 
February 2010
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Some reacted sinfully to Ted Kennedy's Catholic burial, Bishop Morlino says
 Bishop Robert Morlino
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.- The burial of Senator Ted Kennedy was, for some Catholics, a source of scandal. But in his recent column, Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin explains why, despite the late senator's public and private misdeeds, the reaction of some Catholics to the senator's passing is sinful. Bishop Morlino begins his weekly column in the Madison Catholic Herald by explaining that a recent period of rest allowed him to watch much of the televised coverage of Senator Kennedy's burial and reflect on the reaction to the senator's life. Drawing on a growing awareness of his own mortality, the bishop said that he had acquired a better understanding of what Senator Kennedy must have gone through as he neared his last days. In the legislative arena, Bishop Morlino said there can be “no doubt that Senator Kennedy’s accomplishments as the 'Lion of the Senate' were intended to help the most poor and downtrodden in our society.” On the other hand, the bishop stated, there was also “a disconnect” in his life between his strong exercise of pro-life leadership in helping the poor and his “leadership against the pro-life cause relative to the abortion of our tiniest brothers and sisters, embryonic stem-cell research, same-sex marriage, and so on.” This sort of moral equivocation presents Catholics in the U.S. with a challenge to “bridge that disconnect and pull that whole seamless garment of the defense of life together, rather than rending that garment in twain and choosing one, while almost, or actually, excluding the other. The social teaching of the Church and her pro-life stance surely are interwoven as a seamless garment,” Morlino said. At one point, it appeared that Senator Kennedy sensed that the political stars were aligning in a way that would juxtapose the right to life of the unborn and care for the poor and disabled which would ultimately test his faith. Senator Kennedy, Bishop Morlino recalled, convened a meeting of priests and high-level theologians a good number of years ago to address the issue of Catholic political leadership and their votes with regard to abortion. “Obviously, the very convening of this meeting showed that he took his Catholicism seriously and did not consider himself to be an accomplished theologian,” the Wisconsin bishop commented. “Sadly, that meeting simply became another occasion for the development by theologians of the 'two-conscience' approach to the faith for Catholic political leaders— that is the approach which says, 'privately I’m opposed to abortion, but in the public arena there are other conflicting responsibilities which allow me to vote in favor of legal abortion.'” “No matter how many theologians get together, the two-conscience theory is irreparably flawed and wrong, and no one can make it otherwise,” Morlino stated. “But if Senator Kennedy was given this advice and this approach, this 'catechesis' — false though it is — by prominent theologians, it could at least be said that there was some ground for confusion and ambiguity in his own practice about these matters. The priests and theologians who counseled Senator Kennedy are not free of blame for causing the confusion and the ambiguity through false catechesis,” wrote the bishop. Recounting his letter to Pope Benedict and the regular presence of priests around him in his final weeks, Bishop Morlino said that “it would be more reasonable than not to believe that he had made a good confession.” When it comes to the issue of Senator Kennedy being given a Catholic burial, Bishop Morlino noted that he was glad that it was celebrated in “a subdued fashion.” The proclamation of “God’s Mercy was powerful, the prayer for forgiveness of his past sins was clearly offered, and all of this in a subdued way because of his long-standing and public holding of pro-abortion and other stances which have been a scandal in the literal sense,” Morlino wrote. However, the Bishop of Madison said that he is afraid that “for not a few Catholics, the funeral rites for Senator Kennedy were a source of scandal — that is, quite literally, led them into sin.” Summarizing the reactions of some Catholics and pro-life supporters, Bishop Morlino repeated some of the questions he heard: “'how on earth could Teddy Kennedy be buried from the Church?' There have also been expressions from some, that 'whatever happens in Church, Senator Kennedy will now face justice, which will lead him inside the gates of Hell.'” But it is “sinful to enjoy the thought that someone might be in Hell,” Bishop Morlino warned, noting that this belief is an ancient Christian truth. “The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit worked powerfully through history so that Hell could be avoided by the proper exercise of human freedom, and to take delight in the perceived foiling of God’s plan is wrong,” he added. Any reaction that finds joy in a person's possible damnation is wrong because the Church believes and has taught from the beginning that “Jesus died precisely so that sins might be forgiven. His body was broken and His blood was shed so that sins might be forgiven, so that there might be mercy,” Morlino explained. “The death of Senator Kennedy,” the bishop observed, “has called forth at least an apparent rejection of mercy on the part of not a few Catholics. On the cross of Christ, God’s justice came into conflict with God’s mercy. God’s justice was fully satisfied, but mercy triumphed in the conflict, according to the teaching of Pope Benedict.” “Without denying any misdeeds on the part of Senator Kennedy, the Church, seeking to reflect the face of Christ, proclaimed God’s mercy for the whole world to see in a subdued but unmistakable way. It was more than appropriate,” Bishop Morlino concluded. Subscriber comments:
Published by: dan cairl
temperance, mich 12/27/2009 03:51 PM EST
all you good catholics out there condeming all the polititions for being for abortions i have this to say.....what do you have to say about the women having these abortions? these polititions arent forcing one woman to have an abortion! i have yet to hear one person condeming the woman for having her abortion. thats where the problem is as far as im concened. teach all the women in our country and the world for that matter that abortoin is wrong and thern it doesnt matter what the law of the land is. mr kennedy was wrong in his stance on abortion but in so many other ways he was so much for the poor as the bishop said. may he rest in peace. also judge not lest you be judged!!
Published by: smokedsalmoned
royal oak mi 11/11/2009 05:03 PM EST
He was an adulteror, pro abortion, most likely guilty of negligent homicide (unrepentent to the day he died)an alcoholic and a divorcee. It goes against all church doctrine for the church to have participated in burying him in the church. Its as idiotic as giving Sinatra anullments.
Bishop, if you cannot understand our confusion and consternation then you need to retire.
Published by: Barbara Huet
Mauldin SC 10/01/2009 11:04 AM EST
Ted Kennedy was called an "Environmental Rapist, Tax Cheat, and Oil Profiteer" in Peter Schweitzer's Do As I Say. Has everyone forgotten Mary Jo Kopechne?
A Question of Character: A Life of John F. Kennedy by Thomas C. Reeves, a Democrat, documents JFK's numerous adulteries, Ted Sorenson's authorship of Profiles in Courage, and on and on.
How can a Catholic bishop, in this day and age, with a straight face talk about how much Ted Kennedy did for the poor?
This hagiogaphy of the Kennedy Family by the hierarchy is absolutely nauseating. That's what grieved me the most - not the shocked or supposedly sinful attitude of justifiably scandalized Catholics.
Published by: Uncle Petee
Portland, OR 09/24/2009 03:13 PM EST
Cardinal O’Malley weakly and Un-courageously pandered to the popular cafeteria catholic contingent in positions of influence with this royal funeral. How sad for him. Ted has arrived at the gates of heaven covered in blood that splattered all over him as he joined with other so called catholics to lock arms in a protective barrier around the bloody field where millions of mothers and their doctors have been crushing the skulls of innocent children.
Now, the only question left is this: does God allow ted yet one more chance to correct his errors by repenting of this public sin? Or, is ted incapable of making such a change of heart – thanks in no small part to priests, bishops and cardinals who have for decades been too weak-kneed and timid to take the necessary action to alert those like him to the gravity of their errors.
NO ONE WORKED HARDER THAN TED TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT TO LIFE OF AN UNBORN PERSON (…regardless of race, creed, gender or nationality of course…) would NEVER be recognized. Cardinal, please understand, there can be no "peace and justice" while the Holocaust of abortion continues in our country!
Isn’t it finally time for our hierarchy to question their approach to this 35 year old travesty of unimaginably horrendous proportions?
Come on, this really isn’t as difficult as our prelates have been working to make it for 35 years. Is it?
Published by: James
Tampa/FL/USA 09/18/2009 11:28 AM EST
What Bishop Morlino said would be true if what Mr. Kennedy did in the Senate for the poor was not designed to keep the poor, poor! Yes, we must be prolife from womb to tomb caring for the poor, but Kennedy failed on all accounts with his blatant disregard for life in the womb and for his public policies designed to indoctrinate the nation into socialism. That is not charity; the government handouts are not done out of love but to maintain control over the masses! My prayers are with Mr. Kennedy and his family but the distortion of his record claiming he cared for the poor should frustrate anyone who cares about the Truth! And yes, we for our own soul’s sake had better pray for men of Mr. Kennedy’s ilk, Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry, etc!!!
