The Vatican weighed in on John Kerry and the Holy Eucharist:

A top Vatican cardinal said Friday that priests must deny communion to Roman Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, but he stopped short of saying whether it was right for John Kerry to receive communion.

Cardinal Francis Arinze spoke at a news conference to launch a new Vatican directive clamping down on liturgical abuses in Mass that bars lay people from giving sermons, non-Catholics from taking communion and rites of other religions from being introduced in the service.

Mr. Kerry’s campaign said that religion should not be an issue in U.S. politics.

I think this is such a great story because it serves to illustrate a problem that exists in American politics today. Kerry would have us believe that politics and religion should not mix, but at the same time, I’m sure he’s used his Roman Catholicism as an asset during his political career in Massachussetts. I have no problem if he did, but I think the Catholic Church has a problem with him trading on their religion when he openly flaunts one of the church’s longest held beliefs.

Kerry is trying to have it both ways. He wants all the advantages of being a Catholic when it comes to courting Catholic voters, but he doesn’t want to adhere to the authority and discipline of the church. I encourage the Vatican and all American bishops to continue their eucharistic boycott of Kerry. If he doesn’t like what the Catholic church believes, then get out.