Bishop Tobin discussing Abortion and Rep. Kennedy on Hardball Part 2 (11-23-09)

[Newspeakgeneration]

every state that wants to outlaw abortions makes it possible in cases of rape and incest ... liberals just want abortion to be a common widespread and accepted practice.

[Newspeakgeneration]

chris matthews has this distorted view of reality, he is trying to get back into the JFK false catholic camelot scene..

I don't care if people aren't religious but why identify yourself as a Christian or Catholic if you don't even support their views.

[Chslosers]

chris matthews went on for two minutes by himself talking 

[Hexl702]

Patrick Kennedy can still sit in the pews, he just can't eat the wafers. He shouldn't feel bad - they wouldn't let an anti-abortion Jew eat the wafers, either.

[Herbunder]

Surprisingly, the bishop actually gave a pretty good answer at the end.

But more importantly, Matthew's agenda is exposed. He spent almost the entire length of the clip lecturing the Bishop. Even at point 1:25 where he asks him to respond, he cut of the bishop less than a second later and continued to badger him.

Regardless of who you may agree with, it is pretty clear Matthews is an awful commentator and interviewer.

[MrAbolitionist]

If the unborn are human beings (which they are) then they deserve the human right to live no matter what the punishment for women would be. Chris Matthews is using a red herring .

[AtomicMonster454]

Please pray for crissy matt. and all false catholics.

[efrigstat]

I'm proud to see a lot of people have hit the nail on the head on this issue, one being the Catholic Church is persecuted just for the sake of being a Catholic regime. Then there's the argument that abortion is murder. I think anyone should see that! ("It's life that can live that is killed instead"--Eric Staab) I realize a girl may be raped and/or her life is in jeopardy if she has a child. Well, one would have to put into account the truth of it all. Was she sinning or was she truly raped?

[AtomicMonster454]

@ForeverMan96 --we already have penalties for killing a fetus in an attack on a pregnant woman;

------------------

Abort liberalism.

[TubeManTalk]

This ass wipe of a Bishop has the audacity to speak of MORALS! The Clergy who sexually abuses young boys and has sex with their female parishioners and preaches abstinence. Sexual MISFITS, who are drawn to the clergy, should keep their noses out of other peoples crotches. These are NOT gay men. They hide behind gay bashing to avert your attention

Search Google: Church in Ireland Said to Have Covered Up Abuse

New York Times: In Egans Depositions, a New View of a Sex Scandal

[joshg2000]

This Bishop was not of the accused. He has every right and obligation to speak on moral issues. Interestingly, the protestant churches have many more reports of sexual abuse and having sex with their female parishioners. Huh....wonder why those incidents seem to get swept under the rug , but the Catholic church is always persecuted.

[leftbehind81]

If it came out that a child day care company had hundreds its employees arrested for sexually abusing children then the ceos would be investigated and if it came out that the management had moved the employees from day care center to day care center to avoid prosecution then those managers would be arrested and put in jail.

[joshg2000]

I would agree with you. I think all the bishops and priests that were involved should be justly punished. You have to remember that they are human...although they devoted their life to serving God, they fail just like everyone else. But yes they should have to face the consequences. But just because 1-1.5% of the Catholic priests in America committed such atrocities, doesn't mean the entire church or all priests should be accountable or persecuted.

[leftbehind81]

it is too bad that the pope was also involved and he should resign.

[joshg2000]

Well he should be held accountable, but there has been no evidence that the Pope has been involved.  You must be careful of what you read because many people love to make accusations against the Catholic church just because it is the Catholic church.

[midwestgirl2008]

@leftbehind81 what? no he wasn't.

[midwestgirl2008]

@joshg2000 last i checked, it wasn't even that large of a number. i could be mistaken, though.

otherwise, well said.

[walterygor]

It is not the Bishop's place to say what the penalty for abortion should be under a man-made law. A true catholic understands that we answer to a HIGHER authority who comes before any man. If the senator doesn't agree with this, and thinks that the teachings of his own church are wrong, ridiculous or outdated, then he is free to leave. What does he care that he's been asked not to take communion in a church he does not agree with? it makes no sense unless, he secretly recognizes wrong doing.

