The “Last Lion” of Abortion [Senator Edward Kennedy]

Catholic Exchange.com ^ | May 27, 2008 | Fr. Thomas Euteneuer

[Salvation]

The “Last Lion” of Abortion

May 27th, 2008 by Fr. Thomas Euteneuer

Sen. John McCain responded to the news of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s brain tumor saying that Ted Kennedy was the “last lion of the Senate.” Nice words, but hollow. Clearly Kennedy has been a forty-year force to reckon with in the US Senate, but lionizing him for his headstrong political partisanship over four decades is a little like saying that sticking around for a long time and being opinionated qualifies as a “legacy.” That very record of anti-life advocacy is the measure by which his soul will be judged.

While I pray for Sen. Kennedy’s recovery from a brain tumor, I pray more for his recovery from the cancerous metastasis of abortion ideology in his soul. Ironically, in the same years in which abortion has become less and less acceptable to the American public, it has become more and more of an obsession for Sen. Kennedy. Prior to Roe v. Wade, Sen. Kennedy had actually held a pro-life view of the sanctity of life. In a letter to a constituent he said,

“While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized — the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.” (See http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=31615 )

However, post-Roe, Kennedy’s record of recognizing the “value which our civilization places on life” has been, shall we say, less than stellar. In fact, he has a 0% record of voting in favor of life, and there is not one life-related issue in which his vote reflects a concern for the weakest members of our society, let alone the concern that his supposed Catholic faith places on them. Senator Kennedy

• Is rated 100% by NARAL for his pro-choice voting record.
• Voted NO on banning human cloning.
• Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions.
• Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
• Voted NO on criminal penalties for harming an unborn child during the commission of another crime.
• Voted NO on maintaining the ban on military base abortions.
• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.
• Voted YES on $100 million to “reduce teen pregnancy” by hedonistic sex education programs and contraceptives.
• Is a sponsor of pending radical legislation in the Senate to promote special protections for homosexuals in the workplace. (See http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Ted_Kennedy_Abortion.htm)

In other words, Kennedy has spent the better part of his long political career promoting the forces that kill and maim and destroy all the things that we hold sacred. What a shocking example of public service for a man who purports to call himself Catholic.

A month to the day after illicitly receiving Communion at the Mass of the Vicar of Christ in our nation’s capital, Sen. Kennedy seems to have been given a real wake up call. When all moral voices go unheeded, the prospect of death tends to focus the mind on the truth. Let us all pray for his conversion from a career of abortion advocacy, for his enlightenment and for a peaceful death, something denied to all aborted babies in this country.

 

Fr. Tom Euteneuer is president of Human Life International.

[Salvation]

This should be a good discussion.

[Salvation]

**Let us all pray for his conversion from a career of abortion advocacy, for his enlightenment and for a peaceful death, something denied to all aborted babies in this country.**

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[knittnmom]

...saying that sticking around for a long time and being opinionated qualifies as a “legacy.”

If that's the definition of a legacy - I'm a legacy! And I have relatives who qualify as living legends!! :-)

But seriously, it's too bad Kennedy changed his mind after Roe v. Wade - he could really have left a valuable legacy.

[narses]

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**Let us all pray for his conversion from a career of abortion advocacy, for his enlightenment and for a peaceful death, something denied to all aborted babies in this country.** Catholic Discussion Ping!

[Judith Anne]

I will join that prayer.

[fetal heart beats by 21st day]

I will join you in that prayer.

[DieHard the Hunter]

Praying for Ted Kennedy is hard work. I am trying, and it isn’t easy. All those dead kids...

[pray4liberty]

We prayed for his salvation this past Sunday in church. I pray he repents before it is too late for him. His mother must cry tears from Heaven.

[Salvation]

**it’s too bad Kennedy changed his mind after Roe v. Wade - he could really have left a valuable legacy.**

Yes, indeed. Think how different that would be.

[Salvation]

**I pray he repents before it is too late for him.**

His repentance is the key.

Dear God, guide this man to your humility and forgiveness. Let him make one last GOOD confession.

[Judith Anne]

No, it isn’t easy. Yet we are assured that Christ’s grace is sufficient for all our sins, and though we may be horrified we pray for his salvation, still.

[philly-d-kidder]

What I never understood with Liberal Catholics is He Thinks the Good Deed of his Family Leading the special Olympics while he personally tries to Promote pre natal genetic testing to encourage abortion? I dpn’t get how you sort That one out in your Mind? Pray for Him...

[Tribune7]

Prayer bump

[Tribune7]

Prayer bump

[Salvation]

Yes, he does need prayers.

Many Catholics can not figure out how he went CINO either.

[353FMG]

Kennedy could redeem himself by publicly renouncing his stand on abortion and all other liberal opinions he holds. He could also publicly state that he regrets the affair that caused Mary Jo Kopeckny’s death. That would really shake up the MSM and all liberals. But then again, the culture of death may be so deeply engrained in his charater that he is convinced of his good intentions.

[DieHard the Hunter]

Amen.

[Salvation]

**Kennedy could redeem himself by publicly renouncing ......**

Do you really think that would happen?

Maybe on a death bed Confession to a priest. Then sealed with the Seal of Confession and no one would ever know.

[Judith Anne]

Even if those things happen, I doubt the press will report them, and may even suppress them, or blame his brain tumor for making him “crazy.”

Still, we pray.

[ikka]

Apparently the Senate Democrats are pro-life -— when it comes to Senator Kennedy!

[RinaseaofDs]

All he has to be is truly sorry before God. Anything is possible, I guess, but the older we get, the more adamant.

