PROVIDENCE, R.I. Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving Communion, the central sacrament of the church, in Rhode Island because of the congressman's support for abortion rights, Kennedy said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.
The decision by the outspoken prelate, reported on The Providence Journal's Web site, significantly escalates a bitter dispute between Tobin, an ultra orthodox bishop, and Kennedy, a son of the nation's most famous Roman Catholic family.
"The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion," Kennedy told the paper in an interview conducted Friday.
Kennedy said the bishop had explained the penalty by telling him "that I am not a good practicing Catholic because of the positions that I've taken as a public official," particularly on abortion.
He declined to say when or how Tobin told him not to take the sacrament. And he declined to say whether he has obeyed the bishop's injunction.
The paper said the bishop's spokesman declined to address the question of whether he had told Kennedy not to receive Communion. But the bishop's office cast doubt on Kennedy's related assertion about instructions to state priests.
"Bishop Tobin has never addressed matters relative to public officials receiving Holy Communion with pastors of the diocese," spokesman Michael K. Guilfoyle told the paper in an e-mailed statement.
Kennedy did not return messages left on his cell phone by The Associated Press, and his staff refused to make the congressman available for comment. Tobin's spokesman told the AP that the bishop would not comment on the issue.
Church law permits Tobin to ban Kennedy from receiving Communion within the Diocese of Providence, which covers Rhode Island, but he cannot stop Kennedy from receiving Communion elsewhere. It was unclear whether bishops overseeing Washington and Massachusetts, where Kennedy's family has a seaside compound, would issue similar bans.
Kennedy could appeal the decision to officials in the Vatican, but the hierarchy of the Catholic church is unlikely to overturn a bishop, said Michael Sean Winters, a church observer and author of "Left At the Altar: How Democrats Lost The Catholics And How Catholics Can Save The Democrats."
"It's really bad theology," said Winters, who opposes abortion. "You're turning the altar rail into a battle field, a political battlefield no less, and it does a disservice to the Eucharist."
The dispute between the two men began in October when Kennedy in an interview on CNSNews.com criticized the nation's Catholic bishops for threatening to oppose a massive expansion of the nation's health care system unless it included tighter restrictions on federally funded abortion.
Kennedy voted against an amendment to a Democratic health care plan sought by the bishops. But he voted in favor of a health care plan that included the amendment he opposed.
Tobin, the spiritual leader of the nation's most heavily Roman Catholic state, demanded an apology from Kennedy after learning of his remarks and requested a meeting.
"While I greatly respect the Catholic Church and its leaders, like many Rhode Islanders, the fact that I disagree with the hierarchy of the church on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic," Kennedy wrote in a letter to Tobin, agreeing to a sitdown. "I embrace my faith which acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity."
Their meeting fell apart. While Tobin called it a mutual decision, Kennedy accused Tobin of failing to abide by an agreement to stop discussing the congressman's faith publicly.
Tobin followed up with a biting public letter published in a diocesan newspaper.
"Sorry, you can't chalk it up to an 'imperfect humanity.' Your position is unacceptable to the Church and scandalous to many of our members. It absolutely diminishes your Communion with the Church," Tobin wrote.
In subsequent interviews, Tobin said Kennedy should not receive Communion like other Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. Still, the bishop stopped short of ordering Kennedy not to receive the sacrament.
Jon Gosselin showed up for a daylong divorce arbitration hearing Saturday with a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses for Kate -- only to have her turn them down and later leave the courthouse empty-handed.
But while Jon wasn't able to say it with flowers, the former couple were able to express themselves well in other ways, leading to a "successful and productive" session, his lawyer Mark Heller tells PEOPLE.
(AP Article, Scroll down to hear his current hit "One World")
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- New York police shut down a mall appearance by teen pop singer Justin Bieber (BEE'-ber) after thousands of young girls showed up and got a little too wild.
Nassau County police say girls and adults in the crowd of nearly 3,000 started pushing and shoving as they waited for the 15-year-old sensation to arrive Friday at the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City.
Five people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.
Police arrested a vice president from Bieber's record label, Island Def Jam Records. They say he wasn't cooperating with attempts to disperse the crowd.
Some fans had camped out overnight for the event.
Bieber never made it into the building. He told WBLI radio that police turned him away.
Bieber's debut album, "My World," was released Tuesday.
