How will Catholics respond if their hierarchy denounces Kucinich ?

[Liberator_Rev]

Congressman Dennis Kucinich, in my view, is a model "Liberal Like Christ". How I would love him to succeed Bill Clinton as the next legitimate President of the United States. But will leading Conservative Roman Catholics and/or the Conservative hieararchy allow that to happen? Or will they call Kucinich to account for his courageous support of the rights of gays and women, in clear defiance of the Vatican's recent warnings to Catholic politicians like him to use their political offices to DENY women the right to practice either birth control or abortion and DENY gay Americans the same right to marry as straight Americans?

Candidate Kucinich has gone on record on his official web site as follow:
http://www.kucinich.us/issues/issue_rightsreproductive.htm

"
Reproductive Rights of Women

"I support Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose, and will select Supreme Court justices who affirm this Constitutional right.
I’ve had a journey on this issue that a year ago, before I became a candidate for President, caused me to break from a voting record that had not been pro-choice. After hearing from many women in my own life, and from women and men in my community and across the country, I began a more intensive dialogue on the issue. A lot of women opened their hearts to me. That dialogue led me to wholeheartedly support a woman’s right to choose.
I have come to believe that it’s not simply about the right to choose, but about a woman’s role in society as being free and having agency and having the ability to make her own decisions. That a woman can’t be free unless she has this right.

And on Equal Rights for Gays, including the right to marry:

"Today, Congressman Kucinich proudly endorses a comprehensive non-discrimination policy, including non-discrimination based on gender identity. His overriding philosophy is that same sex couples and opposite sex couples should be equal in the eyes of the law, including in marriage. All benefits and legal entitlements available to heterosexual couples should be available to homosexual couples."
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The Roman Catholic Church on the Issues
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
But here are excerpts from the most detailed article I was able to find on the matter of
"Vatican issues 'nonnegotiable' rules on gay marriage (& women's choice)"
http://www.q.co.za/2001/2003/01/17-vatican.html
Vatican urges Catholic politicians to not separate morals on gay mariages from policy.
Nicole Winfiels, Sapa-AP | January 17, 2003
"The Vatican issued a new set of guidelines for Catholic politicians Thursday, reminding them to heed the Church's "nonnegotiable" teachings on abortion, euthanasia, same sex marriage and other issues when making public policy.
The Vatican said it was publishing the document now because of scientific advances in the fields of human life and the "emergence of ambiguities or questionable positions in recent times."
The guidlines, prepared by the Vatican's orthodoxy watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, (formerly known as "the Holy Office of the Inquisition") don't offer any change to the Church's long-held opposition to abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage and its promotion of the rights of the unborn. Rather, they serve as a reminder of Church teachings for Catholic politicians, so that when they vote for legislation or otherwise influence public policy, they do so in line with certain "nonnegotiable ethical principles."
. . .
It said laws safeguarding marriage between man and woman must be promoted and that "in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such."
"Catholics, in this difficult situation, have the right and the duty to recall society to a deeper understanding of human life and to the responsibility of everyone in this regard," it said.
. . .
Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomed the publication of the document, saying it "addresses some of the profound challenges faced by Catholic politicians and voters who are confronted with various moral and social issues in the context of a democratic society." He said he hoped the document would encourage U.S. Catholic politicians to continue to "respect the most essential moral values of our human nature."
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Another source provided this quote:"When legislation in favour of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly, and to vote against it. To vote in favour of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral."
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at http://www.LiberalsLikeChrist.Org .

See what Christ might say about the "Christian Coalition" & "Religious Right" imposters.

[sangh0]

1. The same way they respond

to any of the Church's edicts which they disagree with:

They'll ignore it

[StopTheMorans]

2. HOO AAH!!!

n/t:)

[Liberator_Rev]

3. They just orchestrated petitions with 70,000 signatures here in ...

Conn. which defeated a campaign that looked like it might succeed in enacting the most progressive gay rights legislation in the country.

There are a lot of "lax" Catholics who don't go to church much, but the ones who still go to church are becoming more and more Conservative.

[sandnsea]

4. Why Kucinich???

Kerry and Mosley-Braun are Catholics too. Catholics actually are encouraged to develop their own moral conscience. Besides, the job of a President or Congressman is to uphold the Constitution and Bill of Rights, not the Catechism. Most of our politicians seem to know that, unlike Santorum who hasn't figured out what his job is.

Do you expect Kucinich to reject the Church? Not likely.

[Blue_Chill]

5. I for one wouldn't care

I'm not big on Kucinich. I'm looking towards Dean and hoping Clark enters the race.

[Skinner]

6. I'm locking this thread.

We can discuss the issue if the Catholic church actually does denounce Kucinich or any other candidate. But this just seems unnecessary and inflammatory to me.