Published by: Dan
Santa Fe 09/16/2009 03:57 AM EST
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion -- inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Published by: Alice Gunther
Long Island, NY 09/12/2009 08:40 AM EST
Senator Kennedy not only promoted abortion throughout his career--he also encouraged other Catholic politicians to follow his example. It is extremely sad to consider that almost all Catholic politicians on the national stage today are adamantly pro-abortion. This is largely thanks to Kennedy.
Given this fact, was it really appropriate to give Senator Kennedy a funeral fit for royalty?
Published by: Vic Casciano
Buffalo/NY/USA 09/11/2009 10:18 PM EST
It's time to replace the corrupt and evil Congress and we might as well throw in the Bishops with them. Is there one Bishop left in the USA with any fortitude? Now I understand why the Church was persecuted during the French Revolution. The Bishops like to jump in bed with politicians and the wealthy.
Published by: kathy
chicago 09/10/2009 06:46 AM EST
That is presumption on the bishop's part. I do not think people were showing glee that Ted might be in hell. Most faithful Catholics that I know were distressed that the impression was given that he was a star of the Church. The way his funeral was carried out certainly sent that message. Have people no shame anymore? How about something simple and quiet with just the family? For the bishop to make the statement that Kennedy made a good confession is ridiculous. How can he possibly know that? For such a public supporter of abortion, etc., I would think some sort of public penance would be necessary.
Published by: Michael
Colorado Springs, Co 09/09/2009 10:00 PM EST
There are people that are even more scandalous than pro-abortion politicians and these are bishops who continually equivocate and excuse the behavior of these same politicians. The laity has been constantly, maybe even deliberately, kept in a state of moral confusion concerning abortion and other issues relating to life and marriage. Because of this, the majority of American bishops no longer maintain any credibility in the struggle against the continued and persistent killing of the unborn. Due to their inability to directly confront this grave evil, they make themselves appear to be co-conspirators.
Published by: Bob DuRocher
Ponchatoula, LA, USA 09/09/2009 09:26 AM EST
"The road to hell is paved with the skulls of Bishops" might want to see what saint said this. Many/most Bishops have become mostly gutless wimps and sold out to get along. No less than our Holy Pope said pro-abort politicians should not recieve The Eucharist--so its ok for kennedy to listen to liberal amoral theologians.
Published by: Warren Goddard
Portsmouth NH USA 09/09/2009 09:06 AM EST
The Kennedy issue is about his funeral and not with the senator. We Catholics have had a long history in America of our bishops ditching the Faith for acceptance. This continuing betrayal has been condemned by the Church as Americanism. I saw his funeral Mass on tv this morning while having a very late breakfast. Yvonne wouldn't watch it saying" how can you eat and watch that." Well it shows that the murderers have prevailed over the Church. Well, in Boston for sure.
Published by: leo weishaar
mobile, al usa 09/08/2009 10:45 PM EST
1. it seems to me that the bishop was the only doing the judging.
2. the pope counseled pelosy but bishops and cardinals laud kennedy? how is kennedy different from pelosy?
3. if a normal catholic couple uses birth control how many babies do they kill.
4. what good did kennedy do?
Published by: Dan
Santa Fe 09/08/2009 10:02 PM EST
So we are to believe that nobody including Catholic Theologians ever told Ted that voting anti-Life is a sin, but we're to believe the liberal priest he surrounded himself with especially at the end were able to illicit a 'good confession'? Satan is truly the father of lies and his spirit seems alive and well in those who are not clinging firmly to Jesus.
Published by: craig
glasgow ky usa 09/08/2009 08:41 PM EST
Are you sure Morlino is not an Episcopalian? Very nuanced.
Published by: Ellen
madison,WI 09/08/2009 06:35 PM EST
Reading all these comments, I'm wondering whether anyone was awed by the LITURGY (SACRIFICE of CALVARY)at Senator Kennedy's funeral. Today - Our Mother Mary's Birthday, at our Parish we had Adoration following our morning Mass. One of my friends gave me the pamphlet - THE WONDERS OF THE MASS (by Fr Paul O'Sullivan O.P.) All of us are LIMITED, and it is by Our Lord's Sacrifice, that any of us will share the wonders of ETERNITY. Cardinal Suenans (advisor to the CHARISMATIC Movement stated that we will become ONE - not through DIALOGUE, but rather on our knees (through Prayer) Anyone who knows Bishop Morlino knows that he is Faithful to the TRUTH, and has suffered by our LIBERAL PRESS for having upheld these principles. I believe that much of this dialogue has taken his words out of context. On our Blessed Mothers Birthday, perhaps we should all say a MEMORARE for the Sacredness of LIFE. Mother Therese gained so much power, and constantly asked her sisters to say this PRAYER.
God will bring GOOD out of this MESS, even though we are living in SAD times. I watched the FACIAL expressions while the AVE MARIA was being sung at Kennedy's Funeral - the whole heavenly COURT was Present.
Published by: Daniel
Gulfport,Ms,USA 09/08/2009 05:42 PM EST
I did not like Senator Kennsdy for his thoughts on Abortion, and many other views he went on to push our way. But I did respect him. I prayed for him and his family, God have mercy on him and us all.
Published by: Cecilia
USA 09/08/2009 05:06 PM EST
What Bishop Molino said reminds me of Pontius Pilate. "I can see no reason to punish this man (Jesus) because he has done nothing wrong, but if you insist on doing it then I wash my hands." That in effect is what the two conscience Kennedy was doing. I don't agree with abortion, gay marriage or stem cell research, but if you want to do it, I wash my hands. Trouble is Pilate was guilty of the crime and so is Kennedy and all the theologians, bishops, priests, RINO Catholics and nuns who support the Democrats. I can't judge their hearts but I can judge their actions and when you support abortion, babies die!!
Published by: Francis J. Donovan
Hicksville, NY 09/08/2009 04:50 PM EST
Maybe the Bishop was not on this planet for the days that many fawned over that “Catholic Lion” KENNEDY.
For days I read and watched the Kennedy drama being played in every medium. I digested some emotional statements on both sides. I have seen “former” Catholics intruding in a controversy that involves only Catholics. I have drawn the following conclusions.
The senator wrote a letter to the pope and had it hand delivered by the president of the United States. Who but Ted Kennedy would have the effrontery to do this? Is this the mark of a penitent sinner? If the senator were repentant he had merely to phone his parish priest. The pope has no greater or less power to grant absolution in the sacrament than the local priest.
I don’t know who crafted the spectacle that passed for the senator’s requiem or who compiled the guest list but it surely was majestic. However, a drama that featured the President of the United States and a supporting cast of former presidents, sports heroes, Hollywood personalities and the like does not square with the solemnity that should characterize the requiem mass in which those close to the deceased unite in prayer and devotion.
Whatever the fate of the senator may have been, his memorial was ostentatious and in bad taste. Am I permitted to say “SCANDALOUS”?
Published by: Pat
Colorado 09/08/2009 04:47 PM EST
Mr. Kennedy’s letter to the Pope reminds me of the Pharisee. I fast twice a week: I give tithes of all I possess… I legislated for the homeless, the poor yada yada yada…
Folks, it doesn’t take a Bishop to know that Mr. Kennedy’s soul is in trouble. However, it is not the first time a poor Bishop vomits untruths.
“The floor of Hell is paved with the skulls of rotten bishops.” –St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople and Great Eastern Doctor of the Church.
Anybody who truly has compassion for sinners like Mr. Kennedy would pray for the dead. Ironically, most “Modernist” Bishops don’t even believe in Purgatory; I guess this means Kennedy is a Saint!
“Liberal Catholics are the worst enemies of the Church.” Pope Pius IX
Published by: D.Rawlings
Garden City, MI 09/08/2009 01:04 PM EST
We are a people of hope! Notwithstanding, Mr. K. certainly caused scandal in his lifetime and made wrong decisions regarding the life issues, beginning at Chappaquidik. I myself HOPE that he made a good confession before he passed on. It is not for us to know, but like all who pass on before us, we are required to pray in hope for Divine Mercy to be given to them. Somewhere up the line, Betty said purgatory was a "second chance" - WRONG!! Those who suffer in purgatory are indeed on their way to heaven. It is either Heaven or Hell. Because of God's Mercy, we enter purgatory as a good cleansing shower, as nothing spotless may enter the Kingdom and all of us fall short and all of us cling in some fashion to sin. If we enter purgatory, we have already been judged for heaven.
Published by: Mike Bolognese
North Wales, PA 09/08/2009 12:19 PM EST
I totally disagee. Sadly this was a source of confusion for the Catholic faithful.
