NARAL had awarded the Massachusetts senator a 100% approval rating.
He was the Catholic voice for the culture of death for a quarter of a century, supporting not only abortion but partial birth infanticide, the use of embryonic human beings for research, and same sex unions for homosexuals and lesbians. He also championed repression against free speech and religious liberties (at least for conservative, orthodox or biblical churches) by expanding “hate crimes” legislation to include criticism of gays.
He was also responsible for the increased politicization of the Supreme Court by his pro-abortion litmus test against the nomination of Judge Robert Bork, a strict-constructionist, in 1987. Judge Bork came into the Catholic Church a few years ago.
At the time of his death, Senator Kennedy was advocating health care reform that would guarantee federal money for artificial contraception and abortions.
While many acclaimed him as a hero for women and the poor. Many pro-lifers regarded him as one of the nation’s chief enemies of motherhood and the poorest of the poor, innocent and voiceless children in the womb.
His was a life of many personal scandals and a general lack of discretion. However, I have no desire to enumerate upon those things in his personal life which are already public knowledge. Our reaction now should be one of prayer for a man who was baptized and raised as a Catholic. God will be his judge, even as we continue to repair the damage that he did to the witness of the Church and the moral standing of our nation. Indeed, for all we know, God’s grace might have brought him to repentance and conversion in the last moments of life.
Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Rights Action League, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered groups are certainly weeping the loss of one of their great defenders and proponents. It is too bad that they neither weep for the murdered children nor about the decomposition of morals and marriage.
It is also said that Ted Kennedy was a pivotal figure in the transformation of the Democratic Party and its agenda, making possible the Obama presidency. He certainly made his impact felt upon history. Now, the final chapter is closed. He passed away from his brain cancer on Tuesday night in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. First Joseph, then John, next Robert and now Teddy— the last of the Kennedy brothers has gone to God.
Rest in peace.
Ah, more religious fanatics that demand people follow their beliefs when they can’t seem to follow their own. Cast a lot of stones, do we?
Father Joe is whats wrong with the Catholic Church.
You are a terrible terrible person, how dare you speak about Sen. Kennedy like that.
Re-read that part of the Bible about loving thy neighbors. You’re not winning anybody over.
This is the kind of [expletive deleted] that I’d expect to see on WorldNetDaily.com, not on the blog of a Catholic priest.
Ted Kennedy cheated on an exam in college and was expelled. He also walked away from a car accident that resulted in another person’s death and didn’t report it until the next day. Now, we are making him out to be some kind of hero??? Sorry, but I disagree with those of you who criticize a priest who has the intelligence and courage to speak out and share the actual facts about Ted Kennedy.
By now I’m sure Teddy knows just how well that whole abortion thing worked out for him. Money and family influence only work here on earth.
My prayer is that there would be a 100,000 Fr. Joe’s in our pulpits.
Then for sure we we wouldn’t have had the audacity to negate God’s condemnation of contraception . In 1930 the Anglicans were the first to condone birth control , with all protestant denominations following . This has led inexorably to all the sexual debauchery we’ve been subjected to in the last 80 years . Kennedy was one of the main “Catholics “leading this rush to change God’s laws . I f the Catholic Church had enough Fr. Joe’s, Kennedy would have been long ago excommuncated along with Pelosi , Biden , Leahy , Mikulski , Kerry , Durbin and many more “Catholics ” in name only . Let us rejoice in the Lord for raising up Fr. Joe and pray that many more would have the courage to stand up and defend the faith .
Father Joe
I’m atheist, there are no tenets against judging others. I freely judge whomever I choose. Those are your beliefs that you refuse to follow, not mine.
Yes, I would have labeled the disciples as fanatics, and Jesus if I thought he actually existed.
There is no hell, and there is no heaven. It’s sad that you’ve decided to dedicate your life to the hatred of other people, instead of spreading love and acceptance which some religious people choose to do. Your actions are no better than the Muslims that attacked America on 9/11.
