Tools

Kennedy Statements About Church 'Outrageous'

Chris Boardman

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri is weighing in on the public clash between Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence, saying Kennedy has made"outrageous statements about the Catholic church" and the bishop had no choice but to respond.

The Republican governor, a Catholic and social conservative,
made the comments to WPRO-AM on Wednesday.

News broke over the weekend that Bishop Thomas Tobin asked
Kennedy in 2007 not to take Communion because he supports abortion rights. The revelation came after a monthlong back-and-forth between the two after Kennedy criticized Catholic leaders who oppose health care reform unless lawmakers included tighter restrictions on abortion

Carcieri tells WPRO that Kennedy's statements were uncalled for.

He did not address Tobin's request that Kennedy not take
Communion.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Thursday, Nov 26 at 1:02 PM 123 wrote ...

Kennedy is a rep 1st, Catholic 2nd. If anyone disagrees with this then Catholics should not run for office. Catholic do not run this country. Elected reps do, who repersent the people as a whole, not one group. 32659864

32711329
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Thursday, Nov 26 at 1:00 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Kennedy is a rep 1st, Catholic 2nd. If anyone disagrees with this then Catholics should not run for office. Catholic do not run this country. Elected reps do, who repersent the people as a whole, not one group

32711232
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 7:34 PM Trash wrote ...

Cicilline is a big !@#$ing !@@#le for allowing the trash to pile up on the streets of Providence for 4 weeks. We don't know why the Gov lets him get away with this. I can't believe that Cicilline forces the citizens that are "complient" to live under these health/safety condictions that are on the sidewalks of their neighbors houses. Help! Help! Help! Help! H E L P!

32687789
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 7:26 PM Trash Problem wrote ...

Will Channel 6 please ask the Gov why he allows Mayor Cicilline to continue letting the trash pile up on the streets of Providence! For Goodness sake, doesn't anyone realize that this is a safety hazard because we have to walk out in the streets to walk around the trash. It is also a health/sanitation hazard and rats are running around likes cats and dogs. Help! Help! Help! Help!

32687569
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 4:07 PM Whats wrong? wrote ...

So its ok to diddle kids but abortion is wrong??? Hmmmmmmmmm

32679779
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 4:07 PM gail wrote ...

It is none of the bishop's business. Separation of church and state? I wonder if the pedophile priests still receive communion? At the wave of a hand they were forgiven. The catholic church is so hypocritical. I'm sure they still accept the Kennedy money.

32679771
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 3:47 PM Carol wrote ...

Gov Carcieri, you need to stay as far away from this stupid scandal as you can..it's just ridiculous...save yourself!

32678807
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 2:23 PM Wacked out Liberal wrote ...

Catholics are against abortion and believe that killing people is wrong, unless they are heretics, Muslims, or witches. Personally, I blame Obama for everything - because its easy.

32674744
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 2:14 PM BATMMAN wrote ...

A classic example of the goof balls running around in their robes waving their flags professing to be everything they are not, this 16th century nonsence and follow the lead lemming is exactly why religion is dying and correctly so. Let the peds lead you oh sure turn a blind eye to the reality of life. You are all shamefully lost. Dont try to find your destiny in any thing labeled under the catholic church. For you surely will fail.

32674259
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 1:44 PM Cindy from Coventry wrote ...

Imagine if Caprio was the governor, he would not be able to take communion either. My point? Ask around, you will find women all over the place that will tell you. I am not a republican, but I admire Carcieri for calling a spade a spade.

32672411
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 1:32 PM Free Willy wrote ...

Oh Don - SHUT UP! Nobody cares what your opinion is on this. Your point of view is no more valid than the person who picks up my garbage. Nice way to get yourself more free publicity but remember that an over-inflated ego is also against the "rules" of your church!

32671641
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 12:53 PM Jack wrote ...

Don should just shut up and save our state do the job that you voters hired him to do.

32669351
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 12:50 PM wassup wrote ...

Mr. Kennedy needs to understand what his faith teaches him. As a Catholic "KILLING" is wrong, killing of any kind. If he thinks it is ok tto kill an unborn child, he cannot be a Catholic! It goes against what we know is right and wrong.

32669171
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 12:47 PM Informed wrote ...

As I read these comments, I soon realize "WHY" we are in the condition we are in. It seems many here do not understand our local govt. and the position of the Republican gov'er is in! If you "REALLY" want change to come to our state, then prior to pressing the DEMON XX I mesan democratic button look who really made the mess. AS your buddies up on smith hill, ever time the Gov'er tries to "FIX" it the goof balls in the state house vote him down, and the corrupt judges rule against him

32668969
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 12:01 PM tax payer wrote ...

carcieri, shut up and fix the state. thats what you get payed too much to do. we need a major overhaul of everything. our state should be a leader in something, we use to be a manufacturing leader but not anymore. its all in china now. maybe instead of every town/city having a municipalities it should be a county position. our state is the size of other states county's. that would save a ton. each town can have its government but one water, sewer, road dept. for the county. to much redundancy

32666214
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 11:56 AM Chatty Patty wrote ...