[DiscipleOfChrist96]

The taking of an innocent human life is murder. That is what abortion is. The Church has been very clear that no Catholic can accept or promote or choose or perform or procure or participate in any shape, form or fashion in the intrinsically evil act of abortion. Chris Matthews may not understand this. I don't see how that is possible. But he is not alone in either his lack of understanding or his blatant rejection of the truth. We must pray for him and others like him.

[UrielVS]

Religion will be the end of this world. It clouds good judgment, and people will always try to tell others how to live their life, instead of living their very own.

Abortion is a prime example of this concept of tell others what they can and can not do. If someone is against abortion, then fine do not get one. But don't try to force others to abide by your views simply because of some book told you to do that.

[radicalrayyy]

God knows us better than anyone in the world knows themselves. He gave us the 10 commandments and Christ gave us the 2 great commandments which perfectly mirrors the 10 commandments. If the entire world followed those commandments, we would not have any of the problems that we have today. Look closely at all of those commandments including those that pertain to our relationship with God, then you will see that by following them, many of the problems we have would not be there.

[radicalrayyy]

Unfortunately, many of us don't follow those commandments. We end up at war with other countries, we end up hurting or killing one another, we end up hurting our relationship with our spouse or children or neighbors, we end up cheating or stealing, we end up trashing the reputations of others, we forget how to love, we end up treating others as mere commodity or objects. We end up hurting ourselves or others or make a bad situation worse because we are too bullheaded to listen to and follow God.

[moretoitthenthat]

Satan is the accuser of the Brethren but God will cast down the dragon. Satan worms his way into the Church and deceives a few to sin against the Church and then he uses those few to condemn the whole Church. Satan is the inventor of lies, a deceiver, and the accuser of God's own. And then there are those who will take up the chant of the devil to accuse the whole Church. Yes, there are the few that have been deceived and been the tools of evil, but there are the many who are Holy and God's own.

[radicalrayyy]

True.

Even from the begining Jesus knew there would be bad people w/in the church. Judas was the first. Christ promised us that the Holy Spirit would be with the church to teach and to guide it always. Check out the entire 14th chapter of the Gospel of St. John.

[Smickeydo]

Way to bishop! Stand with the Truth. The comments regarding molestations are diversionary. That's a sad chapter, but one handled fbetter by the Church, ultimately, than by any secular organization, such as school boards, even though far higher percentage of teachers have and continue to molest kids than Catholic priests. The point is this: If Kennedy or any other Cath politician supports abortion in word or deed, he needs to change religion or acknowledge Jesus' auth & be obedient to it.

[moretoitthenthat]

Matthews is trying to make the Bishop sound as if he is dictating law. The Bishop is not and he has every right to free speech to say whatever he wants to say as to his thoughts. The Bishop is, however, responsible for telling someone (Kennedy) that he is out of the state of Grace with the Church and cannot take communion - this is also his right as given to him by the authority of the Church to do so and that Kennedy is a member (of his own free will) of that Catholic Church.

[kthorn612]

Abortion is wrong, which is why, we in the Catholic church, do it hard to young prostrate boys.

[midwestgirl2008]

fail.

[wntoply6]

wow, this stupid bishop, for his own beliefs, would tie up the courts, with thousands of cases to punish men women and children involved in abortions.

who the hell is going to pay for the governmental expenses? i know lawyers will get rich, but who pays the court cases? i certainly do not want my taxes to go up to pay for this bishop's belief.

this man is ill advised and stupid. let him stick to sucking little boy's cocks, and let the politicians do the job of protecting living human beings.

[midwestgirl2008]

dude, that's not what he's doing. he might WANT to, but he's protecting his church.

and priests have one of the lowest molestation rates of any profession, so you fail there. priests just get more attention.

[wntoply6]

what the hell do you mean he's protecting his church? the ill informed bastard was trying ONLY to make a point...that he has power over politicians.

i give kennedy great credit for outing this bigoted bastard and making him look the fool he is.

btw mnidwestgirl, i'd like an answer from the likes of you, who the hell is going to pay for govt expenses should abortion rights be repealed? and what will they do with convicted abortionists, will they let real criminals out of jail to house them?