Ted Kennedy did more than anyone else in Congress to promote and protect abortion, and he is a Catholic. I would think every Catholic Priest should point this out.
Godless American – I’m afraid you are neither. Such monumental ignorance is hardly deserving of a response.
Judging by the popularity of his blog, it seems Father Joe is winning over a lot of people!
“My prayer is that there would be a 100,000 Fr. Joe’s in our pulpits….Let us rejoice in the Lord for raising up Fr. Joe and pray that many more would have the courage to stand up and defend the faith .”
Rick – I’m praying the same right along with you.
Fr. Joe – God bless you!! May you always be the shining example that you are of courageous virtue in speaking the truth. And may your brother priests be likewise. I have placed you among the group of people in my heart for whom I pray daily.
Great post, Father Joe.
Something tells me that like I, you won’t have the stomach to endure Obama’s eulogy.
It may be interesting to see who is brave (or irreverent) enough to take Communion at the funeral Mass.
Mute Button.
Hey Godless American, what offends you about Fr. Joe’s initial remarks. Except for a word here,”sodomites” or a sentence there “Its too bad they don’t weep for the murdered children…” this entry could have been appeared on Slate. He is summerizing the impact of Ted Kennnedy’s work objectively and with minimal commentary. Or is it the lack of fauning praise for this “liberal lion” that has you upset?
By the way, how the he(two sticks) do you prove a universal negative statement – twice: “there is no hell” and “there is no heaven”. Or does this dogmatic proclamation come from a personal revelation you received? One would suspect that you are impressed with such emotional lectures as Sen. Kennedy was known to give, untroubled by the rules of logic.
When you speak of hatred of others its best to start by looking in the mirror. There’s more intolerance in your words then in those of Fr. Joe that you are quick to condemn.
Father Joe – I can just say – “Amen”. Thank you for speaking the truth about this man. He was not a great American. He helped lead America down a horrible road – far away from God. God will judge America and Mr. Kennedy.
Thank you, Father Joe.
I, too, hope that Seneator Kennedy had the opportunity to reconcile with the Church before his death. If a public announcement is not made that he repudiated all his anti-life stances prior to a public funeral Mass, the scandal of Notre Dame will be child’s play in comparison.
I am so grateful for the catholic clergy (sadly few and far between) that stand up for the teachings of the Chuch . . .and I must now place you in the company of Archbishop Raymond Burke.
My heart breaks for our Catholic young people and all everyday catholics in the pews who are being led by the example of so many clergy to believe it is OK to ignore church teaching on the life issues and not endanger their souls and the souls that are entrusted to them.
There are some words which are foul or mean and I will not use them. Maybe I am naïve, but is the word “sodomite” now classified as a “bad” or “unacceptable” word? Given what it means, how can one clean it up? The word “gay” is hardly descriptive and it destroys an otherwise perfectly good word for happiness. Sorry if some view it as vulgar, but I intended it only as it has been traditionally defined in law and in reference to the Biblical testimony. There is nothing I can do about the pejorative connotation, especially since it falls under the condemnation of God. But, if it is an unnecessary stumbling block for this particular discussion, I am not tied to the biblical term and will substitute a softer nomenclature in the post above… this time around. But, I do have my limits.
Some object to my calling abortion, “the murder of babies.” Again, I am not into the misdirecting semantics of speaking about “CHOICE” and “the selective termination of embryos or fetuses”.
Kennedy was lauded as the senator who cared the most about women. Well, I am all for saving women’s lives, however, some of those women are still in the womb. Human life is incommensurate.
Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the world and it makes big bucks on abortion.
They own a lot of politicians and manipulate parties.
Repression of speech and persecution of the Church is the end result. If they have their way, health plans operated by the Church will have to offer coverage for artificial contraception and abortion. Catholic doctors will have to do referrals for abortion and prescribe the abortifacient pills or face the loss of their licenses to practice. Catholic hospitals will be compelled to close because of such manipulation. Adoption services, as in Boston, will shut down because same-sex couples will insist upon adopting innocent children.
