Kerry Meets With Prelate

Sen. John F. Kerry, a Roman Catholic who supports abortion rights, met Thursday with the Washington archbishop who heads a church task force studying whether there should be sanctions for Catholic politicians who go against church doctrine.

Kerry and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick met privately for about 45 minutes at the pastoral center of the Washington archdiocese, located in Hyattsville, Md.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee requested the meeting, according to spokesman David Wade, who described it as “completely personal and private.”

Susan Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Thursday that the cardinal called it “pastoral and private” but had no further comment on the meeting, the first between the two men.

The Massachusetts senator reached out to McCarrick as some Catholic leaders have been demanding penalties for Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, stem cell research, gay marriage and other positions that go against church teachings.

Kerry has expressed political support for abortion rights, stem cell research and civil unions. He has stopped short of endorsing gay marriage.

In February, the archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, said he would refuse to give Kerry Holy Communion because of his stance on abortion. Kerry’s own Boston archbishop, Sean O’Malley, has said such politicians should refrain from participating in the sacrament, which honors the sacrifice of Jesus and is reserved for those in good standing with the church.

Last year, Bishop William K. Weigand of Sacramento called on then-Gov. Gray Davis to change his support for abortion rights or stop receiving Communion.

Kerry has rejected criticism of his receiving the Eucharist, saying there should be a separation between his political life and private religious practices.

Many Catholics openly disagree with the church on issues including abortion and gay rights. The Vatican issued a doctrinal note in 2003 saying Catholic lawmakers had a duty to uphold church teachings.

Last year, the U.S. Conference of Bishops created a seven-member task force to establish guidelines on how to approach Catholic politicians who openly reject church teachings. Some have suggested denying them access to Catholic schools, hospitals and other institutions, or even excommunication.

McCarrick, who heads the task force, said in a television interview Sunday that individual archbishops would have to determine what actions to take.

“I think there are many of us who would feel that there are certain restrictions that we might put on people, that there are certain sanctions that we may put on people,” he told “Fox News Sunday.”

“But I think many of us would not like to use the Eucharist as part of the sanctions.”

The debate placed increased scrutiny on Kerry before last weekend’s Easter celebration. He would become the first Catholic nominee for president since John F. Kennedy in 1960.

Rev. John Ardis, director of the Paulist Center in Boston, where the senator frequently attends Mass, told the Boston Globe that he was barraged with phone calls from people saying he should not give Communion to Kerry. Ardis said he would welcome the senator, and Kerry took Communion at a morning service.

“I was trained that you do not deny people the Eucharist,” Ardis told the Globe. “We can’t judge the heart or the conscience of the individual who is coming to receive.”