[midwestgirl2008]

@wntoply6 from the likes of me? If abortion is against the law, then abortionists would be real criminals. I'm thinking that they could probably use some of the money coming from our tax money that's going to be paying for abortions when that healthcare crap gets passed.

and yeah, he was protecting his church. nobody is making kennedy be Catholic. He has every right to leave and save face. If he wants to be Catholic, then he has to follow some rules, and Tobin did a great job or reminding him.

[TubeManTalk]

This ass wipe of a Bishop has the audacity to speak of MORALS! The Clergy who sexually abuses young boys and has sex with their female parishioners and preaches abstinence. Sexual MISFITS, who are drawn to the clergy, should keep their noses out of other peoples crotches. These are NOT gay men. These sick mother fuckers hide behind gay bashing to avert your attention. They should be burned at the stake!

Read the latest by searching Google: Church in Ireland Said to Have Covered Up Abuse

[fairmount1935]

While you make some good points, it serves no usefull purpose to resort to calls for murder. The case in Ireland is especially sad.

But to be fair, statistically from 1950-2000 less than 2 % of American priests committed such crimes. That leaves a full 98% of priests who committed their entire lives to serving people and parishes, by feeding the sick and dying, the poor and homeless.

They gave their lives to God and persuded others to do the same.

What have you done smart guy?

[midwestgirl2008]

this has NOTHING AT ALL to do with what he does, even though i would be willing to bet that he is not guilty of child molestation or of having an affair. this is about protecting his church, which it's his job of doing.

[aginamarie1]

Its okay for the Catholic Church to justify and pass from parish to parish the priests who have molested children. The milliions of dollars paid out. I wonder how the catholic church isnt held responsible for obstruction of justice.

The catholic church should not pass judgement on anything.

[midwestgirl2008]

the individual people who have broken the law have been penalized for doing so. it's not the entire church that has been guilty of committing such atrocities.

[amaqula]

Abortion is government sanctioned genocide! When in history has a government legitiimised the killing of its citizens to the point of demographic death! It's a total abdication of duty - all for the sake of staying in power! UnChristian laws make bad laws!

Bring back the CATHOLIC STATE - upon which the West was founded - and prevent your demographic decimation and Islamisation! Church State separation has proved itself an unworkable disaster that brings death!!

[laughingcrowe]

Matthews over and over again has on his own "interpreted" what the bishop was staying without shutting up long enough to let him give a full and complete answer. Talk about one sided. One thing to say to Matthews: SHUT UP A MINUTE, WILL YA!

[tt99tt99]

agreed!

[Jewbacca1212]

Matthews has some legitimate points. Everyone would love to live in world where abortion is not a reality, but it is nearly impossible to write a piece of legislation which would outlaw abortion and protect women from predatory abortion doctors on the black market.

[oopzUsuck]

every time the guy talks, the abortion guy speaks over him. wth

[wetweasel56]

Mathews just puts people on the air and uses them to rant his own personal beliefs to the camera not allowing the guest to express their views.

Trash journalism.

[ruffian64]

OK, so Matthews is just an idiot. Surprised? No, the guy obviously is a blow hard. He can't live up to what the Church teaches himself so he has to lash out at the good Bishop.

[Hudd1950]

Matthews is filibustering--does all the talking. Abortion is wrong, period. The church has the right to sanction those who call themselves catholic who votes like pelosi.

[MarkG45]

yea? i dont see the catholic church sanctioning followers who voted for the iraq war. And the entire point of the damn debate was the pro-life's inability to hold more than one simplistic thought in their head. If you think abortion is murder, then 30 million child murdering mothers walk among us in the US. What do you plan to do with 30 million murders?

[Hudd1950]

Are you Catholic? Why so hateful because you think it's fine to kill--abortion is killing. I do not believe there are 30 million murderers but there are that many women who have been misled. Sad.

[havock89]

You just jumped ship. You make accusations levied against all the church and then you jump to another argument when someone challenges your original point.

YOU ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST.

[s2nfhugh]

Pray for them

[jjones556]

the pope spoke out against the war, (I believe) and abortion is quite a different matter. War is wrong depending on the situation. The popes opinion was that the war was wrong, but that was not doctrine. Abortion (the deliberate desctruction of a child in the wound) is allways wrong. because doctrine was in violation the pope had every right to tell him not to recieve communion. We who are outside the public eye supporing abortion should not be recieveing communion either.

