Rhode Island bishop leaps into public arena
By RAY HENRY
September 20, 2008
Hattiesburg American
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The motto of Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin comes from a Bible verse reminding believers that God has given them "no cowardly spirit."
And he has not been timid during three years as the most prominent religious leader in Rhode Island, the nation's most heavily Catholic state.
Tobin used his edgy humor last year to publicly skewer former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is Catholic and supports abortion rights. In the diocesan newspaper, during the Republican presidential primary, Tobin addressed the candidate by first name - "Hey Rudy" - and called his stand on abortion pathetic.
Tobin recently took on U.S. immigration authorities and Gov. Don Carcieri, himself a Catholic, by condemning mass immigration raids in the state. An annoyed Carcieri pushed back, saying some priests don't agree with the bishop's stand.
Tobin realizes his social pronouncements are unpopular with many people, perhaps the majority of his diocese, which covers the entire state. He doesn't care.
"When we teach, we don't take a public opinion poll first," Tobin said in a recent interview. "Jesus didn't do surveys."
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