Published by: Mark
Saint Paul MN 09/08/2009 12:18 PM EST
I didn't watch the funeral knowing that the liberal media would exalt the deceased as the fourth person of some sort of a quardrinity. But what I want to know is how was the deceased able to receive the Eucharist when his first marriage, to my knowledge, was never annulled from Joan, and he was living in sin as an adulterer. Further, from what I heard, Joan was hardly acknowledged as part of the family, and he ruined her life.
I pray for the deceased, and for the clergy of this great country.
Published by: ed
Green Bay, WI.USA 09/08/2009 11:55 AM EST
A good confessor would have had him publicly repudiate his anti-life persuasions as part of a firm amendment to "sin no more" and to avoid public scandal. May his soul rest in peace!
Published by: Roger Raymond
Rochester, New Hampshire, USA 09/08/2009 11:00 AM EST  Rate: Very Good
So let's get this straight...the scandalized are the sinners and the per petrator gets off because of inadequate catechesis in a twist of mercy not granted to those who are angry. You know this bishop likes the slip of the hand when he calls the funeral 'subdued'. He is guilty of sloth and symbol of the poverty of the Church. He teaches wrongly.The inability
to grow angry at what legitimately arouses anger lands him in hell in Canto seven of The Inferno of Dante. What people look for is justice which is not divorced from mercy, as Bishop wishes. Justice ought to be hungered for with all the flame of true anger as the Lord taught us when he used the word "Beware" far more than the word 'love'...a misused notion these days. The desire to see things set straight is one for legitimate pleasure and the failure to take delight in justice being served sends one straight to hell. Read Anthony Esolen's book on Dante's Inferno for some better theology than the socialized holy water of this pandering Bishop.
Published by: Angela Martin
Walkersville MD 09/08/2009 10:55 AM EST
Thank you, Bishop Morlino, for your very clear teaching that none of us should ever find joy or even satisfaction in the thought that another might be condemned to hell. May God have mercy on us all!
Published by: Tom McFadden
Illinois 09/08/2009 10:28 AM EST
Bishop Morlino is being far too charitable to Kennedy. The meeting he had with Catholic theologians, was a cynical political exercise to see how far he could push the edge of the envelope and stay in the Church's good graces. His first love was the Party, first, foremost always. Many of us are former Democrats who placed our Faith above the "Party."
Published by: MindyL
North Carolina U.S.A. 09/08/2009 10:11 AM EST
If God is love and forgiveness he has already been forgiven by the Lord...He was a good man, we all make mistakes..there is no one that has no sin and perhaps bigger than Kennedy's sin...David, Salomon, Saul..and so on were big sinners the saints...but they repent...I am sure that he cried out to the Lord for forginess and mercy...Let's not judge....
Published by: Black
New York 09/08/2009 10:05 AM EST
You don’t need to convene a meeting of priests and high-level theologians to tell you the 10 commandants you don’t need to convene a conference to tell you the Commandant Thou shalt NOT KILL - you don’t need to convene a conference to tell you Divorce is sinful - How dare you Bishop Tell people they have sinned for speaking up for the Unborn Against a Mass Murderer of Children How dare you speak out against those that stand up for the Truth while YOU the clergy run and hide - two thirds of the clergy of America played DUMP at the Election - God’s Law comes first and not the Constitution Not Ted Kennedy and Certainly NOT a fornicator and a supporter of Mass Murder - The Funeral was a show piece that demonstrated that the Roman Catholic Church of America puts God’s Law second and the American Politicians first - Shame you We are all sinners and remember this evil succeeds when those that SHOULD speak stay silent
Published by: Roger
Hopedale, OH, USA 09/08/2009 09:45 AM EST
Too bad Bishop Morlino didn't elaborate on the "subdued" nature of the funeral Mass. Perhaps because it wasn't held at the cathedral in Boston, or because Cardinal O'Malley wasn't the celebrant? However, most people most likely missed those nuances, so it seemed elaborate, complete with the President himself giving the eulogy, and the presence of so many other "dignitaries". The net effect was the subliminal message that abortion is no big deal, and so it was a cause of scandal.
It would be interesting to know who convened that meeting of top-level theologians at the Kennedy compound and what their intentions were. At least two of those theologians, Frs. Drinan and Curran, weren't known for adherence to the Magisterium. Also, one can only speculate how this same "logic" they came up with has influenced Biden, Pelosi, Sibelius, Kerry and others, with such damaging results.
All that notwithstanding, it seemed to me that most of the pro-lifers complaining about this weren't wanting him to go to hell, but were reacting to what felt like a slap in the face. I agree with Bishop Morlino that we should all ask for God's mercy on Sen. Kennedy.
Published by: Tony
MI 09/08/2009 09:38 AM EST
The Bishop is correct, all Catholics deserve a funeral mass. The problem is not with us bewildered "sinners" however, rather that other Bishops have not had the fortitude to excommunicate such individuals who make a mockery of Church teaching in such gravely immoral matters such as abortion.
Too many Bishops make the moral equivalency of abortion and "social justice", the "intention" of helping the poor. Kennedy's style of helping the poor has in fact funded, enabled, and multiplied the problems of poverty and moral decay.
When will the Church leadership learn that subrogating its duty to the poor to secular powers leads to the manifestaion of so much that is unholy?
We need to pray for our Bishops.
Published by: CarlK
boston/MA?USA 09/08/2009 09:22 AM EST
If Ted K. was of "two consciences" his life will probaby be looked upon with greater mercy, in other words these may amount to "mitigating circumstances. If there was final contrition on Ted K. part his commitment to abortion must be part of his confession. Orthodox catholics should be scandalized at the Church's looking the other way, until they are shown he repented of divided conscience.
When push comes to shove this idea of two consciences sounds to me like another word for hypocrisy
Published by: Betty
Concord Mi USA 09/08/2009 09:17 AM EST
I prayed for Senator Kennedy. He never came out of the darkness of original sin and basked in the light of Christ. For that I feel sorry for him. With Jesus light around him, he could have accomplished so much more. Look how his sister Eunice helped all throught her life. As a Catholic I am glad we beleive in Purgatory because it gives all of us a"second chance" Mercy and love is what we are all about as Christians and we must practice giving grace to all, even if we don't think they deserve it.
Published by: Mike Malone
Glenwood, IA 09/08/2009 09:02 AM EST
Bishop Morlino is just one more bishop who has fallen off the Catholic wagon. He is a proportionalist that believes in the seamless garment which Pope Benedict destroyed with his comments. His defense of Kennedy is plain silly. Here he says Catholics who opposed giving Kennnedy a Catholic service are the sinners. He offers all kinds of other defenses for Kennedy. To bad he can't see Kennedy for the heretic he was. As far as I'm concerned Bishop Morlino is complicit in Kennedy's sin of scandal.
MIke
Published by: Joe
USA 09/08/2009 08:37 AM EST
Strange to chastise people, Catholic or otherwise, for wishing ultimate and final judgment on the villain. Tales under Christendom were filled with such fairy tale endings. Great plays before Christendom, and during, spoke of the same thing. And the audience would cheer when the villain was finally done in, not for all the good he did, but for the evil which was worse. When they tightened up the cinch and closed the garment bag, it wasn't to excuse the bad behavior but to point to the hypocrisy of the villain's 'good side'. Shades of grey, even, are admissable. But there can't be grey if one simply excuses behavior against morality itself, corrupting the 'system' to defend a flight from an accident with a still live victim, opposing the holiest of causes which defend the unborn and warn against fornication to include sodomy, and so on. Have any sinned, here? Without question - the bishop, himself. Spiritual indifference is a sin. One cannot pick and choose. Spiritual sloth is spiritual death. If Catholicism is inconvenient to a man of the world, honestly and integrity demand its public renunciation. He must choose for himself, or side against God. There's a garment without seams.
Published by: Mary Kay
Port Angeles,WA 09/08/2009 08:36 AM EST
Bishops should not shy away from teaching the truth, as Jesus taught us.
Senator Kennedy chose to be pro-choice so I think he made his choice not to be Catholic. No person is forced to be Catholic.
Life is not a minor issue.Kennedy's record of helping the poor keeps being used as evidence, for what? He failed to protect the most vulnerable.
We all fall short protecting the unborn and vulnerable in our society.
Published by: Le Bui
Fort Worth Texas 09/08/2009 08:35 AM EST
If some Catholic displays his abortion supporting sign at his church ground during his life,I think he should be excommunicated.Publicly,Senator Kennedy supported the abortion during his whole political life,he still enjoys his catholic life to the death.I think he was apparently so powerful and wealthy that he won the Church teachings.