Universal healthcare, as it is currently being orchestrated, will mean more tax dollars into the pockets of Planned Parenthood and NARAL. Almost everyone on Clinton’s staff has past ties to them and many in the Obama administration did legal work for Planned Parenthood. Even good organizations like the NAACP have been infected by the acceptance of abortion as a solution to their problems instead of as a form of black genocide.
Kennedy helped to create this nightmare world. May God have mercy on his soul.
“It is impossible for us to refrain from speaking of what we have seen and heard”. (Acts 4:20)
It is not for us to condem however, we are required to speak the truth and guide those who cannot see to it. This is the direction we receive at the end of every mass.
Jesus also lost many followers for speaking the truth. He lost thousands on the day he told them “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you will have no salvation.” Whom is it we choose to go to? I choose my Lord and my God!
Fr. Joe,
Thank you for your posting. It helped me to understand and put my thoughts into an ordered manner less vehement than most that covered the Senator’s passing.
Fr. Joe, I would not characterize you as naive nor accuse you of using inappropriate language. My point was that with the exception of those those two more value-laden phrases your entry is neutral enough to be posted on a liberal blog.
Concerning the proposed Health Care bill, members of Congress are putting up a smoke screen when they claim that abortion is not included in the bill. Explicitly it is not, but it is already presumed to be a standard benefit. In order that tax payer money not go for abortion this needs to be made explicit with an amendment to the bill.
As for Planned Parenthood, Congressman Mike Pence tried to cut off funding for them but was unsuccessful.
Yes, this is part of Big Ted’s liberal legacy: helping a priviledged elite profit from the sufferings of the poor and defenseless, particularly the unborn. As with Dr. Tiller, I am not sad to hear of his passing. The dream that Kennedy was so interested in keeping alive was death for millions of infants waiting to be born. Now his dreams are dead and he must face the author of life. Would that he have felt remorse and confessed in his final moments that in due course he may find eternal peace.
Fr. Joe – thank you for your thoughts on Ted Kennedy – I agree completely. Also, thank you for this website – your words are always encouraging and truthful, I just wish more priests were like you.
God bless you!
Well said Father Joe!
I won’t speak ill of the dead, but…it is about [deleted] time Ted made his exit. I’ll pray that the people of Massachussetts vote in a replacement who has the kind of integrity which Ted found wanting and if the new senator is a Catholic, he or she will act like it means something.
Sodomite… I like the use of the word. I think I’ll use it from now on.
Fear of the word is just MORE proof that liberals can’t face truth–instead they try to change the language.
I wish the news would focus on some important things now, like MJ’s funeral.
I cannot disagree about abortion, etc., I am strongly pro-life however I am extremely distressed about the “taking communion if you are pro-choice is a mortal sin” stance. How DARE WE……..How dare we decide what Catholic receives communion and what Catholic does not?? Are we going to ask everyone in line – “excuse me, are you pro-choice?” This stand is becoming frightening and out of hand. I have talked to my brother in law about this who is a priest as well. If someone has not had an abortion then who do we think we are???? We are absolutely no different than the pharisees with this mind set. We are not Christ-like in our thoughts and actions. Why don’t we just start another crusade while we are at it?? The pope makes it quite clear as well that we are to take care of each other – a seamless cloak from the cradle to the grave…..as Christ would. Does no one see how UN- Christian it is to argue against paying taxes (Those ridiculous dems are at it again!)? How unloving to our neighbors.
Yeah I agree with Father Joe. Ted Kennedy supported abortion and all that [deleted] and that’s not good at all. To the person under “Too Cowardly to Tell You Who I Am” that said “You are a terrible terrible person, how dare you speak about Sen. Kennedy like that.” That’s so dumb. I’m guessing you worship Teddy Kennedy.
Re: Ted Kennedy and Chappaquidick:
Capital Punishment for the rich and powerful–
“If you have Capital, you don’t get Punishment.”
