Sen. Kennedy’s letter to Pope said he fell short but ‘tried to be a faithful Catholic’

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Comments: 41

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick

Washington D.C., Aug 30, 2009 / 10:53 am (CNA).- In his private letter to Pope Benedict XVI, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said he “fell short” as a faithful Catholic. According to excerpts read at his funeral, the late Senator wrote before his death that though he had “fallen short,” he had always believed in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The letter, reportedly six pages long, was hand-delivered by President Barack Obama to the Holy Father last July. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, an archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., revealed some of the letter’s contents late on Saturday at Sen. Kennedy’s graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery.

The abridged version read by the cardinal, who is a friend of the Kennedy family, began: “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 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.”

In the letter, Sen. Kennedy asked the Pope “with deep humility” to “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, the Senator explained. “I am 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life.”

The Senator also wrote about the Catholic faith of both of his parents.

“That gift of faith has sustained, nurtured and provided solace to me in the darkest hours,” he wrote.

In the letter, Sen. Kennedy also described how he had tried to connect his faith with his political actions.

“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’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, 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 been the focus of my work as a United States Senator.”

“I also want you to know that even though I am ill,” the letter continued, “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.”

In the excerpts read by Cardinal McCarrick, the letter makes no reference to the senator’s political positions that contradicted core Catholic teachings such as the sanctity of human life from conception and the sanctity of marriage. Over time, Sen. Kennedy became an advocate of legalized abortion, embryonic stem cell research and same sex “marriage.”

Regarding proposed health care reform, Sen. Kennedy wrote: “I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health care field and 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.”

On a more personal level, the Senator recognized in his letter that “I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith, I have tried to right my path.”

“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. I continue to pray for God’s blessings on you and our Church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me.”

Cardinal McCarrick also read during the Rite of Committal the response to the Senator’s letter from a Vatican official, who confirmed that “the Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted to President Barack Obama” and informed the Senator that “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.”

Comments: 41

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Ken Grabowski
Hillsboro Or 09/06/2009 09:33 PM EST

Kennedy didn't ignored the cries of 50 million babies, those 50 million babies never were given that chance to cry.

Published by: Thomas Carson
Dearborn, MI 09/03/2009 12:06 PM EST

Does anybody know if the Kennedy family wanted to bury the senator from the cathedral in Washington? I understand he was refused the one in Boston for his funeral Mass. It could explain why he did not lay in state in the capital dome.

Published by: Ben
Joplin, MO 09/03/2009 10:51 AM EST

May he rest in peace, but may his unrighteous "causes" be defeated by the good Christians of the United States. It appears that he was unrepentant even unto death, but one can hope that he reconciled before his death.

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe 09/03/2009 07:29 AM EST

Catholics are not concerned about him as an individual soul but rather as a public personality who's life and actions have negitively influenced millions through his anti-life votes and statements. His soul I leave to God, but we are left with his legacy.

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 09/02/2009 10:03 PM EST

Tom...Ted Kennedy like all of us? He was kicked out of Harvard twice for cheating, cited four times for reckless driving under the influence of alcohol while attending the University of Virginia, got away with Mary Jo's murder because of his name, paid off her family's attorney's to prevent autopsy, promoted child murder under guise of law, and sodomite "marrage". Tom...do us all a favor...dial 1-800-GET-CLUE and realize that we are not like that and if we did any of those things most of us would have been deprived of education or been rotting in a jail cell. To say Our Lord was like that, is not only ridiculous, it is blasphemous. I am going to tell you charitably: go to confession because you have become an accesory to this man's sins by defending the ill done.

Published by: James
Tampa/FL 09/02/2009 06:50 PM EST

Kennedy claims “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." This last part of his statement to our Holy Father is a bold face lie. As he is my brother in Christ, I pray for his eternal soul, but his understanding of faith fails the teachings of our holy Church in the plainest reading. As James teaches we must be more than sayers of the word but doers of the word. Faith with out works is dead and never was it more obvious than with Ted Kennedy's politics and religious life. He was in favor of abortion, embryonic stem cell research and the completely ridiculous notion of married homosexuals. These are all easy to grasp and they are non-negotiable to our love for one another in Jesus. Now Mr. Kennedy knows Truth and therefore the whole truth. I pray for his salvation because he was long living under the influence of the dark one. The Lord's mercy is an ocean, so we are called to pray for Ted and leave his salvation up to God, but for us who remain, we must know the truth and love the Truth with all of our hearts before we meet Jesus upon our death!

