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.

[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.