(That is, the in world governed by Satan, NOT the Kingdom of God…)
Fr Joe, I am very much aware of what constitues mortal sin and that one can be indirectly involved without actually committing mortal sin. I am pro-life all the way. I am abhored by abortion as well as I am of the murder of my fellow neighbor. What is frightening to me is the fact that we take abortion and (very rightfully) discuss the evils and the “blood on our hands,” but to our convenience, we disregard any other murder that perhaps the conservative ticket is not against.
If those that voted for the democratic ticket have blood on their hands, then those that voted for the conservative party should look at the blood on their hands. Murder is murder is murder. Abortion is used as a gold ticket in politics, and I believe Roe vs. Wade still exists? None of us our exempt from our votes.
Fr Joe, I am saying this with all respect for you and your vocation, but I am noticing that we are all too quick to use our political beliefs and wrap it in morality. This is very frightening to me. I believe it is wrong to speak of one party being “evil,” and the other party as “the right way to vote.”
I respect your opinions Fr Joe, and I enjoy this blog, but we all need to look at ourselves and the responsibility we have for any party we voted for. Neither is exempt.
I’ve read in the New York Times article that Sen. Kennedy went to this church where the funeral is being held on his own a few times, it doesn’t say at Mass, it says alone and with his wife last year when his daughter was in hospital, to reflect and pray.
Ted Kennedy is quoted:
“Separation of church and state cannot mean an absolute separation between moral principles and political power.”
and,
“The separation of church and state can sometimes be frustrating for women and men of religious faith. They may be tempted to misuse government in order to impose a value which they cannot persuade others to accept. But
once we succumb to that temptation, we step onto a slippery slope where everyone’s freedom is at risk.”
and,
“The real transgression occurs when religion wants government to tell citizens how to live uniquely personal parts of their lives. The failure of Prohibition proves the futility of such an attempt when a majority or even a substantial minority happens to disagree. Some questions may be inherently individual ones, or people may be sharply divided about whether they are. In such cases, like
Prohibition and abortion, the proper role of religion is to appeal to the conscience of the individual, not the coercive power of the state. ”
I see irreconcilability between the first statement and the other two.
It is my belief that Mr. Kennedy will soon learn what the word “transgression” really means.
Blessings and prayers for the courage to speak the truth, Fr. Joe. Christ lost followers, even some of His 1st disciples when he spoke the truth, without modifying it when he gave us his own Body and Blood.
When asked, what must I do to be saved, did He say, “oh, try to do some good, be popular and it will be ok.” His command was pretty harsh to the guy who didn’t want to give up his earthly possessions. Until he repented, I doubt St. Augustine was a bad fellow by today’s standards–he just wanted to hang onto his sins of the flesh.
RD
I would hope and pray that Ted Kennedy made a good confession before his death, and far be it from me to speculate on what was in his heart, BUT…BUT…
If I understand the Sacrament correctly, courtesy of the habit wearing Holy Cross Sisters who taught at the parochial school I went to, God’s forgiveness is not a one way street. Kennedy had plenty of opportunity to publicly correct his legacy of abortion advocacy during his protracted illness. He didn’t (unless he was denied so by the political powers that be) His Holiness Benedict XVI comments on this in his book Jesus of Nazareth.
Part of the deal is making amends to those who were hurt by one’s sins. In Kennedy’s case that would include the Democratic Party, several generations of Americans, the Holy Church, the medical profession and the Holy Innocents…the list goes on and on.
(BTW the avatar is not a photo of me, but my bride)
Fr. Joe,
Like sickly moths drawn to a robust fire do these atheists swarm to your blog. Not many other Catholic blogs and websites I frequent have such a high concentration, so I believe you must be doing something right.
Keep up the good fight, and me and mine shall pray for your continued success. God bless.
Human Life International’s Statement on the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy
August 27, 2009
We must, as a matter of precept, pray for the salvation of heretical Catholics like Senator Edward Kennedy, but we do not have to praise him let alone extol him with the full honors of a public Catholic funeral and all the adulation that attends such an event. There was very little about Ted Kennedy’s life that deserves admiration from a spiritual or moral point of view. He was probably the worst example of a Catholic statesman that one can think of. When all is said and done, he has distorted the concept of what it means to be a Catholic in public life more than anyone else in leadership today.
