higher Authority, when there is no basis for the authority, this person or persons has no right to involve themselves in the affairs of others.

    • 3 years ago
  • laserdog
  • dirtymilk
  • saludevil
    • 0
      saludevil  

    • If that church is a 501(c)(3) corporation that pastor is liable for breaking the law and should be prosecuted. 501 stipulates that there is to be no political affiliations.

    • 3 years ago
  • bedeboop
  • thorstein
  • onechance
  • flameworker
  • khromadjo
  • cyman01
  • Apocalipstick
    • 0
      Apocalipstick  

    • The bigger question is *why* are these churches tax exempt?

      If churches want to get involved in politics then their tax exempt status should to be revoked.

    • 3 years ago
  • Scarabus
  • seanalyn
    • 0
      seanalyn  
    • Apocalipstick:

      Agreed! The church's political involvement by vocally supporting Bush during his second run for office is the reason my parents left the Catholic church (they dont even go for Christmas or Easter! Only time theyve gone to a church since was for my grandfather's funeral).

    • 3 years ago
  • ESKCSG
  • Apocalipstick
  • anikhanj
    • 0
      anikhanj  
    • ESKCSG:

      my email:

      Stay out of politics, asshole. If the church is tax exempt, then the church should NOT influence people politically.

      Sincerely,

      A Proud Obama Supporter

    • 3 years ago
  • dustan_e
  • bonemachine
  • mrjohnson
    • 0
      mrjohnson  
    • bonemachine:

      Unfortunately, the hypocracy that you see in all these goofy religions is an example of NOT following the cross. Christianity is beautiful when followed for ones self and not using someone elses interpretation of the bible as a template for all.

    • 3 years ago
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