We got a bit of a surprise today at Heinz
Chapel. In attendance at today’s mass was none other than Teresa Heinz Kerry.
“But she’s a Heinz and it’s the Heinz Chapel. So what if she was there?”
Well, in the 5 years I’ve attended, served, or sang there, I’ve never seen her.
Anyhow, she talked to the celebrant after mass. I wondered if they’d talk about
politics, but as it turns out, the conversation revolved around the weather. She
commented on the noisy fans and how hard it was to hear the priest. She asked why
fans are used instead of AC. Well, there is no AC.
THK: “Well, I imagine its cool most of the time, though.”
PRIEST: “Actually, it can be quite unbearable and I feel particularly bad for couples
marrying here. They spend a lot of money to use this chapel and they’re horribly
uncomfortable during the mass or service.”
THK: “Oh, well then I’ll have a talk with the engineers.”
Woohoo! Speaking as someone who sweated his butt off in a cassock and surplice today,
AC would be a blessed gift.
Before anyone asks whether she received communion, I’ll tell you that I don’t know.
I wasn’t assisting at the altar today. If she did, I will brook no derogatory remarks
about the priest, who is a fine, upstanding, and orthodox member of the clergy;
a credit to the legacies of Philip Neri and John Henry Newman.
I’m glad Mrs. Kerry came today. She got a good dose of Latin, sang tasteful hymns,
and a heard a thought-provoking homily.
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I wasn’t really surprised to not see her often. I was only anticipating those who might have been unimpressed by her being there at all. If she hadn’t taken the Heinz name, I’d never expect her to attend an Oratorian mass. We’re far more traditional than the broderline-heretical Boston Paulist Center she normally attends.
Regarding the “rule”. It’s not so much a matter of the communicant status of poltical spouses. It’s more about her position as a public figure and her ability to misrepresent or scandalize the Church. There is much debate over what beliefs constitute grave sin and a wide spectrum of positions maintained by the episcopate. At one end, you have bishops like Sheridan in Colorado Springs who believes that even voting for pro-choice candidates is a grave sin, and at the other end you have those who don’t think being pro-choice is sinful at all. Somewhere in between you have Bishop Wuerl who believes abortion is a grave sin, but won’t deny communion to public supporters of abortion “rights”.
She lives in Massachusetts, so don’t read all too much into not seeing her that often at mass in Pittsburgh.
Also, have we now extended the no-Communion rule to wives of pro-choice politicians?