___
Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com
LISTEN TO HIS SONG:
Get HuffPost Entertainment On Facebook and Twitter!
</center>More on Video
TUCSON, Ariz. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli watched as red-clad Arizona students ringed the sidelines as time ticked down, ready to rush the field.
"I saw it and I actually smirked," Masoli said. "It was kind of funny. I wasn't really worried about it."
The Ducks' gifted quarterback ruined the celebration in Arizona Stadium and started another one in Eugene.
Masoli tied it with a touchdown pass to Ed Dickson with six seconds left, then won it with a 1-yard run in the second overtime as No. 11 Oregon defeated Arizona 44-41 on Saturday night and took a big step toward the Pac-10 title.
The Ducks (9-2, 7-1 Pac-10) will earn a Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl berth with a victory over No. 20 Oregon State in a winner-take-all Civil War on Dec. 3 in Eugene.
Masoli threw for three scores and ran for three more as the Ducks rallied from a 24-14 deficit early in the fourth quarter.
"Our guys didn't flinch," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said.
Nick Foles threw four TD passes for Arizona (6-4, 4-3), which was eliminated from Rose Bowl contention.
"That was a real tough loss, especially for the kids," said Arizona coach Mike Stoops, whose team lost for the first time at home. "We did really well tonight with getting Oregon out of their comfort zone. They've got a very good quarterback, and that is definitely what makes the difference."
Facing relentless pressure from the Wildcats, Masoli struggled at times, fumbling twice and throwing an interception that led to Arizona's first score.
But Masoli was there when the Ducks needed him most. He was unstoppable late in the game, then took over in overtime.
After Masoli hit Jeff Maehl for a 4-yard score on Oregon's first overtime possession, Foles hit Juron Criner with a 3-yard strike to tie it at 38-38.
In the second OT, Oregon forced Arizona to settle for a 41-yard field goal by Alex Zendejas.
A touchdown would win it for Oregon, and Masoli quickly produced it.
He hit Dickson for 22 yards, and three plays later Masoli bulled over from a yard out.
"I was just resolved," Masoli said. "I'm just really happy with the result and really proud of our guys. They just played their hearts out the whole time."
Minutes early, Oregon tied it at 31-31 when Masoli hit Dickson in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard score.
That stunning strike came after another minor miracle for the Ducks. Oregon had tied it at 24-24 midway through the final quarter on a 43-yard field goal by Morgan Flint a line-drive kick that hit the crossbar and bounced through the uprights.
Arizona took a 31-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter on a 71-yard screen pass from Foles to Criner, who outraced the defense to the end zone, fighting off two defenders over the final 10 yards.
Arizona appeared ready to run the clock out on its next possession. But Oregon's Talmadge Jackson III picked off a pass in the end zone, giving the Ducks one last shot.
"That changed the whole perspective of the game," Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris said.
The Ducks took over at their own 20 with 3:11 to play. As students began to mass on the sidelines, Masoli guided the Ducks downfield in 15 plays and 3:05, scoring with six ticks to spare.
Masoli completed 7 of 11 passes for 54 yards on the drive and also ran for 13 yards.
"It (upsets) you for the most part because you let opportunities like that slip away," Arizona free safety Cam Nelson. "It's hard to know you could have won a game, or you were supposed to win a game, and then you end up losing."
On a 70-degree night in the desert, Wildcats faithful packed Arizona Stadium for one of the bigger games in school history. But this was a matchup few had circled in September.
The Wildcats were picked to finish eighth in a preseason poll of reporters regularly assigned to the conference. Oregon, meanwhile, seemed adrift after opening with a 19-8 defeat at Boise State a loss that made national news when tailback LeGarrette Blount punched a Broncos player after the game and was suspended for the season. He dressed Saturday night but did not play.
Oregon had scored at least 40 points in six of seven Pac-10 games, including its last four, and the Ducks looked unstoppable on the game's opening possession. They marched 74 yards in nine plays, with Masoli snaking 14 yards up the middle to give Oregon a 7-0 lead.
Masoli made it 14-0 with a 9-yard strike to Maehl early in the second quarter.
But the Wildcats cut the deficit in half on a Foles' first TD pass, a 5-yarder to Criner, who caught three touchdown passes.
Arizona scored 24 straight points before the Ducks awoke and rallied.
"We just have perseverance," Masoli said. "That's one of the characteristics of this team. Everybody on our team believed to the end."