Published by: thomas
minneapolis 09/08/2009 08:28 AM EST
The Bishop from Madison has stated what needed to be said to an increasingly polarized, fearful, spiteful and angry populace who profess the Christian faith. Now if some one would speak to the general populace regarding the President's speech to the nation's schoolchidren.
Published by: Bill Mulligan
Pottstown/PA/USA 09/08/2009 08:17 AM EST
This is just amazing. The sinners are not those like Ted Kennedy who actively defied clear Catholic teaching in the most public fashion, but those who were bemused by the so-called catholic funeral. I'm no theologian, but I've news for the Bishop, God's justice and God's mercy are NEVER in conflict. They are rather perfectly complementary, one is meaningless without the other. Catechism 101.
Published by: Fred
Cincinnati/OH/USA 09/08/2009 07:41 AM EST
When is the church leadership going to get over the flawed "seamless garment" argument?
If the US Catholic Bishops held the Catholic schools to teaching true Catholic doctrine, instead of all this psycobabble social justice garbage, they would find that true social justice is an natural product of Catholocism. However, true Catholic doctrine is not a product of this very twisted "social justice", where making setting entitlements "to help the poor" are equivalent to taking an innocent life.
If it looks like a pig, walks like a pig, smells like a pig, eats and drinks like a pig, acts like a pig, it's a pig, regardless of what lipstick he's wearing.
Published by: Lance Patrick
Columbus, GA USA 09/08/2009 07:39 AM EST
The bishop offers another syrupy discourse about how the faithful is to shut up and accept that someone like Ted Kennedy who had manifest public sins receive automatic absolution because of his support for CST. Of course it is the hateful faithful that needs to be rebuked. He and the other progressive bishops should have noticed by now that many people are generally tiring of the worn rhetoric and condemnations from progressive cowards who proclaim to be shepherds but instead collaborate with the wolves.
Christ's Church established itself through bold witness, action, and rejection of the pagan world. Looks like the pagans are striking back at this time with our own bishops in the vanguard.
Mater pulchrae dilectionis, filios tuos adiuva!
Published by: Mark
Bovey MN USA 09/08/2009 06:38 AM EST
They have there little heaven here on earth. He was not stupid, he knew what he was doing.
Published by: Cesar Fernandez-Stoll
Cambridge/Ontario/Canada 09/08/2009 06:32 AM EST
I think the funeral of the old senator need to be put to rest. He will be judge not by us but by our creator and omnipotent God, and let's pray for His mercy.
I think we all have choices and some are right and some are wrong and yet, some we chose to put make them public even though we know how influential our points of view will be in the minds of so many weak souls. I do not think to sacrifice 'some babies' is away to reach to some other 'charities', I think the history of the world, let alone the Catholic church, show us plenty of selflessness that very well could have been more perdurable should this 'philosophy' of 'but he worked for the common good' would have any validity. It is not against the senator what the reaction is but against the pomp displayed on an icon that represented over and above everything, a 'fighter against life'. A private catholic service with the family would have sufficed to provide the old senator with our love for his departure to face the supreme judge. My prayers go for his soul and for those of the ones that still fail to see the integrity of the church as our own in the example we are supposed to be.
Published by: catherine KENNEDY
Melbourne Australia 09/08/2009 06:02 AM EST
No one acting in good faith acted sinfully here rather many many good Catholics were rather befuddled and were thus expresing their frustration at seeing such a high profile politician in Ted kennedy that could have done the right thing eg vote pro life, being given such an auspicious sendoff!
Well you can have all the advisers you like if you hold high political office but in the end you alone have to weighup the arguments and decide!
The decision here by Senator Ted should have been to
adhere to the faith and to always be/vote PRO LIFE at every opportunity that his role as a Senator presented
There is NO EXCUSE to ever ever justify taking the life of an innocent unborn!
Senator Ted Kennedy was indeed so BLESSED to have a wonderful Catholic mother in ROSE who protected his own passage to life. Its truly such a shame that this same protective standard wasnt adhered to and voted upon by Senator Ted in his lifetime!
Such a golden oportunty to protect the unborn was blown sky high!
That aside, please in all fairness remember the Senator for the many good works he did!
That is merely giving him credit where it is due! None of us are perfect in this temporal world!
life aint ever just for the perfect, the planned, the privileged
life is for the unborn, our future the next generation!
Published by: anne gardiner
brewster ny usa 09/08/2009 05:47 AM EST
The sin of abortion is against the natural law written on our hearts. Vatican II called it an abominable crime and so did recent popes condemn it. Kennedy was also culpable of following the AM Church, the dissenting theologians against the magisterium, so he sinned too agaisnt the unity of the Church.
Published by: Manwyze
Henderson, Nevada 09/08/2009 05:35 AM EST
The funeral should have been private. This obscene public display made it look like Kennedy was being canonized by the church sending a very wrong message to other Catholic politicians and the uninformed public.
Allowing Obama into the sanctuary was a sin. He is the most anti-Catholic politician in history.
Published by: Barbara O'Brien Arato
Huntington Long Island New York 09/08/2009 02:25 AM EST
How was Sen. Kennedy's funeral "subdued"?
How easy it seems to be to see the sin in someone who was scandalized by the funeral of Sen. Kennedy yet understand how Sen. Kennedy could have been confused by the position he chose to take on abortion? Now that is really scary.
Published by: Roland
Canada 09/08/2009 01:18 AM EST
The consensus seems to be that the funeral was not appropriately subdued.
Published by: Odile Brock
Kinshasa, DRC 09/08/2009 01:00 AM EST
Thank you, thank you. We are too eager to pass judgement on one another. It is splitting our society into warring factions, which is much more dangerous to the welfare of all than we realize. I hope every homily in the U.S. will echo what you have said here in the next few weeks. None of us are sinless, so we should be humble about each other's faults. I write this on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the only person born sinless (with the exception of Adam, Eve and Jesus!). The rest of us can do more through love, which is our duty and our joy, than through condemnation, which is forbidden and makes us bitter.
Published by: Ethel Leone
Elk Grove, Ca USA 09/08/2009 12:22 AM EST
In reference to the Bishops comment he
was glad it was a subdued service. In my
opinion it was anything but subdued.
A low mass with family and close friends
celebrated with a family priest would have been appropriated in his case.
I don't judge Ted Kennedy but in my -
opinion God will view the Bishops etc.,
decision with swift justice for all
at the time of their judgement.
Published by: ART DeANGELIS
VA BEACH, VA USA 09/07/2009 11:59 PM EST
Is the Church really serious about being Pro-life? I don't disagree about a Catholic burial, but here was a Golden Opportunity to chide the cafeteria Catholics (Biden, Pelosi, O'Connor etc.) about their Pro-choice voting. I believe that in order to obtain forgiveness that Teddy should have been obliged to renounce his anti-magesterium views. But MONEY influences Catholic morality - Arnold S. gave the Los Angeles diocese millions to blunt any future criticism of his future Pro-choice, Fetal stem cell research, Gay marriage, etc. agenda!
Published by: J.Croxton
Brookville,PA, USA 09/07/2009 11:49 PM EST
While I believe in the mercy of God, I believe in His justice, also.. And, Sen.Kennedy was fully aware of church teaching on abortion - it was no secret.I believe he was guilty, just as some of our bishops and priests are, of not only leading some gullible Catholics astray, but of tarnishing the very name of "Catholic" by promoting the murder of unborn children. I cannot feel sorry for him or any other Catholic politician or clergyman who has done this - I can only pray for their souls...May God have Mercy..
Published by: Cody
Tucson, Az 09/07/2009 11:40 PM EST
Another thought related to my orginal posting - Kennedy had his meeting with the dissident theologians in what, the early 70s, the late 60s? Does the Bishop really believe that Kennedy never heard an Orthodox Catholic theologian express the total opposite view point in all those years that would have given Kennedy pause? Does the Bishop believe that no Catholic clergy approached Kennedy in all those years telling them that his choice of theologians were incorrect? Does the Bishop expect me to believe that Kennedy read NO articles in all those years that spelled out Church teaching on these evils? Does the Bishop expect me to believe that Kennedy had NO access to a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in all those years which would have told him that abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage, and embryonic were all serious evils? I got my copy of the Catechism at Walmart for something like $14 and another copy at a local parish for $9. Does the Bishop expect me to believe that Kennedy could not afford to buy his own copy and look up the Church teaching? I don't buy the Bishop's argument one bit.