Gov. Carcieri stated his "opinion", just like Patrick Kennedy and the Bishop. What I don't understand is why Patrick Kennedy and the Bishop are not discussing this privately, as would be done with any other parishioner. Are other catholic parishioners who support abortion being "asked" to not partake of communion? If so, isn't this still a catholic issue between a parishioner and their church leaders?

32665869
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 11:52 AM a local wrote ...

good for Kennedy. he should stand up to him. whats next tobin going to excommunicate him??? tobin should worry about the pedophile priests more, and less on government. they never went after teddy like this, and he believed in the same thing. and for carcieri, shut up and do your job!!! or we will find some one who can. this state is so corrupt that's why nothing gets done. i was just in vermont and in one year they built all sorts of stuff that would take years here.

32665631
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 11:52 AM John wrote ...

I am a Democrat and Catholic, always supported the Kennedys.I am disappointed in Patrick.The church will always be against abortion, so noone should be surprised, especially Pat.Pat you may able to duke it out in DC, only suggesting you tone it down with the church.You will NEVER win that battle.The church has rules, Pat your not above their rules if you are a member. If you don't like their rules, become a protestant.

32665621
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 11:23 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Carcieri has a lot of nerve saying anything about someone's values/ethics. Has anyone witnessed the way he has treated people in his own state.

32663746
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 11:18 AM LISTER wrote ...

nobody is persecuting the church, but they should stay out of everybody's business. if you r a follower of the church thats fine, you want to follow its rules i support that. but dont force me to do the same. remember this is America, the reason people came here is freedom from persecution. you have that right just like i do. so dont make me or everyone else have to follow what you think is right. thats what they do in muslim countries not here. every body should be free to choose there destiny

32663369
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 11:00 AM Bishop Tobin's follower wrote ...

Please Lord have mercy of those persecuting the Holy Catholic Church!! They don't know what they're talking about! One thing is very clear though:AT THE END THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL PREVAIL!

32662299
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:49 AM JAY wrote ...

hey carcieri, do your job and be quite about this. come on this state is a joke. its falling apart, other states have better roads, or free collage at state schools, or a tech industries. what do we have?? not much. i cant belive that this state as small as it is with over a million residents cant get some thing done. we waste so much money its ridiculous. i am 4th generation in this state, and if i could sell my properties i would go to mass. i never thought i would ever do that,

32661524
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:45 AM terry Last. wrote ...

I believe in separation of Church and State. As the Churches do not pay taxes they should not tell the govt what to do.

32661286
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:33 AM LISTER wrote ...

I AGREE, CARCIERI HAS MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO THAN TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THIS. ANY WAY WHAT HAPPENED TO SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE... REMEMBER ROGER WILLIAMS HAD THAT GREAT IDEA. IF YOUR BELIEFS ARE AGAINST IT THAN DONT DO IT. BUT NOT EVERY BODY IN THIS COUNTRY BELIEVES IN THE SAME THING, AND FOR A GROUP TO FORCE ITS BELIEFS INTO GOVERNMENT IS DEPLORABLE. AS A CATHOLIC I THINK KENNEDY IS SPOT ON WITH HIS VIEW, THIS IS AMERICA IT WOULD BE NICE TO ACTUALLY BE FREE TO CHOOSE

32660606
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:32 AM anna wrote ...

This state is in a fiscal mess because of lack of leadership from Carcieri. Oh....that's right, he is a Catholic/so he can "just go to confession" and say a couple of prayers...and then all is forgiven.

32660581
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:29 AM Jay Allain, E. Greenwich wrote ...

Governor, don't you have enough on your plate presiding over the state with the third highest unemployment in the country - especially after NECN reported this week Obama's stimulus funds for RI to weatherize and make new jobs were held up in the state since July. Don't you feel the pain, Gov?

32660389
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:21 AM JOE wrote ...

Kennedy is a rep 1st, Catholic 2nd. If anyone disagrees with this then Catholics should not run for office. Catholic do not run this country. Elected reps do, who repersent the people as a whole, not one group.

32659864
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:19 AM bob46 wrote ...

Kenndy is a spoon feed spoiled brat." who never worked a :';'en day in his life. seem's he just can't get it. It's simple stupid, your either a practicing Catholic or your not,It's not a club it's a belief, And you and the wacked out Liberals can't change the church's beliefs. So why not start your own Religion you could call it, Ahhhh,lets see how about Obamaizm, Yeh do as I say not as I do, because you all are sooooo special,Rules NEVER APPLY to you guys. Just us little people. MORON!!

32659761
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:16 AM lkmn1 wrote ...

Maybe Carcieri should worry more about the running the state which is almost as bad as California economic wise and stay out of Kennedy and Tobin war of words.

32659531
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

Please post your full name and city on comments.

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

ABC 6 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

More Good Stuff

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
See more local news for your community
Warwick | Cranston | South East Massachusetts | Newport | Bristol | East Greenwich | Providence |

Online Poll

Do You Think Increased Tax Revenue Means RI's Economy is Turning Around?

  • No, it's probably from some stealth tax HIKE that we don't know about.
  • Yes, things have been awful for awhile, and they're finally getting better.
More On Demand

AP Video