[Alberta's Child]

Scanian, it is not known whether Kennedy made a death-bed confession which involved TRUE repentance, and since Confession binds the priest to total privacy as to what took place in the Confession, the church has no way to know if a Catholic burial should be denied.

This is true. However, unless the person in question makes a public repudiation of his wrongs, there can be no public funeral Mass. And under no circumstances should a radical leftist Muslim be invited to give a "eulogy" in a Catholic basilica at a funeral Mass for this person, either.

As a Catholic I didn't take any offense in what took place yesterday. Remember -- this was the same Archdiocese of Boston that made a habit out of sheltering sexual predators among its clergy for decades. That entire place has effectively written itself off as far as I'm concerned.

[kitkat]

***This is true. However, unless the person in question makes a public repudiation of his wrongs, there can be no public funeral Mass. And under no circumstances should a radical leftist Muslim be invited to give a “eulogy” in a Catholic basilica at a funeral Mass for this person, either.***

Thank you for your reply. You’ve taught me something about my church that I didn’t know. I am confused, though, about PUBLIC funeral Mass versus private. Does that mean that when there is a doubt as to whether the deceased is known to have broken the rules of the church a parish Mass confined perhaps to only the family and close associates can be held, but NOT a public Mass such as Ted Kennedy had? It was certainly VERY PUBLIC.

I agree, also, that Obama should not have been allowed to speak at the funeral.