More on College FootballAUSTIN, Texas Colt McCoy fired the cannon. He banged the big drum.
Then he left the field to chants of "Colt for Heisman!"
There's still plenty of work to do for the quarterback of No. 3 Texas, but for this one last night in front of the home crowd, he was going to have some fun.
McCoy passed for 396 yards and four touchdowns, earning his NCAA record 43rd career victory as a starter in a 51-20 win over Kansas and embattled Jayhawks coach Mark Mangino that wrapped up the Longhorns' first Big 12 South title since 2005.
"I always love winning," McCoy said. "I'm just so thankful. It's really special."
McCoy, playing his final home game, improved to 43-7 in his career, breaking the record he shared with former Georgia quarterback David Greene (2001-2004).
Texas (11-0, 7-0) still have a Thanksgiving game at rival Texas A&M left to play before the Big 12 championship on Dec. 5 against Nebraska. Win those two, then it's off to Pasadena, Calif., for the BCS national championship game for McCoy and the 'Horns.
"It's been a long time coming," senior defensive end Sergio Kindle said. "There's been a lot of hard work put into getting where we are now. It's not over."
McCoy threw touchdown passes to Jordan Shipley and Malcolm Williams and two to James Kirkendoll.
Kansas (5-6, 1-6) dropped its sixth straight, adding to a miserable week and season for Mangino. University officials are investigating Mangino over allegations of emotional and verbal abuse of players, fueling speculation he may be fired.
The defeat only compounds Mangino's mounting troubles. The 2007 coach of the year is 50-47 in his eighth season. He could still lead the Jayhawks to a third straight bowl game for the first time in school history with a win over Missouri next week.
Mangino said he had no doubt he'll coach against the Tigers.
"I'm ready to go (against Missouri), but you asked the wrong person that question," Mangino said.
Asked about the turmoil of the last week, Mangino talked about Jayhawks player D.J. Marshall, who he said started chemotherapy for cancer.
"That's called a bad week. I've had a great week," Mangino said.
McCoy's big night and two more games to shine on national television could give his Heisman Trophy hopes a big late-season boost. He has 23 touchdown passes and just missed 400 yards passing for the second time in three games.
"I don't think we could have scripted it any better," coach Mack Brown said. "He is in here for a big finish and he was sending that message tonight."
Unlike other games when Texas was winning big and McCoy watched the fourth quarter from the sideline, he stayed in against Kansas until late to say a final goodbye to the home fans.
With about six minutes left, the Texas-record crowd of 101,357 chanted "Colt! Colt!" McCoy hugged Brown, saluted the fans and pointed at the sky before jogging into the huddle.
Texas then called a timeout and he and Shipley walked off the field together to a thunderous ovation. The roommates have connected for 28 touchdowns.
"They are probably one of the best combinations in college football history," Kirkendoll said.
After the game, most of the crowd stayed to watch as McCoy and Texas' other seniors high-fived fans in the front row. The players went to the corner of the end zone and fired the cannon used to punctuate Longhorns touchdowns. Then McCoy pounded three times on the "Big Bertha" bass drum before leaving the field.
"I've never hit the drum. I've never shot the cannon. It was pretty sweet," McCoy said. "That was the perfect time to do it."
McCoy was a redshirt freshman in 2005 when Vince Young led Texas to the Big 12 title and its first undisputed national championship in 36 years with a victory in the Rose Bowl. McCoy's first win came on Sept. 2, 2006, when he threw a 60-yard touchdown pass on the second throw of his career.
Back then, the Longhorns went to a no-huddle offense in part to keep him from getting intimidated by the seniors on the offensive line.
Texas still runs the no-huddle to keep up the pressure on defenses. Saturday night, McCoy's fifth pass was a 41-yard scoring strike to Kirkendoll when he lofted the ball behind two defenders as the receiver streaked down the sideline.
Kansas put up some of the best numbers of the season against the nation's top-rated defense. Jayhawks quarterback Todd Reesing passed for 256 yards. Dezmon Briscoe had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
But this was McCoy's night.
He connected with Shipley for a score right after he got popped hard on a scramble. The 68-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Williams came on the first play after Kansas had cut Texas' lead to 27-13.
McCoy did just about everything in this one. He rushed for 29 yards and even punted a pooch kick in the third quarter.
"It was definitely enjoyable," McCoy said. "A memorable one."
More on College Football
RSS