Published by: Tom
Rhode Island 09/02/2009 09:19 AM EST

As I read these comments I am afraid for the Church I so love. Hate and judgement are not ours or values I was taught in my Church. Senator Kennedy was like all of us, human, and had like all of us human failings. What about, "judge not lest you be judge", and "love thy neighbor as I have loved you"? His life was filled with helping the poor, feeding the hungry, tending to the sick, and welcoming the stranger. It sounds to me a lot more like the life of Jesus Christ than the rantings of most of these postings. Stop judging the man, and live your own lives, no that his life is finished.

Published by: David Hurst
Mayaguez PR 09/01/2009 09:51 PM EST

Can you tell me,if at the funeral of senator Kennedy,such poiticians as Kerry, Pelosi. Guiliani,etc received communion? This was controvercial at a papal mass and I have not resd abouthid anywhere.

Published by: Genis
Las Vegas, NV 09/01/2009 12:06 PM EST

If the letter was "private", Why did Cardinal McCarrick read it at Mass? Senator Kennedy was looking to clear his record numbering the many good things he has done for this country, unfortunatelly he felt short in all his acomplishments, he never followed all the teachings of the Catholic Church: He was in pro of abortion, same sex marriges, divorce, euthanacia, secularism, socialism, etc. What about repentance? I hope in the last moments he did repent. God have mercy on his soul, and have mercy on the souls of cardinals, bishops, and priest that misslead the public from the real teachings of the Catholic Church!

Published by: Bob Horne
Pocasset, MA, USA 09/01/2009 11:07 AM EST

I find it disgraceful that this man used his grandchildren to read statements at his funeral asking us to pass healthcare for all and championing gay marriage and then had his "private" letter publicly read at his graveside. I am glad the Pope only responded with a form letter. If Kennedy had "tried" to live by the principles of his faith, he would have championed the cause for the lives of the unborn. He will have to take up that subject with our Almighty Father.

Published by: john
phila . pa. U.S. 09/01/2009 08:54 AM EST

Catholics WAKE UP!! The USCCB talks a good game against abortion, but you would think by now pro-lifers would realize this is just a bunch of lip service to appease them. Watch what they do not what they say.

Published by: TJP
Gainesville, FL 09/01/2009 07:31 AM EST

Kennedy’s letter is like Hitler writing to Pius XII, extolling the good he did for Germany, without mentioning his treatment of the Jews. Hitler put his agenda before the natural law (and the teachings of his own Church) and so did Kennedy by repeatedly voting that mother’s have the right to kill their unborn children. Kennedy could have “championed the rights of the poor” and still voted “No” to baby killing, since there is no conflict. But he ignored the Church and the cries of 50 million babies.

Was Kennedy’s conscience bothering him before he died? You bet it was.

Published by: JT
New Jersey 08/31/2009 05:46 PM EST

What a terrible scandal this is! It is no wonder that so many are indifferent to there faith. I, a product of this confusion, have struggled my entire adult life (I am middle aged) to know my faith. We were taught nonsense and had the terrible examples of leaders some who should have sheparded confuse us. Just as they did with this funeral.

To my former Archbishop, Cardinal McCarrick, you have caused grave scandal. How many people with weak faith will understand the Catholic Church to be pro-abortion, same-sex marriage, etc., etc. But, you had the limelight! Shameful! How many people you have lead astray!

Senator Kennedy has my prayers, but he did not publicly repent of any of the terrible public sins he committed. This is not a life that Catholic leaders should be celebrating.

Published by: Arthur
Houston, TX 08/31/2009 05:30 PM EST

He was an adept politican but phrases like, a womens choice, will have little sway on the Almighty.

