RI Gov. says Kennedy statements 'outrageous'

WARWICK, R.I. -- Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri is weighing in on the public clash between Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence, saying Kennedy has made "outrageous statements about the Catholic church" and the bishop had no choice but to respond.

The Republican governor, a Catholic and social conservative, made the comments to WPRO-AM on Wednesday.

News broke over the weekend that Bishop Thomas Tobin asked Kennedy in 2007 not to take Communion because he supports abortion rights. The revelation came after a monthlong back-and-forth between the two after Kennedy criticized Catholic leaders who oppose health care reform unless lawmakers included tighter restrictions on abortion

Carcieri tells WPRO that Kennedy's statements were uncalled for.

He did not address Tobin's request that Kennedy not take Communion.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)