Bishop Thomas Tobin: What you can do to support him

In her latest column, Judie Brown shares:

Ever since Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, D.D., arrived in the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, he has been an articulate defender of truth. Since his installation in May 2005, he has focused his attention on shepherding his people, not only with a vision of faith through understanding, but with a clear set of Catholic moral principles that clearly guide his actions and shape his words.

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Bishop Tobin does not mince words. During the latest scuffle with Congressman Patrick Kennedy, for example, he suggested that pro-abortion Catholic public figures “really have to question their membership in the [C]hurch.” 

Further, Bishop Tobin published an open letter to Kennedy after the congressman chose to take his disagreement with his bishop to the public square.

Read Judie's entire column here.

Here are some excerpts from that letter:

In the letter, Bishop Tobin states: "Your rejection of the Church’s teaching on abortion falls into a different category – it’s a deliberate and obstinate act of the will; a conscious decision that you’ve re-affirmed on many occasions. 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."

"Congressman Kennedy, I write these words not to embarrass you or to judge the state of your conscience or soul. That’s ultimately between you and God. But your description of your relationship with the Church is now a matter of public record, and it needs to be challenged. I invite you, as your bishop and brother in Christ, to enter into a sincere process of discernment, conversion and repentance. It’s not too late for you to repair your relationship with the Church, redeem your public image, and emerge as an authentic “profile in courage,” especially by defending the sanctity of human life for all people, including unborn children. And if I can ever be of assistance as you travel the road of faith, I would be honored and happy to do so."

Patrick Kennedy has been whining to the mainstream media, telling them that the big bad Bishop Tobin is picking on him by not allowing him to receive Communion. However, Bishop Tobin states that the demand was a voluntary request that he made in 2007 in the form of a letter and was meant to be private. It was Kennedy who made it public. In his comments to the Providence Journal, Tobin called the letter a “pastoral” message and said it was “absolutely inaccurate” for Kennedy to say that he told priests in the diocese to not allow him to receive the sacrament.

Consequently, Bishop Tobin has been under attack by the mainstream media.

Here are some things we can do to show our support of Bishop Tobin (as recommended by Judie Brown):

Take action:

1. Thank Bishop Tobin for his courage in standing up for the truth and for his concern for Congressman Kennedy’s soul.
Contact the bishop’s public affairs manager, Karen Davis (call 401-278-4600, fax 401-278-4659 or e-mail kdavis@dioceseofprovidence.org), or write to this address:
Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, D.D.
Diocese of Providence
One Cathedral Square
Providence, RI 02903

2. Contact Congressman Patrick Kennedy to let him know that you are praying for his conversion to truth. E-mail him through his congressional web site, call 202-225-4911, fax 202-225-3290 or write to this address:

Representative Patrick Kennedy
407 Cannon House Office Building
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

For more information see:


Catholic Culture: Bishop Tobin asked Rep. Kennedy not to receive Holy Communion  

Aggie Catholics: Bishop Tobin "Interviewed" by Chris Matthews  

Whispers in the Loggia: Tobin/Kennedy, Round 4