Part-time theologian and full time cretin, Congressman Patrick Kennedy has decided not to seek re-election for his Rhode Island House seat.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy has decided not to seek re-election to Congress, saying his life is “taking a new direction” just months after the death of his father and mentor, Sen. Edward Kennedy.

The Rhode Island Democrat taped a message to be aired on the state’s television stations Sunday night. The Associated Press viewed the message Thursday, ahead of the announcement.

“Now having spent two decades in politics, my life is taking a new direction, and I will not be a candidate for re-election this year,” Kennedy says in the ad.

Patrick Kennedy is, of course, the son of the late Teddy (hic) Kennedy. He made news recently by being one of the only politicians to publicly pick a fight with the Catholic Church and LOSE the public relations battle.

When Kennedy suggested that the Church was not pro-life for opposing a bill that funds abortion, Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin forcefully criticized him. Kennedy tried to up the ante by publicly admitting that Bishop Tobin had requested he refrain from communion. Kennedy tried to make it seem like cause and effect until it was revealed that the request of the Bishop happened years ago. The p.r. for Kennedy was so bad he finally refused to talk about it anymore.

It is not easy to lose a public relations battle with the Church, but Kennedy found a way. Polls suggest that he would lose his next political battle as welll so I assume that Kennedy felt the better part of valor is desertion.

As for his new direction, his statement was unclear. I hope that along with bartender, pharmacist, and driving instructor, he has ruled out amateur theologian.