[leftbehind81]

Wrong... PPII spoke out against the war, not Benny. And you really believe abortion is ALWAYS wrong... there is never a situation where it could be acceptable? Even in cases of Rape, Incest, and when the womans life is endanger? That is a HUGE statement. I am not sure that is correct. But being pro-choice is actually about whether or not you think women should be put in jail for abortions or not. I dont believe that helps anything so I am pro-choice.

[radicalrayyy]

John Paul II was not in favor of the war, but after it started, he more or less said that we have a responsibility for the well being of the Iraqi people. JPII had already said it. Benedict XVI was not pope when this started.

Abortion is ALWAYS wrong! Even in cases of rape and incest. With todays advanced medical technology, a woman's life is really not in danger. Why not protect both mother and child? Abortion is known to kill not only the baby, but has also killed the mother.

[leftbehind81]

It is obvious why you call yourself "radical". You're right JPII was against the war. However the current pope, doesnt seam to care about the Iraq war. The iraq war is murder and murder is ALWAYS wrong. You neoconcervatives are ruining the catholic church.

Abortion maybe always wrong... but so is masturbation. Do we arrest every masturbator in america because the catholic church has a position against masturbation.

[AtomicMonster454]

@leftbehind81 --abortion is murder, masturbation is a vice. big dif.

[leftbehind81]

The real question is do we want to punsih women that have had an abortion and their doctors. Personally I dont want women that are going to have an abortion to do it in back allies with coat hangers. Illegal abortions are the abortions that kill women. Because of this I dont want women to have to resort to that, and if they do have an abortion I dont want to see those women and their doctors punished. That is why I am prochoice.

[joshg2000]

This is a simple answer...They are conspirators or co-conspirators or accomplices to murder. Why shouldn't women be punished for murder. If they choose to kill someone. Why would it be any different than any other murderer. It is taking the life of a HUMAN BEING.

[leftbehind81]

That is an interesting position... That women and their doctors should be penalized for an abortion... Think about your sister or daughter coming and telling you they had had a pregnancy and after 3 months got an abortion. What would you do in this situation? Turn them in? Make them go to prison? Maybe even get the death penality? Because after all this is murder. Would you turn your own sister/daughter/wife in?

[joshg2000]

I would hope that I would. Would you turn in your family if you knew that they had murdered someone. People keep talking like abortion is not murder...like it is not taking the life of a human being. IT IS MURDER. How come people can't see that.

Also, there are other options such as giving your baby up for adoption.

[leftbehind81]

If my sister murdered her daughter and then confessed to me I certainly would. I think most people would... But ask yourself if you would turn her in if she had an abortion after 3 months and confessed that to you. That seams to me to be much much much more difficult...

But that is the difference between my opinion and yours. I could not turn in a loved one in this case.

[midwestgirl2008]

no, benny did too.

[radicalrayyy]

In cases of war, we have an obligation to defend ourselves. In the case of a pregnent woman, we have an obligation to protect both the mother and the child. We have an obligation to protect the most defenseless human reguardless of age. As for the wars in Iraq and Afganistan, I haven't seen any major attacks on this country since 9/11.

[RealityBallet]

This Bishop is filled with hate they are the worst of the worst HAHAHAH he is going to punish a girl/woman for having an abortion????? Its none of his damn business what any woman does with her body!!!!! How about punishing your pervert

priests who have sex with young boys or sex with woman they are all sickos

[xATAMx]

The Bishop is not filled with hate. The problem is you have fake christian politicians out there making stupid choices. Yes and the catholic church does kick out priests who do molest. There are far more sickos in the world than priests

[MarkG45]

The catholic church hid child molesting priests in New England for the last 50 years. They only kick out EXPOSED child molesters and it has cost the church 5 billion dollars in counting in lawsuits. It is so fucking reprehensible that you would defend what your church did to hundreds of children in the 1960's. There is no guilt or sense of shame from the catholic church, and they have STILL yet to release all records on who they know molested children in the house of god.