Published by: jane
thomasville, ga, usa 09/07/2009 11:24 PM EST
Dear Bishop Morlino, your last paragraph clearly stated how the Church wants us to think and to act. Please pray for us and those who you say have acted sinfully concerning our brother, Ted Kennedy. It was difficult to watch an abortion president speak at this funeral just as it was difficult to watch him speak at Notre Dame just months ago. I do continue to pray for our president's conversion everyday as I often think there is nothing else that can be done. It is in my heart to know what we are to do during these times as it seems we are told to do one thing and yet, when something occurs, we are given explainations that seem contradictory. I believe in "death bed" confessions, God's mercy for us, and the wonder of God's love for all of us who are sinners. It is in my heart to continue to pray for the repose of the senator's soul as he is my brother and as such, I hope for him to be in heaven one day. It is right for you to publicly chastise those who publicly slandered the faith and the Church in the public behavior. I find myself hoping for some clarity however in just how we are to respond many times to the actions of others who are Catholic in the public and political arena. Always I turn to the Lord's prayer...forgive us as we forgive... this is a difficult walk. Please pray for us, Bishop, as we do for you.
Published by: Cody
Tucson, Az 09/07/2009 11:11 PM EST
How can the Bishop judge that Kennedy made a good confession, only God knows that. How does the Bishop know that Kennedy didn't seek out dissident theoligians in order to provide cover for Kennedy's support of things not Catholic, only God knows what was in Kennedy's heart and mind. Kennedy's support of many intrinsic evils was very public but I don't know of any public retractions, even in the letter to the Pope, that Kennedy made condemning these evils. His funeral was "subdued"? It was on all channels with high profile Cardinals taking part. It would have been better if it had been held privately with no wall-to-wall coverage and then no one would have expressed any concerns over scandal.
Published by: Jose
Philippines 09/07/2009 10:59 PM EST
However one puts it, it is certain that God's justice is served. Wherever Sen. Ted Kennedy is now, Heaven, Hell or Purgatory, he IS giving glory to God.
Published by: Dan
Taunton, MA 09/07/2009 10:16 PM EST
This Bishop is full of God's wisdom! For me this an affirmation of the feelings of sadness at the Senators funeral. It makes me think of my own shortcomings in my own grasp of the Lord's truth.
Thank you for reminding us all that God's love and Mercy are unconditional and eternal.
Peace!
Published by: mike
buffalo, ny, usa 09/07/2009 10:13 PM EST
what is a true Catholic?
Published by: mike
usa 09/07/2009 10:11 PM EST
what is a true Catholic Bishop?
Published by: Paul L. Kozlowski
Dearborn, Michigan, USA 09/07/2009 09:17 PM EST
Please forward this comment to Bishop Morlino:
I just reread the article and a number of obvious questions come to mind. First, why is not this funeral a scandal to Catholics? Afterall, Vatican and respected theologians all agree that a public Catholic figure such as Mr. Kennedy should of been easily exempt from a Catholic burial. Second, what would be the differnence in granting the same type of funeral to a prominent Catholic public figure who also was a promoter of slavery, pornogrophy, or was promoting mass murder. Afterall, Hitler was a Catholic at one time. How does one know if he repented in the bunker? So, how does one now if Mr. Kennedy truly repented? Next, one makes a quantum leap and rash judgement to say that since some Catholics believe this funeral was a scandal that "it is sinful to enjoy the thought that someone is in hell." How does one know if some of these Catholics "enjoy the thought" of this? ...Like they sit around and have a cocktail over it? This is absurd. Maybe Mr. Kennedy is in hell, maybe he is not. Only God knows. Maybe he in Purgatory? The point is, Mr. Kennedy knowingly promoted the silent holocaust, same sex unions, and a host of other no brainer anti-Catholic moral issues and then was given a Catholic funeral? With no signs of public repentance for these sins! Again, still a scandal and a mockery to my family and Faith.
Paul, Cathy, and baby Michael (my son, who now lives. - A silent holocaust suvivor!)
Published by: Emma
Sunnyvale/CA/USA 09/07/2009 09:08 PM EST
With all due respect Bishop, are you saying that the so-called Lion of the Senate was not intelligent enough as an catechized adult to work out his salvation in fear and trembling? or re-stated, are you suggesting that ted kennedy will not answer for his own sins but rather the theologians who misquided him will be held responsible? I do not wish ted kennedy in hell, i resent the implication frankly, i am, however, relieved he can no longer promote the taking of innoncent children's lives, the sin of sodomy or human experimentation on pre-born persons. i have difficulty believing he ever did anything for the good of anyone else but suspect surely he lined his own pockets and maintained his position of power. those facts stated I still wouldn't wish him hell. in fact, as horrible as the things hitler, stalin, amin, pol pot, papa doc, mao, etc did I do not wish them hell either. I am curious, is it a sin to assume that those of us who are not terribly broken up by ted's death wish him ill? No disrespect, but isn't it basically the same sin, pretending to know the heart and mind of God, many are being accused of?
Published by: Luis M. Puig
Doral, FL, USA 09/07/2009 09:04 PM EST
I am practicing Roman Catholic and, as such, I don't need to speak to a theologian to know that, under no circumstances, I can be a promoter of abortion. Senator Kennedy promoted the killing of 50 million innocent babies in this country. May the good Lord have mercy on his soul!
Published by: Dan in Calgary
Calgary Alberta Canada 09/07/2009 08:39 PM EST
The good Bishop is knocking down straw men, and avoiding the real issue.
There is a difference between (i) allowing Mr. Kennedy a Catholic funeral and praying for his soul as for any human death; vs. (ii) our Church making public adulation for Mr. Kennedy, not only inappropriately, but also contrary to what is allowed at the funerals of ordinary Catholics.
Dan in Calgary
Published by: mike kullman
wenatchee wa 09/07/2009 08:30 PM EST
Apparantly Bishop Morlino does not grasp the fact that is has been a grave scandal to the faithful for too long that the Church has not excommunicated those who support abortion. Most of us are appalled at the failure of the clergy to uphold essential moral doctrines. It is this cowardice on the part of the clergy that we are offended by, not the possibility (God forbid) that Ted Kennedy was outside the Church at the moment of his death.
Published by: Zack
Poughkeeepsie,ny 09/07/2009 08:08 PM EST
With all due respect to Bishop Morlino Senator Kennedy did much damage to the prolife movement, Catholic Marriage, and end of life issues. How? by giving ordinary Catholics an out when it came to Church teachings. The man created a scandal in the clearest sense of the word. The record is there and always will be. No amount of discussion can change the words he spoke (in support of same sex marriage) or what he said in favor of abortion. Let alone his voting record. May God have mercy on his soul.
Published by: Patrick Evans
Staunton, VA 09/07/2009 08:06 PM EST
In the legislative arena, Bishop Morlino said there can be “no doubt that Senator Kennedy’s accomplishments as the 'Lion of the Senate' were intended to help the most poor and downtrodden in our society.”
Kennedy's "accomplishments" harmed the poor and downtrodden. The things liberals believe will help--minimum wages, unions, government health care, busing, etc.--are proven to keep the poor in misery.
May God have mercy on his soul. I hope he is in Heaven, or at least Purgatory (where I expect, at best, to spend a lot of time), but he did nothing of value as a U.S. Senator. Imagine if Bork had become a Supreme Court justice; we lost that TRUE greatness because of Kennedy. After Chappaquiddick, abortion, gay marriage, and embryonic stem cell research, unionism, busing, minimum wage increases, etc., there is not much good left.
I hope he made a good confession. I wish he had followed it up with PUBLIC repentance, by which he could have helped turn the tide against abortion--what did he have to lose, after all, in his last days. He also could have come out against Obama, whom he materially helped win the primary.
I'm sad that Cardinal O'Malley, whom I had thought better of, gave Kennedy such a send off. I hope he will mitigate this scandal in the future. I"m too young to have been in awe of the Kennedy's. We don't have royalty in this country.
Whatever Kennedy's earthly end, I hope he and I will be together in Heaven.
Published by: Roger
Cadiz, OH, USA 09/07/2009 07:32 PM EST
Too bad Bishop Morlino didn't elaborate on the "subdued" nature of the funeral Mass. Perhaps because it wasn't held at the cathedral in Boston, or because Cardinal O'Malley wasn't the celebrant? However, to those not knowledgeable of these things, it sure seemed elaborate, complete with the President himself giving the eulogy. Intentionally or not, it sent the message that abortion is no big deal and so it was a cause of scandal.
It would be interesting to know who convened that meeting of top-level theologians at the Kennedy compound and why. At least two of them, Frs. Drinan and Curran, weren't known for adherence to the Magisterium.