Obviously we don’t know the state of Senator Edward Kennedy’s soul upon death. We don’t pretend to. We are told by the family that he had the opportunity to confess his sins before a priest, and his priest has said publicly he was “at peace” when he died. For that we are grateful. But it is one thing to confess one’s sins and for these matters to be kept, rightfully, private. It is another thing entirely for one who so consistently and publicly advocated for the destruction of unborn human beings to depart the stage without a public repudiation of these views, a public confession, as it were.
It is up to God to judge Senator Kennedy’s soul. We, as rational persons, must judge his actions, and his actions were not at all in line with one who values and carefully applies Church teaching on weighty matters. Ted Kennedy’s positions on a variety of issues have been a grave scandal for decades, and to honor this “catholic” champion of the culture of death with a Catholic funeral is unjust to those who have actually paid the price of fidelity. We now find out that President Obama will eulogize the Senator at his funeral, an indignity which, following on the heels of the Notre Dame fiasco, leaves faithful Catholics feeling sullied, desecrated and dehumanized by men who seem to look for opportunities to slap the Church in the face and do so with impunity simply because they have positions of power.
It is not enough for Kennedy to have been a “great guy behind the scenes” as we have seen him referred to even by his political opponents. It is also not praiseworthy to put a Catholic rhetorical veneer on his leftist politics that did nothing to advance true justice as the Church sees it or to advance the peace of Christ in this world. Every indication of Senator Kennedy’s career, every public appearance, every sound bite showed an acerbic, divisive and partisan political hack for whom party politics were much more infallible than Church doctrines. Whatever one’s political affiliation, if one is only “Catholic” to the extent that his faith rhymes with his party line, then his Catholicism is a fraud.
As the Scriptures remind us, there is a time for everything under the sun. This, now, is the time for honesty about our Faith and about those who are called to express it in the public forum. If we do not remind ourselves of the necessity of public confession for public sins such as Senator Kennedy was guilty of, then we are negligent in our embrace of the Faith and we are part of the problem. As Pope Benedict has reminded us recently, charity without truth can easily become mere sentimentality, and we must not fall into that error. A Catholic show of charity for the family must not eclipse the truth that is required of all with eyes to see and ears to hear.
Senator Kennedy needs to be sent to the afterlife with a private, family-only funeral and the prayers of the Church for the salvation of his immortal soul. He will not be missed by the unborn who he betrayed time and time again, nor by the rest of us who are laboring to undo the scandalous example of Catholicism that he gave to three generations of Americans.
Reverend Father,
THANK YOU for speaking the truth on our auto-excommunicated Senator.
I appreciate that you have been very Roman about your critique — not impugning his personal life, but being clear about his public record.
Nothing could be more FAIR, JUST, and Righteous!
If only his Bishop had the testicular fortitude to say the same things!
Instead, the Diocesan Paper out in boston, essentially praises him, and tries to minimize the fact that Kennedy actively worked for the destruction of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, directly, and mostly, indirectly.
Intellectually, I join you in your prayers for the rest of his soul.
Physically, it’s very hard for me (and many others, I think) to distinguish where our personal concern for him as a brother in Christ ends, and where the hurt for his apostasy, and bitterness for all the evil he wrought, begins…
Perhaps you can pray for us too.
Christus Vincit!
-E.S.
Personal eulogies at Mass ??
Father Joe, I’ve never seen that before.
Comments ?
The video feed wouldn’t show the Holy Communion line.
Not surprised, and I do recognize that as private, although I must say I am dissapointed.
I am sure that by now, Ted Kennedy has seen all the aborted childen that he helped to an early grave. How sad. Mr. Kennedy, you have moved on to your reward. I do not want any part of your reward. You are surely [deleted], and if not it would only be for the grace of God. Wake up!
Edward Kennedy’s Final Letter to Pope
At Arlington Cemetery, Cardinal McCarrick read portions of Kennedy’s letter to the Pope:
“I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines.”