He claimed to oppose the death penalty, but only if it was applied to convicted dangerous criminals.

Published by: pete
Sunyvale, CA U.S.A. 08/31/2009 01:45 PM EST

I believe only brief excerpts from both letters where read at the burial, so as to conclusions about falling short, they are rash.

Published by: Bill
Midland, Texas 08/31/2009 01:43 PM EST

I wonder if a more humble man would have submitted his letter to his parish priest and/or bishop rather than to Pope Benedict through the President of the United States.

Published by: Diane
Edmonton 08/31/2009 12:43 PM EST

All of you need to stop judging right now! You are not God! God will place each and everyone of us in our rightful place in our due time. May the Lord have mercy on all of our souls! +++

Published by: Minko
Dallas, TX, US 08/31/2009 11:56 AM EST

Rate: Excellent

As a Roman Catholic immigrant from a central Europe I am very disappointed and disillusioned with Catholic Church in America. Why does it allow to be used and manipulated against its own teaching?

It is appalling that Ted Kennedy (God’s mercy to his soul) managed to stomp all over my faith once again by having the Church give him high profile burial. I realize that he might have repented on his deathbed and had a right for ecclesiastic burial but without disclosing that to the public, Church just validated his life in front of millions of people and mark my words, actions such as this one or Notre Dame will cost us Roman Catholics dearly.

I can’t not to wonder if our Bishops (with some exceptions) are blind to what is happening to America?

Published by: Phil312
Sulphur, La., USA 08/31/2009 11:10 AM EST

I pray for the soul of Sen. Kennedy, as I would for anyone. But as Catholics, we must defend our beloved Church adamantly. Dissident "catholics" like Sen. Kennedy just make our job more difficult.

Published by: Frank
Wareham ,Massachusetts USA 08/31/2009 11:07 AM EST

Ted Kennedy said:"I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings". What a bunch of hogwash that comment is!! Hey Teddy what about your unrepentant love for abortion, same sex "marriage", euthanasia, secularism, communism, socialism, adultery, fornication, divorce etc.

Published by: Eric
Hutchinson, MN USA 08/31/2009 08:18 AM EST

Only weeks away from standing in front of the Judgement Seat of God Ted Kennedy still refuses to take responsibility for his actions. Claiming all the credit and none of the blame. "Falling short" was an understatement.

Published by: Joseph Kaminsky
Wallingford CT USA 08/31/2009 07:48 AM EST

What does having two (count them--2) cardinals at the funeral rites of the foremost Catholic pro-abortionist in the United States say to other Catholic politicians? What does it say to bishops who wish to deny Holy Communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians? What does it say to Pro-Lifers?

Published by: myles keogh
Fort Riley Kansas 08/31/2009 07:27 AM EST

If Kennedy had put as much energy into defending the unborn as he did for healthcare and immigrants we would not be reading this.

Published by: Sue
Naugatuck, CT 08/31/2009 05:43 AM EST

Talk, Talk, Talk .... it is so meanless!
Senator Kennedy did not live his faith, so he was not a practicing Catolic regardless of what he said.

Published by: EF Pastor Emeritus
United Kingdom 08/31/2009 03:21 AM EST

And he claims to be a faithful Catholic. Shame on McGarrick for such selective reading

Published by: scott striebeck
deer park, texas 08/30/2009 09:58 PM EST

If Senator Kennedy has a chance in hell of going to heaven, so do I.

Published by: poptoy
Eunice 08/30/2009 09:25 PM EST

Ted says he fell short. Short! It has always been said that a dieing man will do anythng to save his soul. It has also always been said that that if you live a true Catholic life, which includes following the True Catholic way by your own Free Will, Heavens door will be open. I can only wish for a chance to have a letter of mine hand delivered to the POPE. GOD forgive me for these statements but I just had to say it.

Published by: carl
charlotte nc 08/30/2009 08:56 PM EST

“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 deeply grateful to him.”

who does obama have "deep faith" in? marx? lenin? trotsky?