All that notwithstanding, it seemed to me that most of the pro-lifers complaining about this weren't wanting him to go to hell, but were reacting to what felt like a slap in the face. I agree with Bishop Morlino that we should all ask for God's mercy on Sen. Kennedy if it is needed.
Published by: arnie
usa 09/07/2009 07:20 PM EST
Oh now we got catalog Catholic Bishops. Lets get back to the Catholic church teachings, you have enough work to do there without trying to develope your own interpretation of a killing Senator Kennedy low life.
Published by: Al Granato
United States 09/07/2009 06:44 PM EST
Poor Bishop Morlino said "He died precisely so that sins might be forgiven". True, He dies over and over again when poor fool 'Catholics' turn their backs on Our Lords offer, as in the case of 'Liar of the Senate'... For those who are not old enough to remember. the Patriarch, Joe, during prohibition was said to be the recipient of the Kennedy Curse, in which, as a collector of blood money he became rich and won for his family a curse for seven generations.
Published by: Fran
Colorado 09/07/2009 06:42 PM EST
With all due respect, Bishop, your lecture might have done more good for the senator who was de facto excommunicated by virtue of his support of abortion and other anti-life activities. It is not up to us to judge the final state of his soul, nor is it up to you to lecture people who were scandalized by his behavior and that of the bishops who didn't have the spine to formally deal with this so-called faithful Catholic as they should have. Your credibility and your opposition to abortion is greatly undermined by your support of this type of politician. It is so easy for bishops like you to beat up on those who try to live according to Church teaching, yet you can't deal strongly with the public sinners in your own flocks.
Published by: Ray Michaels
Cleveland, TN USA 09/07/2009 06:23 PM EST
With all due respect to Bishop Morlino, the Pope has been crystal clear as to abortion. If Kennedy CHOSE to accept the theologians' theory, that is not invincible ignorance. Kennedy need only have consulted the writings of JPII or BXVI, or the Catechism to have received authoritative information. We can pray for his soul, but he never should have received a funeral in the church.
Published by: Ed Rice
Kingsland/GA/USA 09/07/2009 05:58 PM EST
This story seems balanced to me, but I wonder how it could be objectively shown that the adjective "subdued" could be used to describe the Catholic Church's involvement in the funeral. The matter of the 10 page letter to the Pope being subjectively quoted by Cardinal McCarrick is a whole seperate issue. Bishop Morlino, thank you for your service to Our Lord and His people.
Published by: Andrew Nelson
Columbia, SC USA 09/07/2009 05:56 PM EST
The pro-life movement did not have a problem with a burial from the Church. The problem was the public funeral. It did not have to be public & could have been kept private. Also, as a person who brought public scandal to the Church, he should have publicly repented. His support of pro-abortion bills led to the murder of millions of innocent babies. And I am sure, at some time, he recieved correct counseling from the Church with regards to abortion. And his powerful status could have helped tremendously with the pro-life movement. He did do some good work for the poor, but as it says in James 2:10 "And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all." Mercy & justice go hand in hand. It seems many in the Catholic leadership have lost a sense justice when it comes to abortion.
Published by: Helene from Canada
Ontario Canada 09/07/2009 05:52 PM EST
With all due respect to Bishop Martino, the vast majority of Catholics expressing outrage over Ted Kennedy's funeral did so because it was a highly televised public funeral attended by two Cardinals having no less than the US President as eulogist. This for a dissenting Catholic who may have led many faithful Catholics astray through his unwavering support for abortion, embryonic stem cell research and same-sex 'marriage'. In short this very ostentatious funeral represented a scandal. That Senator Kennedy should have been influenced by unfaithful theologians is unfortunate but was it not the duty of his pastor to correct this error by instructing him on the grave sin he is engaging in supporting among other things, abortion and other stands contrary to Church teaching? Bishop Morlino should not be blaming those Catholics who take their faith seriously for expressing outrage at this travesty. Senator Kennedy, may he rest in peace, should have received a private funeral.
Published by: Raymond McDade
Orting, WA USA 09/07/2009 05:40 PM EST
I suppose Senator Kennedy is allowed his private opinion against abortion but since he represents many people who are in favor of murder, he can publickly endorse murder.
Raymond McDade
Published by: Linda Fowler
Rock Hill, SC - USA 09/07/2009 05:19 PM EST
The Church has always taught abortion & infanticide is murder. The Church has also taught that God is merciful and if one repents and confesses (right up to the moment of death) we have hope in that persons salvation. (i.e. the Good Thief) I was not a fan of Sen Kennedy. I did not like his politics or stances on many things. But Jesus told us to forgive 70 x 70. I think it wise to pray for his soul and leave him in the capable hands of a merciful and just God.
Published by: Loretta Hoffman
Timonium, MD, USA 09/07/2009 04:56 PM EST
Yes, I was scandalized by the very public and televised Mass & funeral service for Senator Kennedy, who was known not just for his public problems associated with his drinking and womanizing, divorce, his irresponsible actions in the Mary Jo Kopechne tragedy, etc., but also for his very public and official approval and votes for abortion, embryonic stem-cell/cloning research, homosexual marriages, etc. He was also responsible for hosting this meeting of wrong-thinking theologians who gave him and other Catholic legislators an excuse for being "pro-choice" when it came to these evils. Isn't this behavior considered to be material cooperation with evil? I did not see this funeral service as being "subdued" as Bishop Morlino claims. Nor do I see that this scandal was helpful to the cause for a Culture of Life. It may even prove to be harmful because of the message given by the clergy to pro-choice Catholic politicians which gave the impression that their similar behavior will not prohibit them from the blessings of the Church and its clergymen.
Published by: Robert Dean Jr
Cape Girardeau, MO 63702-1257 09/07/2009 04:52 PM EST
I thank the good Bishop for the distinction that Senator Kennedy could be buried from the Church. Regardless of poor catechesis, there was no public apology or correction. Because of this fact, we cannot simply disregard that the public nature of the burial could legitimately still be seen as a scandal; and, even though not directly intentional, quite misleading, confused and ambiguous for the average person. A private family affair from the Church could have a been a prudent option. I noticed that this aspect seemed absent from the article. Can we afford in this day and time not to be clear? God bless you, Robert Dean Jr
Published by: bjcass
mooresville,nc 09/07/2009 04:48 PM EST
I`m not troubled and have no difficulty in accepting Senator Kennedy`s funeral mass and pray and hope that he rests in peace.
Bishop Morlino may rightfully reject the two conscience theory but he might also reflect on this fact.There is no evidence that I know to suggest that any of our Bishops and Cardinals are actively offering strong,and if necessary,stern pastoral direction to politicians who flagrantly champion abortion rights.Pope John Paul II made it clear that abortion is intrinsically evil.Our Church leaders need to make it chrystal clear that you can`t support those who promote and champion abortion on the flimsy,self serving notion that the poor and downtrodden are a great excuse to justify voting for an elected official who is pro abortion.Our same church leaders have the opportunity to publicly chastise Catholic politicians who proclaim their Catholicicm and yet vote in contradiction to every critical tenet of our faith.There are too many politicians who identify themselves as Catholic and defiantly ignore and trivialize Church teaching for what is obviously political advantage.There are risks,no doubt,to boldly offering that kind of leadership.The holocaust of 50 million unborn might silently cry,"It`s time"!
Published by: vin
ilion/ny/usa 09/07/2009 04:44 PM EST
With all due repect to the bishop, the problem with this particulare funeral was the pomp and circumstance that accompanied it. Why? Yes, we cannot judge what is in a person's heart, but it seems immoral and against God's purpose to ignore those who are left to wonder what is this all about? And it appears to downgrade living up to the dogmas and Magesterium of the church, instead saying it is no big deal to go against certain beliefs as well. No, I do not believe people who are uncomfortable with what happened sinned because they did not go along. On the contrary, perhaps they spurred some to take a second look at their own lives. I hope so.
Published by: siena
haddam,ct usa 09/07/2009 04:25 PM EST
No-one wants to see Kennedy's soul damned to hell!
God's mercy exceeds His justice but there is no rationalizing in favor of a man who legislated for unspeakable crimes against humanity.
Published by: Cradle Catholic
Palo Alto CA USA 09/07/2009 04:17 PM EST
God puts His Truth in our hearts. His children do not need to rely on any man, even an ordained man or a theologian.
We have His holy Word, and the benefit of confirmation from the Body of Christ = fellowship with other Christians.
The bishop is back-peddaling, trying to find lame excuses to cover up for his priest-brothers that made a poor decision.
So bottom line: It's the same old story, and it does not fly. It does not fly with a Child of God; and based on Scripture, it doesn't fly with God either.
