AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
On August 29, mourners will gather at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston for the Catholic funeral mass of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, whose extensive political record includes support for legislation in favor of abortion, partial-birth abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and gay marriage, all of which are in strong opposition to the values and teachings of the Catholic Church.
Catholics across the nation are asking the question, “Should Ted Kennedy be given a Catholic funeral?”
Church doctrine states that any baptized Catholic in good standing has a rite to a funeral within the Church. If Senator Kennedy is given a Catholic funeral, would the Church, in essence, be saying, “It’s okay… You can stray from the teachings of the Catholic Church as a public servant in one of the most powerful positions in the United States, and still be considered a Catholic in good standing”?
Typically, the Church has denied funeral masses to those considered heretics, schismatics, or those to whom the granting of a Church funeral would cause public scandal to the faithful. By bestowing upon Senator Kennedy the rite of a Catholic funeral, has the Church lost all propriety against public scandal?
Some are even asking if his actions in the United States Senate and his very public support of positions which contributed to what our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, termed the “culture of death,” serve as a sort of de facto renunciation of his membership in the Catholic Church.
Public figures, such as the Kennedy family, present themselves as easy targets for criticism and judgment. Pitting their publicly professed Catholicism against their equally publicized, morally questionable actions (John F. Kennedy‘s extra-marital affairs, Ted Kennedy‘s actions at Chappaquiddick in 1969, and his decades long support of pro-abortion legislation) make pointing out their hypocrisy quite easy.
How fortunate for the rest of us that our own sins are not so public.
In a perfect world, we might have seen Senator Kennedy take the opportunity to be an outstanding Christian witness, touting and supporting the most basic human right to life. But that did not happen. While he championed legislation promoting civil rights, health care, education reform, minimum wage for workers, and immigration reform, all outstanding issues of public welfare, on this, the most basic of human rights, he stood firm in opposition to the rights of the unborn.
So how should we respond to the question? With harsh criticism against the priests and bishops who ultimately decide who receives the Catholic rite? Or should we take our cues from the bible? Before dying on the cross, Jesus hears one of the thieves rebuke the other, stating that while Jesus was innocent, their sentence corresponded to their crimes. He asks Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom. We do not know the crimes of these thieves, but Jesus assures this thief that he will, indeed, be united with Jesus in Paradise (Luke 23:39-43). These eleventh-hour confessions, “death bed conversions” as they are often termed, can be difficult to understand for those who strive to live a life of decency and truth, but they are an example of the grace, mercy, and loving compassion of our God. Even the Prodigal Son was tenderly welcomed into his father’s arms immediately upon his return. His father did not first seek evidence of the son’s repentance… he simply rejoiced at the site of the son whom he loved.
Perhaps in the months leading up to his death, Senator Kennedy spent time in reflection, examining his life, as might be expected of anyone handed the reality of a terminal illness. We have no way of knowing whether Senator Kennedy repented before his death, and though many Catholics would have liked to see it, public repentance is not a requirement.
While it is the duty and responsibility of the faithful to continue to protect and promote the values so basic to human existence, the final judgment of all rests on the shoulders of God alone. Until then, may we continue to pray for ourselves, for our nation, and for one another, for we are all sinners, dancing on broken legs.
And let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Comments
Ted Kennedy never acknowledged publicly or recanted his support for abortion, embronic-stem cell, or gay marriage. These were all contradictory positions against the Holy Magistrium of the Catholic Church. So the question should be, what will he say to God when he is judged regarding his "good works"? Ted Kennedy's legacy speaks volumes. He was not in good standing with the church or for that matter any Catholic who dies in mortal sin? If we fail to see our own sins, then where is the true remorse we need to ask God for our forgiveness?
Who are you and what gives you the right to judge or editorialize about another mans right to a Catholic burial.You and your crafty little typing fingers need to join a health club and write about your own failures in being a perfect Catholic. Be careful and take it real slow because only that way will come to realize how imperfect you are and how wrong it is to judge another. You and a lot of other so called journalists should be ashamed. You need a job writing for your local shopper talking about pet care and saving money buying clothes at your local thrift store. Leave the God business to someone more qualified.
There is seems to be an intentional blurring of the distinction between judging Kennedy's immortal soul and judging the morality of the choices he made as a political figure. He is a public person and made public choices involving the representation of great numbers of other people. One choice he consistently made was to support abortion. Abortion is clearly, unequivocally, condemned by the Catholic Church. Supporting abortion in a public manner ipso facto places one outside the church ie. you are excommunicated. Therefore it is considered a scandal to bury such a person with a Catholic burial. The Church has clear guidlines about these things in its Code of Canon Law which are being violated in this case. Perhaps if name only Catholic politicians who support abortion were given an example of how they will be treated in death by following the written rules of the Church in these matters, they might think more seriously about what they are doing.
