Yet he was treated as a member of the Catholic church (in contrast to the NT church ) in life and in death, even receiving an ecclesiastical funeral, Canon 915 being interpreted as not disallowing it, and a letter Ted wrote to the Pope to the pope, recently before his death, delivered by Obama who gave the eulogy (also against the letter of canon law i believe) was read at his graveside, in which he ]Kennedy] insolently asserts he “never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings” of his church, and tried to be a faithful Catholic, etc..
The closest thing we get to any kind of contrition is the ambiguous, “I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith, I have tried to right my path” [evidence needed!], before he goes on to to defend his wonderful works, including universal health care. Not a word of remorse about supporting abortion or promoting homosexual rights, or indolence and a welfare state.
In the provided response of that which was written, as usual, through a senior Vatican official, the pope states,
“He was saddened to know of your illness, and has asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. He is particularly grateful for your promise of prayers for him and for the needs of the universal Church."
The Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted to President Barack Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their recent meeting. His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God our merciful Father. He invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the Risen Savior to all who share in His sufferings and trust in His promise of eternal life.
Commending you and the members of your family to the loving intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort and strength in the Lord." "(http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08/29/ted-kennedy-to-pope-benedict-i-am-writing-with-deep-humility/)
One may see " joyful surrender to the will of God our merciful Father"as an oblique reproof, as is what he needed to do, but this treats TK as one who already has God as his father, and this boilerplate nuanced prayer is hardly going to convict a politician who thinks he never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of his faith. Instead he would easily see himself as being in surrender to the will of God, sharing in Christ's sufferings
However, if he had converted and become a very conservative evangelical, then i am sure real concern for his soul would have been expressed.
(As one in need of grace, i do not want to be hard on struggling believers, but such men as Kennedy were critically in error and unrepentant, and illustrates what Rome effectually conveys, in part.)
In Roman Catholicism Mary seems to have the final say about your eternal destiny.
They might as well go ahead and make the Fifth Marian dogma official.