Hopefully, he made a good confession. The priest can’t talk about that, but even the gravest sinner can have a good death if he truly repents and confesses his sins.
Kennedy’s public life was filled with evils. Putting aside Chappaquiddick, for which he never really apologized or paid any price, he was, to all appearances, a drunken, womanizing, philandering lout who was responsible for the deaths of millions of unborn children among his other sins as a public legislator and influential politiian.
We can still hope he died in peace after confessing his sins. But it would appear that, if he did, he left it to the very last day, a very dangerous thing to do. If a Catholic lives like that, setting a bad example, avoiding or abusing the Sacraments—among them apparently the sacraments of marriage, confession, and communion—then it may be very hard for him to reach inside at the last and make a real act of contrition and genuine repentance.
There was a Protestant professor at Harvard toward the end of the 19th century who said that his job obliged him to take his conscience and put it into a drawer and shut it away for as long as he taught there. Then, he said, when he opened the drawer years later, at his retirement, he found that the drawer was empty. So, don’t presume that you can do evil all your life and then quickly be forgiven at the end. It’s never too late, but it’s not wise to presume upon easy forgiveness after a lifetime of deliberate evil.
I believe Mr. Kennedy suffered from tepidity; that is, and by all appearances, he procrastinated loving God and living a faithful life until the very end. It was easier for him to develop a hardness of heart toward God for many years rather than to serve Him well.
Having said that, I will not pass judgment on him. If there is one guarantee in this life, it is that all of us will see the Face of God. More than any other single factor, God requires repentance to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whether he achieved this is unknown, but we should all hope for Mercy, even for Ted Kennedy.
Bah! Doesn't work that way. Anyone who thinks you can wallow in sin continuously for your entire life, then offer a heart felt confession in their last days or day is sadly mistaken.
Why some "Christians, Catholics or otherwise, think this just goes to show that they have never put much effort into their faith at all, not even reading the gospel once if at all.
Tossing a few bucks into a collection plate once in a while, listening to a few sermons at funerals or the rare time they did attend mass at Christmas will not reserve you a spot in heaven.
Is the Lord says, "It is not those who say to me 'Lord, Lord', who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven." (Mt.7:21).
In other words, it's not those who talk the talk, it is those who walk the walk who get into heaven, and the path is very narrow.
Some wannabe "Christians" think that the original sin, and all sins were forgiven once and forevermore, so no matter what they do, they are going to heaven. There is no need for confession, no need far baptism, no need for communion.
"Even though they ate from the rock that was Christ and even though they drank from the rock that was Christ, their corpses littered the desert because they failed to please God." (1 Cor.10:8).
"He who keeps the commandment is keeper of himself, but he who despises the word shall die." (Pr.19:16).
First, you are saved from what was certain death.
"The reason why those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned, is that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Rom.8:1-2).
We have gone from one law to another. The new law is the Gospel of Jesus and the New Testament. It is a law that measures spiritual action rather than ritual action. And it pours out forgiveness through repentance and conversion.
Atonement, then, is a baptism, not just of water, but of contrition and reform as well. (Mt.3:11). The law of Christ requires obedience to righteousness. We must behave in Christ the way the Spirit commands, not as our unspiritual nature dictates. (Rom.8:4).
Jesus said, "Anyone who hears my words and puts them into practice will never die." (Jn.8:51). And again, "If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." (Mat.19:17).
Getting into Heaven is a lifelong commitment to doing your best to putting the word into practice.
And since he had the benefit of a priest at his death bed, this as Catholics, is what we should hope, as well as praying for his soul. I do not find this easy, however being Catholic hardly ever is easy.
Your post #29 is the best I’ve read about this man’s death. It is actually very instructive. I’d urge others to read the ENTIRE post.