Former Youngstown bishop: Kennedy owes Catholics an apology

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Roman Catholic bishop who formerly led the Diocese of Youngstown is calling for an apology from U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy for criticizing church leaders who will oppose universal health-care plans unless there are tighter abortion restrictions.

Bishop Thomas Tobin, who leads the Catholic Church in Rhode Island, said Friday that recent comments from the Rhode Island Democrat, who is Catholic, were irresponsible.

“Congressman Kennedy continues to be a disappointment to the Catholic Church and to the citizens of the state of Rhode Island,” Tobin said in a written statement. “I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments.”

Kennedy recently told the conservative Web site CNSnews.com that opposition from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops over abortion was a “red herring” fanning “flames of dissent and discord.”

Tobin served as bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown from 1995 to 2005.

The bishops have said they will oppose plans that lack existing restrictions on federally funded abortions.

“I can’t understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we’re caring and giving health care to the human person,” Kennedy said in the interview.

The plans being debated by Congress would provide health coverage to millions of uninsured people, Kennedy said.

Tobin has previously clashed with local leaders over the treatment of illegal immigrants, abortion and same-sex marriage.