Kerry Excommunicated (Update: Vatican denies)

I wonder if this will actually help Kerry politically? My theory is the Catholics that are voting for Kerry are mostly non-practicing Catholics, and anti-Iraq war Catholics. Among this type of Catholic, this move will likely make them sympathetic to Kerry. Obviously Rome shouldn't be concerned with political implications of their decisions.

Rome is very careful to point out that they don't endorse candidates at all, however there are some things faithful Catholics need to consider before voting. Newark Archbishop John Meyers wrote an article about this.

Among Catholics that attend church on a weekly basis (excluding the anti-Iraq war Catholics) a large percentage (70%) are voting for Bush, this will not change their minds. So even though the conservative Catholics that feel justified that Kerry has been excommunicated I suspect this will actually help Kerry polically. IF he trully is a faithful Catholic, as he states, this move would be devastating. Hopefully Susan Collins (R), Ted Kennedy (D), and Tom Harkin (D) will take note of Rome's action and start protecting innocent unborn babies.



Kerry said to be excommunicated

Los Angeles, Oct. 18 (CWNews.com) - A consultant to the Vatican has said Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has incurred the penalty of excommunication from the Catholic Church.

The consultant made his statement in a highly unusual letter to Marc Balestrieri, a Los Angeles canon lawyer who formally sued John Kerry in ecclesiastical court for heresy.

UPDATE: Vatican denies it responded to lawyer seeking Kerry's excommunication