“I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago and although I continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life.”
“The gift of faith has sustained and nurtured and provides solace to me in the darkest hours.”
“I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path.”
He stressed his belief “in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field,” and said that he would “continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone.”
“I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith.”
“I continue to pray for God’s blessings on you and on our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me.”
The Pope prayed that the senator would be “sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God, our merciful Father.”
The letter Cardinal McKerrick refers to appears to be only more smoke and mirrors from someone (perhaps with a red hat?) wishing to carry on the Kennedy legacy of confusion among Catholics:
http://www.ewtn.com/news/blog.asp?blog_ID=2
What a perfect response/prayer by the Holy Father.
The Pope prayed that the senator would be “sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God, our merciful Father.”
Yes, you are right about that much, you are an angry man who shows no compassion and gentleness to others.
Senator Kennedy did more for the working man and woman, as well as for the poor and minorities, than many presidents. He made a positive difference in our lives that neither you nor other hate-mongers in the church could ever match.
He cared about women who died in back-alley abortions and swore that this would never happen again.
He cared about gays and lesbians who were treated as criminals for just loving each other.
He cared about minorities when so many whites still regarded them as second-class citizens and turned a blind eye toward segregation and prejudice.
He cared about the poor, something a millionaire did not have to do, but which his sense of justice demanded of him.
He cared about the immigrants and their needs for education and just treatment, remembering the roots of his own Irish forebears who suffered bigotry and hardship but accomplished much.
Shame on you! You malign the dead and a good man, a hero for the ages!
You are nothing by comparison; maybe that is the point? Your own ego seeks to make yourself more by tearing down a real man of faith and compassion.
Those who praise you are no better. The whole lot of you are hard-headed and insensitive to the REAL needs of people.
flagman
flagman – Fr. Joe hasn’t an ounce of “hate” in him, except for sin; but that’s for the behavior, not the sinner.
It is tragic that women died from “back-alley” abortions, but you don’t condone something that’s morally wrong – like the murder of an innocent unborn – because one of the victims died. That’s as ridiculous and outrageous and wrong as a court awarding a burglar damages for injuries he sustained while robbing someone’s home.
Except for some archaic and not enforced laws still on the books in some states, gays and lesbians haven’t been treated as “criminals” for a long time, and Fr. Joe has always viewed those with a homosexual orientation with nothing but compassion; however, a psychological or physiological disorder of epidemic proportions is nonetheless a disorder.
Yes, Ted Kennedy did a lot of good. He also disqualified himself as a Catholic by his voting record on Life issues. The right to LIFE is the most basic and the foundation of all other human rights, and if that is denied, the rest of the entire edifice is most assuredly a “house built on sand.”
My sincere apology to you, Father Joe, for bringing up Mr. Arroyo’s post about His Holiness’ letter. I am sure the Cardinal is a kind man as are most of the priests I have had the pleasure to know personally.
flagman, if a woman is going to have a back-alley abortion, i say she only injures herself, deservedly.
This country was fine with abortions illegal for 197 years.
As far as Ted Kennedy helping the working people, he never knew an honest days work in his entire life.
He never had to worry about the demands this country has placed on working families and individuals in a personal way.
Why do so many working people oppose his actions ?
Do not confuse being generous with taxpayer dollars as generosity.
The Catholic Church does more for the poor and persecuted in this world than all the Democrats ever will.
And, they do it through donations to Catholic charities, not forcibly stealing from hard-working Americans.
“flagman” – your post sounded angry and without compassion….
I think that you might miss the point which is that Senator Kennedy was a Catholic who did NOT use his influence to promote Catholic values. Did he have his reasons? I am sure that he did, including wanting to remain in a powerful and influential position.
This is a CATHOLIC blog – so why the surprise that it tends to judge things through a Catholic frame of reference?