[ruffian64]

Who exactly DEFENDED child molesters? Who are YOU to rant that there is no shame? Do you know whats in the hearts of all Catholics? And what does child molestation have to do with murder? Did Tobin sanction child molestation?

[radicalrayyy]

My church did not do anything to those hundreds of children in the 1960's or at any time. A handfull of priest did those things to those children. Those handfull of priests are not the Catholic church, just members of the church. The Catholic church wants them out and away from children just as much as you want them out and away from children. Don't rely on mainstream media only for the truth. There are other sources not connected with the church that will tell the truth.

[leftbehind81]

I would agree with you completely if only everything you said conflicts with reality.

The pope (benedict) when he was a bishop urged bishops to keep it quiet until after the statues of limitations ran out to minimize the amount of liablity to the church. Scary. Why are more so called catholics not calling for him to resign? Not to mention the main villian in the american cases (Cardinal Law) was put in charge of a roman basillica afterwords. effectivly harboring the bishop. Simply sickening.

[xATAMx]

I am not defending any wrong doings. I am simply stating I agree with the Bishops view that those in public office who are "catholic" should make decisions that are within the catholic church teachings. Yes there were priests who did wrong doing but out of how many? Again, the fake christians need to disappear.

[radicalrayyy]

I would outlaw it. I would charge the so called doctor and mother who have one on their own free will with murder. The difficult part is when an abusive boyfriend or parent forces her to have an abortion. Then the woman might not be completly at fault for murder.

[ESEME11]

she wouldn't be at fault either.

[radicalrayyy]

correct. If she was forced into it, she wouldn't be at fault.

[walterygor]

Mr Matthews,

you are wrong when you say that no catholic views abortion as a criminal act.

I am a catholic and for one, view abortion as a criminal act. The killing of a human being.

[ESEME11]

why won't Chris Matthews allow the Bishop to speak?

[amplidyne]

Because Chris Matthews knows, as a marginal catholic that he is, what Bishop Tobin's response will be, and that doesn't fit into Matthew's liberal agenda to fully support Pres. Obama and Obamacare.

[ESEME11]

clearly

[jjmcoates]

Something that is very important regarding abortion.

1) Ron Fitzsimmons of NARAL has admitted that even late term partial birth abortions are largely done on healthy women and babies. Google his name for proof.

2) NEVER compare the USA with a third world country when discussing legal vs illegal abortion. a) we have NO idea wether their health data is accurate and b) it is more logical to compare the US to first world countries with abortion laws like Ireland and Poland with low rates.

[TWTeresa]

Chris Matthews is Stoopid, emphasis added.... he has no patience or professionalism, no brains. Well enough of the garbage liberal theology. All Chris Matthews wanted to do is rail against this holy man and validate his own conscience. Chris Matthews needs to get in the confessional, if he is Catholic, if he is not Catholic he should learn what the Church's teaching actually is before taking issue on a subject he knows nothing about.

[amplidyne]

CINO-Catholic In Name Only!!!

[CFinNaples]

Making abortion illegal is not an effective way to reduce abortions. In the Philippines, Australia, and Mexico---all with large Catholic populations--have all discussed decriminalizing abortion in the past year.

Finally, Bishops who would use the Eucharist as a weapon are not only wrong, but evil.

[CFinNaples]

Sorry, but Matthews is right on this one. The Vatican II constitution gives the laity the responsibility for secular items because they the expertise needed to properly express the Catholic faith as we live in the world. The Bishops have authority over what and how Catholics worship, what teachings are emphasized; the duty to correct those who mis-state (like Pelosi did a few years ago) Catholic doctrines, and to speak prophetically about how life should be lived.

[BaronGrackle]

If you can crossapply that same statement to terminating newborns, then you are consistant. Frightening, but consistant.

If you cannot crossapply that statement, then you're just repeating the same lies of the pro-choice mentality, and biology will beat your argument into the ground, every, single, time.

[radicalrayyy]

Are you saying that the Catholic laity must now go against their faith when dealing with secular items? I think Matthews might be wrong on this one. Vatican II constitution-did you mean Vatican II council?

[sarakai]

if you want women to feel like they have a choice don't let their unwanted pregnancy's turn to unwanted children go to adoptuskids. org and adopt some children, Open your Homes and your hearts!

