Greenville, SC Priest Says He Was “Too Hasty” in Obama Comments
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Greenville, SC Priest Apologizes For Obama Comments...
A South Carolina priest has apologized for his remarks about Barack Obama. Last week, Father Jay Scott Newman warned his parishoners not to take Communion if they voted for Obama. The priest believes...
A South Carolina priest now says he was “too hasty” in his remarks about President-Elect Barack Obama. Last week, Father Jay Scott Newman warned his parishoners not to take Communion if they voted for Obama. The priest believes Obama’s position on abortion is unacceptable to Catholics. Sunday saw protestors at his church in Greenville. CNN’s Kristen Natasia has more.
Published: November 17, 2008
Updated: November 18, 2008
Greenville, SC—Jack Canfield, parishoner: “The Catholic Church has always been pro-life. I think it’s ridiculous to ask parishoners who voted for Obama to repent. I think people have the right to protest. It’s very American…“
And the picket line formed, more than 50-people strong…outside a place where they’re supposed to come together…
Protestor: “I think it’s a very controversial issue…“
Dividing even those with the same faith…
Supporter: “Sometimes, the questions gets a little muddled, but pro-life is pro-life, abortion is murder. It’s a very simple issue. The issue of abortion is something that should be left to the individual.“
It’s the first mass since Father Jay Scott Newman’s writing in the bulletin…asking church members who voted for Obama to repent before receiving Communion…since he’s a pro-choice candidate…and when we spoke with the pastor…he knew controversy was coming:
Father Jay Scott Newman, Pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Church: “Very few people don’t have an opinion on this subject and it evokes the deepest of human emotions.“
The kind of emotion putting man, woman…child…out with signs…and very clear sides.
And, when the church processional passed the picket lines, the outspoken priest was silent. This time, his followers did the talking:
Richard Leboeuf, parishoner: “Father Newman is receiving criticism that is unwaranted. We still support our President, he is our 44th President and he is the leader of our country and the Americans will support him. We will agree to disagree on his stance on pro-choice.“
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Reader Reactions
How do the people who so plainly see abortion as just wrong in all cases see our elected officials willing to send people to take human lives - as one commentor said murder is murder. Many of those killed are just innocent victims as a matter of fact most of those killed are innocent victims who happen to be in the wrong place or on what someone considers the wrong side yet there seems to be ways of making allowances.
Why can’t the Catholic Church just be a church and help as many people caught in the dilema of unwanted pregnancies as possible. Council them but don’t condemn them. When you think about it poor young female victims are easier targets. Nothing happens to the men who fathered these embryos if abortion is criminalized under the state law.
Could the Catholic hierarchy keep as quiet as they did when molesting priests were moved from place to place to continue the molesting. Maybe that would be a way of repenting for those heinous crimes.
He’s right and it is not as if he was preaching this from the pulpit. He wrote the letter online on the Church’s website. Catholics should not take Communion if they don’t act in agreement with Roman Catholic teachings. Unfortunately many do because they know it is not likely they will be investigated and excommunication enforced. Just because he apologized for his hasty remarks, doesn’t mean they were wrong. It’s more of a case that online comments are a questionmark that possibly had not been previously addressed by his superiors.
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