I believe The Lord Jesus and the Holy Father are not in need of “judges”, juries, or pointing fingers…….Speaking the truth must be with charity, not with a Club, and certainly not focusing on an individual, by name, and proceeding to enumerate all his sins. Gee………
I wonder what Father would have said if he had encountered Paul on the road to Damascus ? Read him the “riot act” ?
We are called to be witnesses of the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, to the saints AND the sinners,speaking out the truth, not with sarcasm and “vinegar”, but as Christ would have us do. The sinner has a choice, and the judgement is non of our business.
EWTN News Director Raymond Arroyo:
The prayer intercessions at the funeral mass, the endless eulogies, the image of the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston reading prayers, and finally Cardinal McCarrick interring the remains sent an uncontested message: One may defy Church teaching, publicly lead others astray, deprive innocent lives of their rights, and still be seen a good Catholic, even an exemplary one.
American Life League President Judie Brown:
The entire travesty, from the television cameras to spectacle itself, goes beyond anything I have witnessed in my more than 65 years of life. In fact, while we all thought the appearance of President Barack Obama at the University of Notre Dame was a scandal, the very idea that he offered a eulogy in a basilica, while the real presence of Christ was in the tabernacle, is perhaps the most dastardly thing I have ever seen.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley:
Senator Kennedy was often a champion for the poor, the less fortunate and those seeking a better life. Across Massachusetts and the nation, his legacy will be carried on through the lives of those he served.
Catholics United:
Senator Kennedy’s legendary advocacy for justice and the common good – on issues such as health care, immigration, community service, and poverty – spanned more than four decades and touched millions.
Catholics United is a pro-abortion front-group for Obama. They support current healthcare efforts which include artificial contraception and abortion. They have publicly
attached[attacked?--FJ] Donohue from the Catholic League and Brown from the American Life League. They talk about a preposterous “abortion neutral” stance which is really just more passivity to the murder of millions. They distribute voter guides which equate matters as having the same gravity like clean water with infanticide. Their purpose is clear, to minimize the crucial moral evils against human life and marriage under a large list of issues that better fit their liberal agenda.Back in October, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput accused Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United as doing a “disservice” to the Catholic Church.
If you read A NATION FOR ALL by the founders of Catholic United, you will see just how progressive and non-Catholic both Chris Korzen and Alexia Kelley actually are.
Since they delivered the Catholic vote, Alexia Kelly was rewarded by Obama by being made the Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the HHS.
Bill Donohue, Catholic League president, claims pro-abortion multibillionaire George Soros funds Catholic United (a dissenting so-called Catholic organization) in order to confuse Catholics about abortion and funnel votes for pro-abortion Democrats and Obama. He writes: “Catholics in Alliance [for the Common Good] willfully misrepresents Church teachings on abortion, and George Soros funds them through the Open Society Institute. Is it illegal? No. Is it immoral? Yes!”
Catholics Betrayed wrote: “Catholics United… have publicly attached Donohue from the Catholic League and Brown from the American Life League.”
How did they attach them? Staples?
Once God has His hand on a man, we should take ours off. Shout out about the issues, but let the dead bury the dead.
Cardinal O’Malley,
Kennedy’s legacy will be carried on through the lives of those he served as you’ve said, but what sort of legacy has he left us? A controlling political party which has made abortion a cornerstone in it’s platform and made it a “right?” A so-called “health care reform” so ambiguous that it terrifies the elderly and working classes alike? His campaigning for President Obama, who’s dealings with the Catholic Church has been one continuous string of insults (anti-Catholic political appointments, as well as the mockery at Notre Dame) His leadership by example which inspired a generation of americans that power equals immunity from criminal prosecution.
Some people have been helped by Kennedy’s legislation but I feel his agenda was never to help, only to build a power base which in gratitude tolerates hostility to the Church.
Respectfully, I beg to disagree.
Father,
Consider that you are preaching to the choir. You have a forum for teaching us how to protect the unborn with positive actions. What does brining dead flowers to Kennedy’s grave accomplish? I’m genuinely upset by this kind of rhetoric.
Cardinal O’Malley,
Is that ALL you have to say?
