U.S. Sen. John Kerry broke his silence about his effort to annul his first marriage, joking on national radio that the process can be confusing to non-Catholics.
He also poked fun at another Massachusetts Roman Catholic politician's very public annulment. U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy II's ex-wife wrote a book opposing the annulment and has asked the Vatican for a reversal."Seventy-five percent of all the annulments in the world take place in the United States, and I guess the figure drops to 50 percent if you take out all Massachusetts politicians," Kerry said Thursday after being dragged into a discussion by radio talk show host Don Imus.
Previously, Kerry had only issued a one-paragraph statement calling the decision "a private family matter."
"It's one of those special Catholic things. It's like confession or feeling guilty about things you haven't even thought of doing," said Kerry, a 53-year-old Democrat.
He is seeking an annulment from his first wife of 14 years, author Julia Thorne. Kerry was remarried in 1995 to millionaire Teresa Heinz, a devout Catholic.
Kennedy's ex-wife, Sheila Rauch Kennedy, argued in her book that it is hypocritical to allow annulments in a faith that considers marriage sacred. She said children from earlier marriages are left with a stigma.
The church does not recognize divorce, but grants annulments, which dissolve the earlier marriage in the eyes of the church. Without an annulment, a divorced Catholic who remarries cannot receive communion or attend confession.
The first marriages of both Kerry and Kennedy produced two children. Kennedy, 44, is the eldest son of slain Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.