Bloq Canadidate a Priest

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/061027/...nal/bloc_priest

I thought the Vatican didn't allow priests to run. Has the pope changed that policy? Does anyone know?

[jbg]

Never know what a blockhead will do.

[seabee]

This is not a precedent in Québec. From memory, in 1976, a priest (un prêtre-ouvrier), father Couture, a defender of the rights of the non-unionized workers, ran for the Parti Québécois, won, and was a minister in the Lévesque Cabinet.

Father Gravel is already a well-known personality in Québec for his pro-gay and pro-SSM position; he is well-liked, and probably a shoo-in in the Bloc stronghold of Repentigny.

And he is not a "canadidate", just a candidate.

[jdobbin]

This is not a precedent in Québec. From memory, in 1976, a priest (un prêtre-ouvrier), father Couture, a defender of the rights of the non-unionized workers, ran for the Parti Québécois, won, and was a minister in the Lévesque Cabinet.

Father Gravel is already a well-known personality in Québec for his pro-gay and pro-SSM position; he is well-liked, and probably a shoo-in in the Bloc stronghold of Repentigny.

And he is not a "canadidate", just a candidate.

Yes, and there used to be priests in Parliament but Pope John Paul II changed that and forced them to give up their elected offices. Has the new pope reversed that policy?

[seabee]

Pope John Paul II changed that and forced them to give up their elected offices. Has the new pope reversed that policy?

Very honestly, I don't know and don't care, nor do most Québécois. This is just a squabble within just one of many professions; should physicians or lawyers or whatever be allowed by their professional associations to run for political office is their internal business.

I also heard, but have not verified, nor do I care to, that he may no longer celebrate mass or dispense the sacraments.

What interests the public and the media is that he is openly pro-same-sex marriage, in spite of his boss. He definitely has a lot of support in Québec.

[August1991]

This is not a precedent in Québec. From memory, in 1976, a priest (un prêtre-ouvrier), father Couture, a defender of the rights of the non-unionized workers, ran for the Parti Québécois, won, and was a minister in the Lévesque Cabinet.

Couture resigned when the Vatican asked priests not to be involved in active politics. (I think the main issue was so-called liberation theology in South America. The Vatican didn't want to compromise its own position with priests becoming politicians.)

I think Louis O'Neill was also a priest although I'm not certain if he resigned.

[jdobbin]

Very honestly, I don't know and don't care, nor do most Québécois. This is just a squabble within just one of many professions; should physicians or lawyers or whatever be allowed by their professional associations to run for political office is their internal business.

I also heard, but have not verified, nor do I care to, that he may no longer celebrate mass or dispense the sacraments.

What interests the public and the media is that he is openly pro-same-sex marriage, in spite of his boss. He definitely has a lot of support in Québec.

There have been a lot of excellent priests in politics who were told they would forced out of being priests and even the Catholic Church if they remained in office. Pope John Paul was against separatist and leftist priests.

Quebec might not care but the Vatican might still try to pull the plug on his as a Catholic priest.

[geoffrey]

Tommy Douglas wasn't a priest per say, but he was a very vocal minister of his faith as well. I wonder if the left would say that Tommy should never have been in politics.

[jdobbin]

Tommy Douglas wasn't a priest per say, but he was a very vocal minister of his faith as well. I wonder if the left would say that Tommy should never have been in politics.

This isn't a left or right question. I have no problems with a priest running for office. I was just pointing out that it seems to be a policy change from the Vatican. I am wondering if the Vatican might try to pull the plug on this later on though.

[jbg]

Tommy Douglas wasn't a priest per say, but he was a very vocal minister of his faith as well. I wonder if the left would say that Tommy should never have been in politics.

From what I understand there is a huge difference between a priest and a minister. My understanding is that a priest has special powers, but a minister is simply a lay person educated in the faith, similar to the position of rabbis in my faith (the few special powers of ministers and rabbis are delegated by the government, i.e. to conduct weddings).

Thus, there may be a "divine impediment" to a priest assuming elective office, whereas a minister has no such restriction.

[geoffrey]

Tommy Douglas wasn't a priest per say, but he was a very vocal minister of his faith as well. I wonder if the left would say that Tommy should never have been in politics.

From what I understand there is a huge difference between a priest and a minister. My understanding is that a priest has special powers, but a minister is simply a lay person educated in the faith, similar to the position of rabbis in my faith (the few special powers of ministers and rabbis are delegated by the government, i.e. to conduct weddings).

Thus, there may be a "divine impediment" to a priest assuming elective office, whereas a minister has no such restriction.

Depends on the religion. Many minister consider themselves on par with priests.

Tommy's so-con values would put any current CPC member to shame. Oh the dark side of the NDP.