My response to your comment will be just as brief:
Would you like some bread to go along with that baloney?
All due respect – Your Eminence …
Except for an affection for certain prayers and piety, was Kennedy really a Catholic? Kennedy had no reservations about abortion and contraception. The funeral Mass should have used his votes for the litany of petitions:
■Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Voted NO on banning human cloning
HAVE MERCY ON US!
■Ensure access to and funding for contraception
HAVE MERCY ON US!
Blabber Mouth,
You’ve hit the nail on the head.
Some very important clergy (the ones at the funeral, for starters) don’t (or refuse) to see Kennedy’s hand in the causality of genocidal sin which cries to heaven for justice.
Why this is, I can only guess, but that I fear would be a waste of time and only open me to attacks of “passing judgement.”
I will say that whatever or whomever has their “hooks” in these men, be they spiritual or corporeal, has them sunk in deep.
We all have our failings. The more famous get to have their failings made more public. Sadly, these priests were caught doing the unthinkable on national television, furthering the scandals from which the Church in the US suffers.
They need our prayers.
Honestly, the whole Ted Kennedy Funeral Parade with the full participation of members of the clergy, some of who at very high levels, made me question a lot of things.
We don’t know if the senator made a confession and was remorseful for his wrong doings during his personal life and very public career. The choices he made in the public arena did great harm to women, and while I can give praise for his aide in the civil rights movement- I can’t forget he discarded the weakest among us.
I guess I’m not understanding what a proper confession and atonement should be. Words of praise from monsignors, cardinals, archbishops and a letter from the Holy Father made no sense to me. If he were to be truly sorry for his sins against the right to life, why would not a man in his position be asked to say something to that fact? His words WERE read from the grave, but, to the best of my recollection, they said nothing about the sanctify of the life of an unborn child.
I didn’t understand the Clergy’s support of him and the high praise for his family- so many of whom support abortion.
Father Joe
I support you, someone like yourself who has taken the vows to become a priest and give up most of life’s material good to help other’s is allowed to call out the sinners, as Jesus did to the pharises
The problem with today’s Catholic church after Vatican II is that the clergy all want to be loved and liked by the laity. Even calling you “Father Joe” I think is not appropriate, it should be “Father Smith” or whatever as you are walking in the footsteps of Christ, though many of todays modern clergy have fallen to sin, we have to hope that one day we will get a Pope (I love B16 but he is old) who will not be afraid to chastise the flock and remind them, as possibly good old Teddy is finding out, that if you stray to far from the church Christ instituted on earth for the salvation of man/woman-the penalty is ever lasting
God bless you
John said: “Even calling you “Father Joe” I think is not appropriate, it should be “Father Smith” or whatever as you are walking in the footsteps of Christ…”
That’s a good point, John. You notice how in the Bible, no one ever calls Jesus by his first name. It’s always “Mr. Christ”.
That was before Vatican II, of course.
There is no argument here, amongst catholic christians
regarding abortion and homosexuality etc and the teachings of the church…….
what there is here is disagreement on Father’s tone toward those who sin and violate the teachings of Christ and the Church………
except, Father, and friends………..that happens to be each and every one of us, not one of us is deserving of the love and mercy of God. “All have sinned….” And lets not get into the mortal and venial sermon…….as if you can size up your transgressions as small, medium and large…..
although Father i am sure you will quote something for me on that……..that is not the point…..and the reply you wrote about what you would say to Saul on that road, although you quoted Jesus’s words to the Pharisees, was Not what words Saul heard.
Saul heard ” Why do you persecute me ?”……….
You are not a reader of hearts, or souls …….but the Lord is, and knows ours deepest motivations……..
I also disagree that you say a priest is a “judge” and confessor……….A priest is no judge…..witholding absolution, does not a Judge make.
Father Joe: I thought your comments on Senator Kennedy were entirely appropriate. There is a fine line between being righteous and self righteous. We are not judge and jury. Just like the older brother in the “Prodigal” story, we must not give in to our feeling about a particular person. God will judge the Senator by his own standards not man’s.