Published by: Janet Weber
Concordia,KS USA 09/07/2009 04:17 PM EST
This helps to clear my thinking on this WHOLE matter...Thank You and God Bless!
Published by: Phil Sevilla
Rio Rancho, NM 09/07/2009 04:15 PM EST
Senator Ted Kennedy's moral lapses through the years were played out in public by virtue of his name and longstanding career as a US Senator. Any "good works" he may have done as a Senator as perceived by Bp. Morlino cannot diminish the evil he perpetrated on the nation by his unabashed and unrepentent support for legalized and publicly funded abortion. He voted against a bill to criminalize the transportion of minors to procure abortions, a serious violation of parental rights. His voting record on abortion is what's sinful including approval of partial birth abortion. His voting record was rated 100% by NARAL,a national abortion rights organization. He was instrumental in blocking the traditional marriage amendment in Mass.,voted against the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, and sponsored homosexual rights bills. I recall his unjust attacks on High Court nominee, Judge Robert Bork, an outstanding Catholic jurist, during his confirmation hearings. Bishop Morlino's criticism is misdirected and unfounded. Faithful Catholics do not seek to arrogate to themselves the rightful place of our Lord Jesus Christ in judging the soul of Edward Kennedy. What we find scandalous is how Kennedy was honored at a very public, funeral Mass at a Catholic cathedral attended by senior Catholic churchmen, eulogized as a saintly soul destined for Heaven. No matter how the bishop tries to nuance what happened, it was a scandal and deep embarrassment to all serious Catholics who love their faith.
Published by: Nancy
Parkland, FL, USA 09/07/2009 03:58 PM EST
Thank you Bishop Morlino for explaining that to me. I was a bit scandalized by the funeral and I appreciate your help in understanding it. May God give all of us a right heart. God bless you.
Published by: WM
US 09/07/2009 03:48 PM EST
Kennedy’s “accomplishments” were never intended to “help the most poor and downtrodden in our society.” (How many subsidized housing projects are in Hyannis Port?) His “accomplishments” have always been aimed at keeping him reelected by helping the dependent to remain dependent forever through never-ending handout programs.
There is indeed scandal in the Church, directly caused as usual, by the Church leaders. I never read any gleeful comments about Kennedy’s damnation. Rather, such comments were commentaries on the fate of the rich and politically powerful who mock the gospel of Christ with their evil efforts (until their own deaths are imminent). In his letter to the Pope, Kennedy tried to justify himself by recalling his “accomplishments” but specifically avoided the mention of abortion and homosexuality entirely, and you call that a “good confession?”
Published by: Beth L. Morford
Phoenix, AZ USA 09/07/2009 03:43 PM EST
I agree 100% with the statement that no one should be happy about anyone ending up in Hell.
"Judge not lest you be judged." God alone reads the heart of all people and knows the true beliefs and motifs of each individual.
I pray that Senator Kennedy did make a good confession and asked for God's mercy while there was still time.
God and God alone determines where each of us will spend eternity. Many, if not most of us, will do a long stint in purgatory since no trace of sin can be in God's presence. My ministries make it necessary for me to attend 2 or 3 Masses on Sunday. I offer the extra Masses for souls in purgatory. I pray for them and ask them to pray for me when God calls me out of this life.
We also have to pray for all the living to have a close loving relationship with the Blessed Trinity and Blessed Mother. And pray for those who do not value all life that they will change their minds and hearts on that most important issue. God bless!!!
Published by: Dr. Thomas B. Lucente
Bedford Virginia USA 09/07/2009 03:36 PM EST
The Bishop makes a good point about the mercy of our Savior.....No one doubts this......However, as a public figure I may "judge" him without sinning...I have always been ashanmed of Ted Kennedy as a supposed Catholic and no amount of donations to the "Church" from his family could have justified his pagan support of murder in his private life and as a politician. Wake up....some Ameriucan Catholics, including the Bishops are in the hip pocket of many a murdering politician...Shame on you Bishop!
Published by: J.
USA 09/07/2009 03:34 PM EST
"God will forgive me, that is His business," is that it? How do you stave off the resultant Antinomianism?
I see no doubt that Can. 1184 no. 3 covers this case:
Can. 1184 §1 Church funeral rites are to be denied to the following, unless they gave some signs of repentance before death:
1° notorious apostates, heretics and schismatics;
2° those who for anti-christian motives chose that their bodies be cremated;
3° other manifest sinners to whom a Church funeral could not be granted without public scandal to the faithful.
See also the Epistle of St. James, ch. 2.
Published by: ROBERT FRASCO
Suffield, Connecticut 09/07/2009 03:27 PM EST
What Catholic Americans needed was not only the soothing words of "reflecting on the Face of Christ," but seeing the face of Teddy, saying to the Catholic world, Mia Culpa. By his not doing so, and the Church's indirect approach to the question of Teddy being worthy of a Catholic funeral, we are all left in a sort of "Doubting Thomas" existence. Are we to believe without hearing? We heard Teddy arrogantly preach the need for abortion and stem cell research, but we never heard him say, "You know, guys. It may sound like hypocrisy, but I now see through the Grace of God, I was wrong, and my Catholic senate colleagues are wrong. The taking of a life is always wrong and always has been and will be.
But how could we expect to hear such an unambiguous confession of sin, when we got a how to swim in tough waters from Teddy when he saw his career collapsing.
The life he left behind has never been cleared up either. So I guess we must be content to be "Doubting Thomases" without an answer to our justifiable questions about this man and our Church and their decisions to honor him without a public Mia Culpa.
I'm not mad. I just wonder how close did Luther came when he criticized the Church for selling indulgences to shorten purgatory. Maybe Teddy did just that. I won't say more. Enough Catholics have expressed a sinful opinion.
Faithfully
What makes the Bishop's laudable apologia lacking in my opinion, is a lack of public contrition on the par
Published by: HS
USA 09/07/2009 02:57 PM EST
Give the flock a break! "False catechisis? Ted couldn't possibly have been oblivious to the teachings of the Church on abortion, same sex 'marriage, embryonic stem cell research, etc.
No matter how much 'good' he did, it can never erase the fact that he led millions of Catholic souls into believing that abortion, same sex
unions, embryonic stem cell research etc were approved by the Church. And for this he received a Catholic funeral. Satan certainly was joyful.
Published by: Margaret
USA 09/07/2009 02:52 PM EST
The bishop is equating "Life" with feeding and clothing the poor.If there is no "Life" there is no need for food or clothing nor health-care. What did Ted Kennedy do for the poor, as a Democrat, that the Republicans didn't do? Nothing!
If the Bishop is still a Democrat, I would suggest him to register under a different "Party Platform". Read the Democrat "Platform"
it is a "Mission Agenda" for Abortion, plus condoning and promoting abortions along with birth-control and condoms. Not to even mention the promotion of homosexuality, same sex marriage, euthanasia,protecting animals and earth over human-beings, hugging trees instead of children.
Reminding you, that Bush, the Republican, gave more money and medication for AID's patients in Africa, than any other President in History.
Bishop, the Democrat "Platform Agenda" has been in the works during the entire time of Ted Kennedy's life in Congress. The problem with the theologians and with a couple of priests, that Ted Kennedy engaged, were not in "Union" with the Magisterium, therefore, what was told to Ted Kennedy was a "total Lie" which, no doubt, was readily accepted. Ted Kennedy was given many opportunities to rectify his horrific and contradictory voting record. Ted claimed to be a Roman Catholic??
Bishop,as you are well aware of, you are not a Roman Catholic; in Communion with the Saints, if you are not in "Union" with the Holy Father. It appears that "your seamless garment" has been hijacked by the devil himself
Published by: Marie
USA 09/07/2009 02:50 PM EST
So, Kennedy's sins are now categoized as 'misdeeds'? It is truly agonizing and has caused great suffering for many Catholics to see Ted K. as 'one of their own' lead the crusade against life. There is no excuse for any shepherd in the Church to seek in any way to 'lighten' what Ted Kennedy did in his life - it was scandalous. Or how his death was celebrated by the very Church he distanced himself from by his actions. Life long actions I might add. Kennedy's brain tumor was diagnoseda year before died. He had plenty of time to make
public amends and he did not. I'm sick of hearing the hierarchy criticize those who stand up for what is right in the Catholic Church and make excuses for public sinners who cause great scandal and are practically canonized. This in itself is scandalous. I know of no one who is 'joyous' about the loss of ANYONE's soul!
What about the souls lost through Kennedy's prominent example to fellow Catholics? Oh please, Bishops, some TRUTH please - for a change!
