Posted on 08/28/2009 11:28:07 PM PDT by kellynla
There is much truth to the adage that many of our wounds are self inflicted. This has been especially true for the Catholic Church in the United States and the Archdiocese of Boston in particular. Recall that the clergy sex abuse scandal first came to light there because of their egregious nature and the laxity of the then Archbishop Bernard Cardinal Law in handling them. According to statistics the Church is still reeling from the aftershocks.
On Wednesday the Church further diminished her credibility when it was announced that a Mass of Christian Burial would be celebrated for Senator Edward M. Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica. It was also announced that President Barack Obama would be the eulogist.
Senator Kennedy, along with President Obama have been the most pro-abortion and pro-embryonic stem cell research politicians in the nation. As a matter of fact, Senator Kennedy refused to vote for Supreme Court nominees Robert Bork and Samuel Alito for fear their appointment might lead to overturning Roe v. Wade. These positions are inimical to Catholic Church teaching and throughout the years, the American hierarchy has railed against Catholic politicians such as Kennedy who hold such views. Some bishops have even advised them not to receive Holy Communion -- an action just short of excommunication.
In recent days the spin-doctors have done their best to portray Senator Kennedy as a devout Catholic. Stories of his visits to church in order to pray for his ailing daughter Kara, a cancer survivor, and reports of his personal religiosity have been widely circulated. The media has also noted numerous visits by priests to the Kennedys’ home during his illness for the administration of the sacraments, presumably including confession and even the celebration of a private Mass in Kennedys’ living room. There is no report, however, of repudiation of his voting record or sorrow for his obstinate refusal to adhere to Catholic morality on two of the most important life issues. An important part of the Sacrament of Penance, along with sorrow for sin, is to try to repair the damages that our sins have caused. Certainly, enough time had elapsed between the diagnosis of the Senator’s terminal illness and his death for him to make amends and to alleviate some of the scandal. Yet, there is no indication that this has happened.
A Mass of Christian Burial is a privilege -- not a right. It is for those who have lived a Christian life. Senator Kennedy’s scandalous disregard of his Church’s teaching and the destruction of human life that may be attributed to his voting record make his funeral celebration quite dubious. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to evil… and that it takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it”(n. 2284-85). For such a person the Code of Canon Law says, “Church funeral rites are to be denied to the following (unless they gave some sign of repentance before death): manifest sinners to whom a Church funeral could not be granted without public scandal to the faithful” (c. 1184.3). How many Catholics have been led astray by Senator Kennedy and other prominent pro-choice Catholics? And, finally, how many other Catholic politicians will be emboldened to emulate his behavior because the honor the Church is extending to him?
Some will argue that the Church, by its very nature, always gives the benefit of the doubt to the sinner. Yet, even such an act of charity calls for a pastoral solution so as not to mislead others and cause greater harm. In this case, a subdued funeral service should be offered for the repose of Senator Kennedy’s soul. It should be made clear that, as it is the purpose of every Catholic funeral, the Mass is being celebrated to beg God’s mercy for the deceased. But, then even this solution would be meaningless when the nation’s most pro-choice president ever is permitted to eulogize his ideological soul mate in the Church’s sanctuary. Imagine the accolades that will be lavished on the Senator Kennedy’s character and career!
The Church’s credibility has once again been undermined by the hierarchy of the Church in Boston. This scandal is even bigger than the one enabled by Cardinal Law because of its bad message and long ranging implications.
“Plus he’s being buried in Arlington, not in consecrated ground and Pope Benedict XVI silence speaks volumes.
As a Practicing Catholic I believe Arlington is consecrated ground. Consecrated by the men and women who gave their lives in the service of this Country.
Kennedy does not deserve this honor.
Obama does not belong in a Catholic Church that in itself is a disgrace and Major Scandal.
These Hierarchs who allowed this farcical church service have no Souls.
**A Mass of Christian Burial is a privilege — not a right.**
This is true.
We have no idea if Senator Kennedy had a deathbed re-conversion. We cannot judge.
Beginning Catholic: The Anointing of the Sick: Comfort and Healing [Ecumenical]
I think that the spineless DC Archbishop Wuerl or whoever the diocesan ordinary may be will see to the consecration of his burial plot. Some may not know that Arlington National Cemetery is Robert E. Lee’s front lawn, confiscated (probably unconstitutionally/5th Amendment) after the Unpleasantness Between the States of 1861-1865. For Robert E. Lee, one of the finest men to ever grace our land, the punishment seems never to end. On earth at least, Teddy’s punishment never seems to begin. May the Vatican and B-XVI continue their dignified and appropriate silence.
Bravissimo!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2327262/posts?page=23#23
Please check out the link.
If Kennedy received the Sacrament of the Sick — in a way, and exorcism, we do not know, oher than to say, if that happened a lot of time will be spent in Purgatory by him before he enters heaven.
I vehemently disagreed with Kennedy’s policies, but I cannot be his judge, lest I be judged too. For someday, I will be judged. Instead, say a Rosary for him.
My, aren’t both of us up later than we ought to be? Honest, I will call soon.
Or ... all of those withing “Drink Spilling” distance are exhumed and given burial at a REAL cemetary for heroes.
Been on the Seattle shootings thread. Got family out there.
How many of these technicalities come through to the Average Joe? It is like a visitor to Japan who fails to recognize that some obscure gesture of his host indicates disapproval of the visitor’s ignorant manners.
Any number of things, including an acceptance of a grace of final repentance, sincere sacramental repentance and forgiveness of his sins (God is wonderful and can do anything and can forgive anything) may have opened heaven's gate for him or not.
God will judge these matters and, by definition, His judgment will be just.
I disagree with Edward Kennedy’s political stands on everything. But I cannnot judge the state of his soul.
Since when is the Kennedy family or anyone else better than the church?
**God will judge these matters and, by definition, His judgment will be just. **
Yeah — like a lllllooooooooooonnnnggg time in Purgatory (if he did receive the Last Rites.)
It causes me to wonder if T.K. forced some girl to have an abortion in a crises over his political reputation and therefore either had to come to terms with the murder of his own child or cover up his guilt by relentlessly pounding away at justifying abortion. In any case it is very strange to turn from being pro life to rabidly promoting the mass executions of countless innocent babies.
No rosary will help him if he died in his sins without repenting and accepting Christ as his Saviour. It is Christ and Christ alone who paid the price for our sins with his shed blood. When a person dies there is then judgement with nothing in between.
Hbr 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
According to the First Vatican Council The Catholic Church established that:
If anyone thus speaks, that the Roman Pontiff has only the office of inspection or direction, but not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal Church, not only in things which pertain to faith and morals, but also in those which pertain to the discipline and government of the Church spread over the whole world; or, that he possesses only the more important parts, but not the whole plenitude of this supreme power; or that this power of his is not ordinary and immediate, or over the churches altogether and individually, and over the pastors and the faithful altogether and individually: let him be anathema.
By all means celebrate the death of a drunken, debauched, murdering POS whose only attachment to things Catholic was attendance when it was politically necessary.
This is no better than doing rhe same for some Mafia capo.
BTW, there STILL is no room in the Catholic Church for me. Why, because I still hold on to traditional Church teaching.
“God is still in charge of whether a blessing actually comes to him”
It should be interesting to see how many Catholic church “leaders” actually recieve blessings also.
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