[lightman]

While I pray for Sen. Kennedy’s recovery from a brain tumor, I pray more for his recovery from the cancerous metastasis of abortion ideology in his soul. The phrase used by Luther to Peter, the barber of Wittenberg once again is applicable: "Convert and control, dear Lord".

[Salvation]

**”Convert and control, dear Lord”. **

Amen!

[lightman]

Here is a fuller quotation, from the explanation of "Thy Kingdom come":

Dear Lord God and Father, convert and control. Convert those who are still to become children and members of your kingdom, that together we may serve you in your kingdom in the right faith and true love and pass from this kingdom begun here to your everlasting kingdom. Control those who would not withdraw their might and means from disturbing your kingdom. May they be dethroned and in humiliation stop molesting your kingdom.

[Secret Agent Man]

Hardly the “last lion.”

Ginsburg.

Feinstein.

Pelosi.

Clinton.

Kerry.

Obama.

Schumer.

Feingold.

And many others. Gimme a break. Lots o’ lions (albeit many OLD lions) but still, many influential lions out there.

Wish we could go a’huntin. Can I get me a huntin’ license here, Kerry?

[Secret Agent Man]

Eventually if you reject Him enough, He may stop trying. That’s a really scary thought to me.

[sport]

Don’t forget al gore[ lower case on purpose]

[uncbob]

So how come he as never excommunicated

[incredulous joe]

Not being snarky or anything, but I like to think that we get a “free pass” for the most difficult of those to pray for; for me anyway, he is, and has been included, in the Fatima prayer at the end of every decade of the Rosary.

[Coleus]

The “Last Lion” of Abortion (Ted Kennedy)

[Aliska]

With God, all things are possible. This video just blows me away, looks like AP, found the link on lifesite news. Can this really be true?

"Dead" Woman comes back to life"

Later on in the account, a relative mentions praying, but I never heard of anything quite like this (similar with a little girl who had drowned and her mother prayed, but that didn't have the added context of organ donation to my knowledge).

I don't know how to pray for Kennedy and don't want to share my thoughts on it, may God have mercy on us all.

[taxesareforever]

Let’s not forget the bridge that ended any desire of his to run for the presidency.

[beachdweller]

You know, there are people who believe that morally abortion is murder, but that legally it is an issue the government should stay out of. I don’t share that position, and don’t know if Kennedy does or not, but I do know and respect individuals who have that view. I don’t think we should condemn one for holding that view in error, but that’s just me. His political views in general are more condemning than just this issue IMO.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Maybe on a death bed Confession to a priest.

Only if a public repentance is required.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

You know, there are people who believe that morally abortion is murder, but that legally it is an issue the government should stay out of.

Yes, there are such people, but they are not Catholics in good standing.

[beachdweller]

Yes with that I agree, but I do think some have it as an arguable political position, just as I think long ago some argued that slavery was morally wrong, but not an issue for the federal government to intervene in. I disagree, but I do see it as a valid political position. Personally I am as pro-life as it gets, but I do not automatically condemn conservatives who have a different take to Hell, but rather pray for them.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Well as a Catholic i believe that a fellow Catholic who supports abortion legality is in a state of mortal sin, and that a Catholic who dies in a state of mortal sin is certainly going to be with Satan.

[beachdweller]

I don’t think I disagree, but rather I think we should recognize as Americans people have the right to take a position that is opposed to what we believe is moral. The Church is about morality, but the Constitution is about freedom. The two are not always the same at all, and I respect my libertarian brothers even though we disagree on many things. We have to separate our political views and our religious views to a degree IMO. I doubt you and I really disagree at all morally.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Obviously under the constitution people can go to hell on their own.

[Gaffer]

It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Teddy takes the “Repenter’s Clause” when he’s near death in an effort to absolve his rotten soul.

[beachdweller]

Well yeah, that is part of the point of the Constitution. It is hardly a religious document, aside from acknowledging our Lord.

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[DieHard the Hunter]

> It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Teddy takes the “Repenter’s Clause” when he’s near death in an effort to absolve his rotten soul.

There are so many others in need of prayer, I wonder at the effort being expended for Ted Sure, we should pray for him. But what about the others? What makes Ted so special?

[syriacus]

Prayers, this morning, for Ted Kennedy’s conversion!

[Gerish]

I pray that he will make a truly serious Confession, receive repentence and forgiveness. His soul has been empty and void for a long time, I wish him peace and hope. All things are possible with God’s mercy.

[RinaseaofDs]

My observation is that God uses decreases his subtlety as you age.

It starts with a small, still voice. By the end of it, and after he’s attempted to crush your skull with bigger and bigger boards trying to get you to pay attention, he forces the issue.

If His will is involved, He will persist to the end. It doesn’t mean you ever have to pay attention.

[MrB]

I don’t even see how PEOPLE “in good standing” could hold this view.

It is EXACTLY saying that you personally think that murder is wrong, but that there shouldn’t be any laws against it.

There is no analogy. It IS the same.

[MrB]

What makes Ted so special?

Re-read the Prodigal Son.

Why was the father so joyful that his most wayward son came home?

Of course, His other sons (us) are going to be a bit resentful at the joy He shows when someone we think is undeserving receiving such joyful treatment.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Re-read the Prodigal Son.

The principle is right, I’ll grant you. But there are many, many prodigal sons. Ted is one that everybody knows about because of his hi-profile Notoriety.

What about the prodigal son down the street? Or the one in the drunk tank? Or the one in gaol?

Again, what makes Ted so special?