Published by: Carl Huebner
Keswick, VA (USA) 08/30/2009 08:33 PM EST

I do not understand the use of the adjective "private" at the beginning of this article to describe the letter the late Sen. Kennedy sent to Pope Benedict XVI. Clearly it was his intention---or that of his family---that the letter be read publicly at his burial for what one can only assume were political purposes related to advancing his preferred approach to healthcare reform. The Holy Father wisely did not step into the trap, confining his response to an eloquent expression of Christian love and concern for Kennedy"s physical and spiritual well-being.

Published by: DAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass 08/30/2009 07:43 PM EST

Everyone fails! Who thinks that they have really succeeded in living a Godly life. It is frightening to die as sin has deeply afflicted all of human existence. If I wrote a letter to the Pope I know that I would need a lot of prayers and many more than just his. God is pure and perfect and he must be extremely merciful. All need this mercy! Death is a transition. There is fear of death and fear of failure in life,just as there is a fear of God. This fear is wisdom as this is a wisdom that in the end helps all to know that God is all in all.

Published by: Mike King
St Louis, MO 08/30/2009 03:51 PM EST

Senator Kennedy realized in his last months something that all of us should acknowledge: that all of our days are numbered and we must begin to live more aware of our failings and our need for the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May God bless the Senator as he now rests in peace.

Published by: jim
austin, TX 08/30/2009 03:44 PM EST

From a Catholic standpoint all he had to do was vote pro-life, how difficult was that? I gather for Mr. Kennady it was too much to ask to go against his party by protecting life at all stages.

Published by: Radomysl Twardowski
Bismarck, ND, USA 08/30/2009 02:28 PM EST

Liberals are always deluding themselves. "I have tried my best", he(Obama) is a man of deep faith" etc.

Published by: Robert Lockwood
Lafayette, CA 08/30/2009 02:25 PM EST

A politician to the last but not a Catholic.

Published by: J.
USA 08/30/2009 02:13 PM EST

Correct my memory here, but is this not the same cardinal who very selectively edited, and failed for the most part to disclose, an instruction he himself had received from the same Pope? If so, it is not implausible that he has attempted another airbrushing of the picture. If my memory is incorrect, I retract.

Published by: George Alexa
Fairfax Station, VA, USA 08/30/2009 01:24 PM EST

May his soul rest in peace.

Published by: Charlotte
Hopedale, OH USA 08/30/2009 01:03 PM EST

How hypocrital can you get? Sen. Kennedy will spend extra time in Purgatory for it.

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe 08/30/2009 12:56 PM EST

Pope John Paul II responded in prayer in 2000 to the issue of defense of the unborn, "God, our Father, you always bear the cry of the poor. How many times have Christians themselves not recognized you in the hungry, the thirsty and the naked, in the persecuted, the imprisoned, and in those incapable of defending themselves, especially in the first stages of life. For all those who have committed acts of injustice by trusting in wealth and power and showing contempt for the "little ones" who are so dear to you, we ask your forgiveness: have mercy on us and accept our repentance. We ask this through Christ our Lord."

Published by: albert marek
dallas tex USA 08/30/2009 12:51 PM EST

From what I learned from the 6 page letter to the Pope, Kennedy wants the Pope to know about all the good things he tried to do during his 50 years of public service. A better letter would be a letter of foregiviness from the Pope for all the damage he did to the
Catholic Church. Kennedy was a disgrace and a scandal to the Church. Futhermore, I wonder how comitted is the Catholic Church to elimitating abortion. With the scandal at Notre Dame and now with Kennedys funeral mass, what is the rank and file Catholic to believe? Where are our Bishops? Pray for our Church.

Published by: Smendi
anywhere TX 08/30/2009 12:06 PM EST

If it was private why was it read to the public. I have my suspicions but oh well. A true Catholic would not be for abortion, leave a woman to die for a political career nor commit treason for a chance at presidency.

Published by: eileen
metairie louisiana 08/30/2009 11:54 AM EST

How can one say that he is against the death penality, but did not defend the unborn against the horrific death they suffered! Kennedy writing in his letter that Obama is a man of deep conviction is a slap in the face to all those children who suffered death at the hands of an abortionist, including infanticed.

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