[mceleney1]

I hope Chris matthews brings some spf45 to hell with him

[jbryant13]

Matthews is a tool (and a lame one at that). He's trying to paint the Bishop into the "you're trying to legislate morality" corner. It's nothing of the kind - Kennedy can vote / legislate anything he wants - he just can't call himself a faithful Catholic in the process. It's Kennedy and the press that's butting into the Church's affairs - not the other way around.

Mathews Lamestream Media FAIL

[mlechcha]

If life begins in the womb, why do you wait 9 or 10 months to baptize that life? Why not start "at the moment of conception" and rush the woman to the Church the moment she conceives? And if the Church hierarchy is so concerned about children's rights, why is there STILL such a shroud of secrecy over the child abuse scandal in the US and Ireland. The Church needs to do a little introspection of its own before it goes ahead and accuses others of sexual misconduct!

[mlechcha]

I believe in free speech. I'm not so sure if the good bishop believes in it because he is penalizing another good Catholic for his views by denying him the body and blood of Christ. Leave the Church? Clearly, HappilyMarried, you have no idea about how faith and community work. The Church is not the fiefdom of a few old men who receive daily instructions from Rome. The Church is all of us!

[happilymarriedman]

There are plenty of other Churches that people can join if they don't like the Catholic one. The Bishop is free in this country just like anyone else to state his views on abortion. After all, he is Kennedy's constituent.

And remember,...Having an abortion doesn't make you un-pregnant. It makes you the mother of a DEAD BABY.

[mlechcha]

How can men who supposedly have NO experience of family life make unilateral decisions about family life for the rest of their flock? And why are injunctions about abortion which were invented by the Church hierarchy (Pius IX) in the nineteenth century, along with that infamous doctrine of Papal Infallibility invented in 1870, now being seen as timeless and eternal?

[mlechcha]

What a prick! Jesus meant for his Church to be composed of ordinary men and women like Rep. Kennedy, who compose the Universal Catholic Family and not just a few privileged men in the hierarchy like Bishop Tobin. Tobin should represent the "Rock" on which that Church rests, but it seems that in this century, that "Rock" has withered considerably.

[BlackPeterParker]

I find it funny that the Catholic church is all up in arms over abortion, but knowingly allows it's representative priests rape altar boys. Also, how can Catholics be against health care reform (a measure that would save millions of lives) if they're about preserving human life at all costs?

[Radfahrer1985]

i support mr tobin here.

[cmiller524]

Lightweight Catholic in Name Only attempts to lecture priest on Catholic teaching.

LOL.

In reality, Matthews shouldn't be taking Communion either if he had a priest or bishop willing to stand up for Christ.

Cathechism states Matthews is excommunicated due to his views on abortion and publicly supportng it...that's a fact.

[mgpoirier2]

I'm replying to 2 points. But because of YouTube's crappy "500 character limit", I have to post them separately. First, what does this mean?

"In reality, Matthews shouldn't be taking Communion either if he had a priest or bishop willing to stand up for Christ."

[mgpoirier2]

Also....

"Cathechism states Matthews is excommunicated due to his views on abortion and publicly supportng it...that's a fact."

I live in RI. Tobin was asked about pro-choice Catholics. He replied (ducking the queston), "Kennedy is a public official, so I hold him to a higher standard." Doesnt that imply that he knows many are pro-choice and he's not willing to admonish, or even excommunicate them, for their views?

[cmiller524]

Catholics know that abortion goes against Church teaching. Some think it's up to them, but it is not. Life is something that can't be compromised.

There is only one standard in the Catholic Church on this being right or wrong, it's clearly wrong, it's killing an innocent. However there are degrees of sin in the Church. A public politician is sinning more because he is a model for Christians and Catholics and he gives tacit approval of abortion to many other Catholics.

[desibpt]

The Bishop danced around the question "If abortion is murder, what's the penalty for a 20 year old woman who has one?" but never answered it. He never could answer it because a law making abortion illegal - with a punishment will never pass in US.

[irishamrep]

Matthews get out of the Church....we do not want the likes of you you blubbering idiot!

[DebbieDanger]

Matthews brings up a good question, though. Should a woman who has an abortion be imprisoned or executed? If it's murder, why not? Too bad the bishop couldn't seem to answer very well.

