Tobin: Kennedy communion claims false

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Providence, R.I., Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin says he never ordered priests in his diocese to deny communion to U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.

Speaking Sunday to the Providence Journal, Tobin denied an allegation made last week by Kennedy in which he said the bishop told him not to receive the sacrament of Communion and that he had sent word to local priests that Kennedy was to be banned from the sacrament because of his stance favoring abortion rights.

Calling Kennedy's claim of sending orders to priests "absolutely inaccurate," Tobin told the newspaper his communications with the congressman had been confidential until Kennedy revealed their contents.

"If I had told 300 priests of the diocese in any format not to give communion to Kennedy or anybody else, you think that would have remained confidential?" Tobin asked.

Tobin released excerpts of 2007 letter he sent to Kennedy in which he cited a newly issued statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that Catholics who "knowingly and obstinately" repudiate the church's "definite teachings on moral issues" -- such as abortion -- should not take communion.

"If he took it as an instruction, so be it, but it was really a request," Tobin said.