All this talk about whether or not Kerry is committing a "mortal" sin and whether or not he got an annulment from the Catholic Church--who cares??? What kind of sin is it when the priests sexually abuse children and it is then covered up by the hierarchy? Is that "mortal" sin as well? Give me a break......the Catholic Church needs to get with the times! Whether or not John Kerry got an annulment from the Catholic church means nothing, but the fact that he is very capable of leading this great country does matter to me...and regardless of whether he got a church annulment or not means nothing to me. The Catholic Church must learn that they can't pick and choose their "sins." People who live in glass houses....!

-- mary green (ka9@verizon.net), August 03, 2004

Answers

Mary, you seem to be the one picking and choosing. The Catholic Church (of which Kerry is a member, something he has repeatedly referred to publicly, so don’t talk as if he is somehow separate from it) was given its moral code by divine revelation. It’s not free to pick and choose for itself which things are sins. Some things such as abortion and sexual abuse of children are objectively mortal sins, but it’s very difficult and probably pointless to speculate whether any individual has committed a mortal sin (i.e. caused the TOTAL death of God’s grace in his/her soul) in a particular case. “Covering up” someone else’s sin may be sinful, indifferent or even morally good, depending on the circumstances and on what you mean by “covering up”. Whether Kerry is in a valid marriage may mean nothing to you, but I (and I’m sure many others) are interested in the private morality of candidates for public office, as it shows the moral character they can be expected to have in their public duties.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), August 03, 2004.

"What kind of sin is it when the priests sexually abuse children and it is then covered up by the hierarchy?"

It is mortal sin. And the Church is now making an effort to correct that by making sure any priest who molested a child, or any bishop who covered it up is either in jail or banned from public ministry.

The Church is perfect. The Church, with a capital "C" is something that all of us who want to stay in it strive to be a part of and build up. All of us, in some way contribute either to its buiding up, or its decay as an institution on Earth.

There is no need to attack the Church as if it has lost all authority to teach and all right to serve those who want to strive to be a part of it. If you do not want to work for the Church to become better, then you are simply working to make it worse with what you say. I, mysef, have felt the same way you feel, Mary, but I learned that, ultimately, I love this Church. I would say horrible things only to add to its decay. Realizing that my opinions were paradoxical. Speaking only to tear down, but always from within the Church. It is ok to feal frusterated, Mary, but never refer to the Church as needing to "learn anything" or get with the "times." We are living in a world that has no clue what time it is. It is only through the Church that we find some sense of stability, a steady rock amidst the storms.

If you want to say hurtful things, then why don't you let go of the rock? Do you really want to see where the current takes you? If your answer is "yes," then God help you. You are in my prayers.

Brian

-- Brian (Brian@Brian.com), August 04, 2004.