It was newsworthy when the President of the United States was asked to hand-deliver a senator’s letter to the Pope – a letter not from just any senator, but from Senator Edward M. Kennedy. The Holy Father quite rightly didn’t reveal its contents, which made me hope it contained specific expressions of sorrow and contrition for the battle which the senator waged against innocent human life for more than three decades. Repentance for such public sin would be far better if it had been offered publicly, but alas – there was no repentance forthcoming for the senator’s leadership in the support for wide accessibility to abortion, unless it was in some other part of the letter not revealed.It was Cardinal McCarrick who read excerpts from the letter at the time of the burial of Senator Kennedy, and it would be unimaginable that he would leave out such a statement of repentance if there was one, since he quoted a few words from the senator which expressed his imperfection.
Here is what Cardinal McCarrick read:
"Most Holy Father I asked President Obama to personally hand deliver this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he understands how important my Roman Catholic faith is to me, and I am so deeply grateful to him. I hope this letter finds you in good health. I pray that you have all of God's blessings as you lead our church and inspire our world during these challenging times. I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines.
"I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago and although I continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life. I have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family and both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured and provides solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path. I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war.
"Those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a United States senator. I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I will continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone. I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me."
Certainly, no one of goodwill would wish the senator any eternal ill, and the Holy Father’s response, although general, is in keeping with what most of us would say: an expression of regret for Senator Kennedy’s physical condition and the assurance of prayer.
However, as a final act of contrition, the senator’s letter falls far short. Even a child making his first confession knows that a sincere and specific facing of one’s sinfulness is required. Repentance isn’t a recounting of the good one has done; rather, it involves facing squarely the wrong one has done. There’s none of that here, other than the general and gentle statement that “I know that I have been an imperfect human being…” Instead, the senator’s letter is a litany of his good works. It’s almost as though the senator was reminding the Holy Father of what he should include in any future public letter of condolence.
It all strikes me as so self-serving, right to the end. And I couldn’t help but recall our Lord’s parable of the two men, one a Pharisee and the other a publican, going up to the temple. The Pharisee prayed, “I thank thee, Lord, that I am not like other men…”
Of course, I pray that Senator Kennedy, before he died, repented of the evil he did. I wouldn’t wish him or anyone else eternal damnation. But I am glad that he’s no longer able to carry on as he had been, making the world an unjust and dangerous place for innocent human life.
10 comments:
Wow! Pretty harsh words.I think Sen Kennedy was a good and decent man who tried to help the less fortunate,gain equal and civil rights for all, and was a loving father ,uncle and grandfather. He had so much tragedy in his life and throughout it all, persevered with God's help.
God bless Sen Kennedy and his amazing family
Harsh, Clare? I don't think so.
Tell us what he actually did to "help the less fortunate," other than try to make those in need even more dependent upon big government. If he was philanthropic with his vast personal wealth, I'd be delighted -- although I've never heard that he was particular generous with his own money.
I hope he was a loving father, uncle and grandfather, although carousing on Good Friday and into Holy Saturday in the Palm Beach bars with his son and nephew, activities contributing to a rape charge, doesn't seem to be the most loving thing to do.
As I stated clearly: I wish him no ill. But the world will not suffer from his absence.
The world will suffer greatly for Sen Kennedy's absence. And there have been many things documented about how he helped others less fortunate than he was.
Yes, he was a sinner like we all are. And he owned up to his failings. Have mercy on his soul, Father.
I can't judge him because I am also a sinner. I won't throw stones at him because that is not what Jesus taught..
Clare, I am not the judge of Senator Kennedy's soul, and I truly hope he made a complete confession before he died, because I do not wish him to endure hell.
But I'd still be interested to know how he helped others. Extending the reach of the government isn't the same as actually assisting someone.
And as far as his owning up to his failings -- his public repudiation of the Church's teaching about the major life issues was never corrected, nor was any sorrow expressed. If there was any such contrition in his letter to the Holy Father, surely Cardinal McCarrick would have included that in his public reading of the letter. Instead, we heard the senator's list of the good things he thought he had done. That's not how a person "owns up" to sin.
It is interesting to read some of the comments regarding Ted Kennedy, especially those who believe Kennedy was a "saint" and God will not judge him for his pro abortion stance, (as if the good that he did outweighed the taking of innocent life was acceptable to God)
God loves us and wants us to spend eternal life with him., however he want's us to change (repent;rethink)
and wants us to choose good over evil.
Did Kennedy repent over his belief in abortion, I don't know, and he did not state so publicly.
Also it was disingenuous for the Kennedy's to only want the government to help the poor, when he had 10's of millions of dollars of his own money to do something good.
I agree with Fr Phillip's the open letter to the Pope was self serving.
It is interesting to read some of the comments regarding Ted Kennedy, especially those who believe Kennedy was a "saint" and God will not judge him for his pro abortion stance, (as if the good that he did outweighed the taking of innocent life was acceptable to God)
God loves us and wants us to spend eternal life with Him., however He want's us to change(repent;rethink)
and wants us to choose good over evil.
Did Kennedy repent over his belief in abortion, I don't know, and he did not state so publicly.
Also it was disingenuous for the Kennedy's to only want the government to help the poor, when he had 10's of millions of dollars of his own money to do something good.
I agree with Fr Phillip's the open letter to the Pope was self serving.
Did anyone look at the coverage of Kennedy's life but me? There were many, many accounts of Kennedy using his own money to help people. There were accounts from ordinary people about what a difference he made in their lives. There were 50,000 who went past his casket to pay their respects.
Yes, he was a sinner and so are we all. I don't believe his letter to the Pope was self serving especially since we did not hear the entire letter.
It's not up to us to figure out whether Kennedy confessed about his abortion stance - -it's between him and God.
Kennedy made a real positive difference in many people's life and he will be sorely missed.
Clare, the Church is very clear in stating that when a public figure has caused public scandal, a public retraction of that action must be made. While the Sacrament of reconciliation is a private matter (and it is that which restores the soul to a state of grace), nonetheless contrition involves the mitigation of public scandal.
I, too, hope that Senator Kennedy made a good and complete confession before his death. I've stated that before. But his public actions call for a public repudiation of those actions.
In Clare's first statement she said that Kennedy tried to help the less fortunate. LBJ in his Great Society tried to help the poor to have a better life. Problem is the administration of these helpful programs.Many welfare recipients become dependent on the state to provide for them. They stop being productive members of the work force.They stop paying taxes because they don't work. Job training is offered. We still have the poor and the uninsured. What is the answer? We don't hear our new government address this. Oh, Michelle Obama did address this during the campaign. We didn't hear much from her after that. What did Michelle say? She said that her husband would not just hand out money to the poor. He would make them work. Stay tuned.
Dear clare: Yes Senator Kennedy achived some good, but he also indicated a great deal of flexibility in his moral judgment, a condition the Church can not condone. God, the Church, and it's leaders try to light our path, and no matter the good we do, if we stray from the path we will all get our feet muddy.
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