[irishamrep]

brought up a good point? how rediculous!

ONE POINT ONLY

If you are a Catholic follow your faith ot get out of the church

We Catholics do not have to follow the laws of the Church but if we do not, get out!

[menschenstimme]

The Bishop speaks incorrectly when we claims the Church is not interested in the details of the law. A few days ago they called separating funds for abortion as equivalent to money laundering. By that token, the Church's separting of funds for religious uses and charitable uses is also money laundering. If the Church succeed in killing this legislation, Catholic hospitals should be morally obligated to give all uninsured persons free medical care, including preventative screenings.

[redhexagon]

If the American bishops wanted to delve into politics, they could say something about all the bishops and priests who get killed in Latin America...the Vatican, and the USCCB apparently, would prefer people to keep voting for the candidates supporting war, punishing abortion, and impoverishing women so they want to have abortions. According to church law, this bishop can't screw a woman, man, or even masturbate. Who knows how that has sickly twisted his head.

[Peterwone]

American Bishops have every right to address members as was done quietly by letter to Kennedy, he took it public. Kennedy is free to leave the Church if he does not choose to hold key beliefs of this religion. This goes the same for any other individual involved in any given belief practice he or she claims to be a member, simple! No need to try reframe or complicate the issue. He can leave simply leave the Church and vote unencumbered by the Catholic faith, Bishop - shepard of the faithful.

[Peterwone]

Since Kennedy wants to claim the benefits of being Catholic in a Catholic majority region then it stands to reason that he publically uphold the key beliefs, life is sacred, etc Since men and women can choose to have sex and as a result potentially the women becomes pregnant, thus these persons made this choice. Religion teaches that we must control our base drives and when we pubically oppose this then we must rethink membership in that religion. He wants the Catholic vote without the belief!

[SNUFFsurgeryNEWS]

9 out of 10 women state they would not have an abortion if it were illegal.

Shut that nag up!

[sarakai]

such love and compassion you show. picking and choosing your channel's wall very carefully, then blocking people for wanting to have a civil discussion. Look if you want women to feel like they have a choice don't let their unwanted pregnancy's turn to unwanted children go to adoptuskids. org and adopt some children, Open your Homes and your hearts!

[SNUFFsurgeryNEWS]

...duh!  The reason many care not to "punish" a women for such a heinous crime against humanity is because most women who have abortions are under duress, coercion, pressure, panic, etc. So, the law would need to consider the circumstances as to what brought her to commit a crime against humanity.

[DebbieDanger]

Which is done during a trial. Before then, you don't know whether the woman had the abortion because she couldn't feed her 5 kids, or whether she did it because she wanted to be able to fit into her prom dress. To get to trial, the woman would first have to be arrested and spend time in county jail, if she can't afford bail.

[templar2980]

First off [any] support of abortion is murder period, and any publicly professed Christian that supports it [politicain or not] is not excused from what is morally binding upon them as a person of faith, and if the Church has to take drastic measures to remind it's members just how serious of an offense this is to God then so be it, you cant be Catholic and a secularist at the same time, it is murder end of story! [but hey it's only your immortal soul] politics or eternal salvation? + PAX +

[Niere922]

Unbelievable. Matthews barely let the Bishop get a word in edgewise, all he wanted to do was to bloviate about his own opinion.

Mr. Matthews, get a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and give it a good read. I think you need it.

[jamesDunnaway]

Mathews should be fired for his lack of professionalism.

[DCNY31279]

Shame on Chris Matthews. A classic CINOS (Catholic in name only) Very unprofessional interview. That bishop kept his cool.

[sasqify]

Is this the same pedo that murdered/late term aborted 500,000 Iraqi people. Shame on you. Shame shame shame. I will pray for you.

[JMCerra]

This had the potential to be an interesting discussion but Mathews was on a soap box and was more interested in lecturing the bishop, and did so in a rude anf offensive way. I'm impressed with how calm the bishop stayed in the face of this rude treatment.

[trueframer]

This rude arrogant Matthews should publicly apologize to the Bishop and Matthews should be fired for his lack of professionalism. To not give this Bishop of the Catholic Church, an opportunity to speak, after inviting him on this show,