I believe that he deserves a Catholic burial. No one is perfect, and denying him a Catholic burial would hurt not only his family and his memory, but it would harm the catholic church in th USA as well. I wish everyone on their Pro-Life high horses would realize that there's a lot more to being pro-life than just abortion, stem-cell, and the death penalty. Being pro life is a choice that we make every day by helping others and ourselves lead lives that bring us closer to God and to our ideal selves. Senator Kennedy did that. Maybe not the way you think is appropriate, but who are you to judge his life, his accomplishments, and his sins? Please be grateful for the good that God allowed him to do, and perhaps you should make it your concern to address those issues you feel are important through action, much the same way this great man did. He followed his conscience and did many great things with his life that brought equality and justice to others. He deserves a Catholic burial. Period.
NO! WE ALL KNOW WHY. IT IS A INSULT.
Kennedy never recanted his rejection of Church teaching. In fact up to the point of his death he was trying to once again manipulate MA law by having influence over who would take over his senate seat. He feared the seat going empty or possibly "God-forbid" go republican. All in effort to push an abortion bill through congress in the name of health care reform. BTW, the democrats now want to add his name to this abortion legislation.
To boot, Obama the most prolific proponent of the culture of death will give his eulogy.
So far the pope has been silent on Kennedy's passing. This speaks volumes. Only the tortuous cries of the millions of aborted babies speak louder.
One veteran official at the Vatican, of U.S. nationality, expressed the view of many conservatives about the Kennedy clan's rapport with the Catholic Church: "Why would he even write a letter to the Pope? The Kennedys have always been defiantly in opposition to the Roman Catholic magisterium."
I refer anyone who is serious and not just willing to throw out that one liner--Judge not lest you be judged--to this article by Rev. Michael Orsi
Kennedy's Funeral Further Damages the Church's Credibility
(find at humanevents.com)
He concludes by saying:
In this case, a subdued funeral service should be offered for the repose of Senator Kennedy’s soul. It should be made clear that, as it is the purpose of every Catholic funeral, the Mass is being celebrated to beg God’s mercy for the deceased. But, then even this solution would be meaningless when the nation’s most pro-choice president ever is permitted to eulogize his ideological soul mate in the Church’s sanctuary. Imagine the accolades that will be lavished on Kennedy’s character and career!
The Church’s credibility has once again been undermined by the hierarchy of the Church in Boston. This scandal is bigger than the one enabled by Cardinal Law because of its bad message & long ranging implic
Shouldn't we be pointing the finger at ourselves for allowing the rights of the unborn to be denied in this country, and for the sanctity of marriage to be challenged? Who has the greater sin, the Church or her members?
In the end Senator Kennedy was more Senator than catholic.I don't blame the Senator..when was the last time he was confornted by the moral outrage that he displayed from time to time on capitol hill by his Parish Catholic Priest over the sin of abortion.The Senator had it right in 1971 when he said abortion was evil.In those days he had his Mother Rose,Cardinal
Cushing and a bulkwork of Catholic Bishops that set the tone.If you crossed them you heard about it.Today they have been replaced by the suburban feel good guys who don't want to rock the boat or the collection box.I blame the moral failure of the Catholic Church.All my parish priest went into hiding during the child molestation..not one of them wore their collar in public for fear of being rediculed.In many ways, The late Senator showed more moral courage. He continued to campaign in public,
despite the death of two brothers. Catholic's who profess a belief in Christ know that abortion the diabolic evil of our time.God help
I liken this issue to the Notre Dame scandal were the most pro-abortion President in U.S. history was allowed to give the commencement speech. Church leaders such as the ND president Jenkins and Cardinal O'Malley are by their actions giving an approval to people who violate the most basic human right, the right to life. In my opinion, giving Ted Kennedy a funeral with such pomp as circumstance is acrimonious. It says that a person can violate God's law which is clearly spelled out and then still be deserving of a Catholic Mass, which is sacred. There is no lesson learned for Catholics in the public limelight who follow in the senator's footsteps (i.e. Sebelius, Biden, Kerry, etc.). They won't see the need to stop their endorsement of the rampart infanticide, the evil of abortion, to the tune of 3000 deaths per day that ocurr in our country.
I do pray for God to have mercy on Ted Kennedy's soul just as much as I prayed for God's mercy on abortion executioner George Tiller.
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