Published by: FRANCIS LAURENCE
SHREWSBURY, MA, USA 09/07/2009 02:49 PM EST
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEACHING AND GUIDANCE
Published by: Timothy Germann
Mission Hills,CA,USA 09/07/2009 02:43 PM EST
Your Eminence,
You set up a strawman on your blog post about the Kennedy funeral. Pro-lifers did not oppose a Catholic funeral for Sen. Kennedy. We hope that he repented. But public sins require public repentance and, sadly, that did not happen. The funeral should have been a private, family affair not what amounted to a public canonization leading others to believe that his actions were not gravely sinful and a serious scandal. It's ironic that Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a fine example of a pro-life Catholic, chose a humble private funeral. Her humility puts in greater contrast the unseemly spectacle at the cathedral honoring a champion of child-killing.
I find your condemnation and, dare I say, "judgment" of those who objected to the extravaganza puzzling. Is our intellect not called the "seat of judgment?" Did John the Baptist not "judge" the actions of those who paid lip service to faith while their actions showed them to be "whitewashed sepulchres filled with dead mens bones?"
Your excuses simply don't fly, Your Eminence. The faithful are looking for shepherds who love and defend the faith.
Published by: Albert Hovis
Rehoboth Beach, DE. USA 09/07/2009 02:35 PM EST
Bishop Morlino's comments evoke a different thought, that yet again the scandal and sin of the faithful which he addresses may have something to do with with the education given the faithful by priests and bishops who pound their pulpits about SIN (here read ABORTION and HOMOSEXUALITY)while doing little to educate the faithful about the mercy and compassion of Jesus.
Published by: Thomas More
LA, CA 09/07/2009 02:20 PM EST
The bishop is right, the Kennedy funeral was a source of scandal.
The fact that is was public, the participation of so many Church officials without a single mention of abortion.
This even alone will cause many to sin in the way Bishop Marlino says, but if Kennedy can blame his stance on abortion on bad priests and bishops, then why cannot the people who are drawn to anger because the same bad priests and bishops will not do their job and enforce the communion of the Church.
Lastly, how did Ted Kennedy, with his support of abortion at home and abroad, and the birth control pill, which as let do the death of over 200 million mostly poor unborn babies (43 in U.S. alone and about 40 million yearly around the world) do anything for poor people or the "pro-life" movement. I fear Bishop Morlino is being blinded in his analysis of the man becuase he likes some of the Kennedy social programs. But to try to argue that the man was good for poor people when he supported the main source of their genocide is wrong.
I believe that we should counsel praying for mercy for the man, but let us not lie about his legacy.
Published by: Nick
NJ 09/07/2009 02:11 PM EST
I think this article is good. We should never condemn anyone to hell because we are not in the place to judge anyone into hell. On the other hand, the world needs to know the truth about what makes a real leader. Supporting the death of our smallest and most innocent ones should never be regarded as good leadership. We don't need to condemn anyone to hell, but we should allow truth and accountability to shine through for all of our so called political leaders.
Published by: Jeanne
Lancaster, Calif. 09/07/2009 01:51 PM EST
I disagree with the Bishop on his
views of Ted Kennedy. He was pro-life
before 1973 and changed his position
due to the feminist platform in the
democratic party. His politics won out
over his principals. I am sure he did
struggle with this, but after 30 years,
he never waivered in his defense of abortion rights and had a 100% record
with NARAL. The most extreme example
being the support of Partial Birth
Abortion, which is the most extreme
violent killing of a innocent life.
I also believe the church needs to
spend more time examining its own
conscience and stress the importance
of ONE clear and moral teaching on the dignity of life and marriage.
So we can finally stop this corrosive misunderstanding that so many good Catholics have on being Pro-choice and
Catholic. That is where the real problem lies. We need strong leadership and guidance in our church.
Published by: fernando
hialeah,fl. 09/07/2009 01:47 PM EST
Idon't agree w/his political views but he deserves a little respect,and anyway a lot of those catholics who are talking bad voted for Obama a pro death president so they too acted against God.Remember 50+% of catholics did so.Pretty sad for us catholics.God Bless
Published by: Eric
Lake Bluff, IL USA 09/07/2009 01:46 PM EST
The grave scandal at the Kennedy Funeral was in allowing a non-Catholic, anti-life, pro-homosexual politicain to eulogize from the pulpit during the Holy Sacrifice of the mass.
All bishops know that this is forbidden and for a Cardinal of the church to be in attendance and sit through this really makes one wonder about the sincerety of any of the bishops. Bishops are supposed to be the teachers, and if the teachers are blind to this scandal - what hope is there for the laity?
Published by: David LeRoy
Black Diamond, WA 09/07/2009 01:46 PM EST
Blessings upon you, Bishop Morlino. You have put forth a truly inspired work of closure for this very public view of God's grace at work in Holy Mother Church. May we all grow to trust in the Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us all.
Published by: carmel333
eau claire wi usa 09/07/2009 01:45 PM EST
I'm sorry, although I do not wish Senator Kennedy in hell or anyone, the public Catholic funeral conducted WAS extremely inappropriate and scandalous!!! IF the parish priest knew that Kennedy had made a good confession with repentance for his sins including his blatant and public support for the murder of innocent babies, then the only way a PUBLIC funeral should have been allowed would be by the priest, with Kennedy's blessing, proclaiming Kennedy's repentance of these grave sins and warning the attendees of the dangers of dying with their souls in a state of this grieveous sin!
Published by: Marion Levandowski
Lancaster, PA 09/07/2009 01:42 PM EST
Your Reverence,
I agree wholeheartedly that the mercy of Christ is there for the asking. I prayed for Ted Kennedy when he died.
However, I think you miss the point. We do not have the right to judge anyone's soul. But we do have an obligation to avoid scandal through compromise and the seeking of "human respect." Senator Kennedy should have had a Catholic funeral Mass but not a Catholic spectacle viewed by millions. He was praised and lauded for his good works to the utter exclusion of his refusal to humble himself regarding the grave sin of obstinately holding onto a belief in total contrast to the Church's clear teaching on abortion. Millions of Catholics feel as I do -- a funeral, a Mass: Yes, by all means! A private Mass with heartfelt prayers for his soul is appropriate. Ted Kennedy's funeral was a political showcase which neutralized Catholic teaching to the millions of Catholic viewers out there who simply don't know or cannot accept the teaching of Christ through His church.
Respectfully,
Marlee L
Published by: DAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass 09/07/2009 01:42 PM EST
The bishop is right we are not God and as a community in faith,we have no power to damn any one to hell as this is grave sin.
I for one hate injustice and abortion is a single issue of injustice,except as a life saving surgical procedure,only then is it a remote blessing.
Published by: Kathleen
Bronx NY 09/07/2009 01:37 PM EST
Sen. Kennedy's own sister was pro-life. As a Harvard-educated lawyer he could at least read the catechism. There was never any excuse for his acts, but expediency & greed. It cannot be denied that he thoroughly enjoyed his life as a notorious & unrepentant sinner, hypocrite, & public scandal. A vast public funeral glorifying his non-Catholicism was a shocking scandal too.
Hopefully, he is now in Purgatory, and our prayers will benefit him. I pray for him, but certainly can never approve of his evil actions in his personal & public life!
Published by: Carol
Miami 09/07/2009 01:26 PM EST
Everyone keeps ignoring the fact that he was married outside the Catholic Church for his second marrige by a judge...
Published by: DAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass 09/07/2009 01:25 PM EST
The bishop is right we are not God and as a community in faith,we have no power to damn any one to hell as this is grave sin.
I for one hate injustice and abortion is a single issue of injustice,except as a life saving surgical procedure,only then is it a remote blessing.
Published by: Lives7
Columbus Ohio 09/07/2009 01:20 PM EST
Okay, now I am confused? Which rules are real rules and which rules are wanna be rules if the bishops feel maybe to follow certain rules is the situation allows or maybe not?!
For the record, Sen. Kennedy was given the Grace to reflect on his sinful past, so I believe he was forgiven. Yet, his offspring still felt it necessary to slander the faith at the Interssory prayers. Go figure.
Published by: Marion Levandowski
Lancaster, PA 09/07/2009 01:14 PM EST
Your Reverence,
I agree wholeheartedly that the mercy of Christ is there for the asking. I prayed for Ted Kennedy when he died.
However, I think you miss the point. We do not have the right to judge anyone's soul. But we do have an obligation to avoid scandal through compromise and the seeking of "human respect." Senator Kennedy should have had a Catholic funeral Mass but not a Catholic spectacle viewed by millions. He was praised and lauded for his good works to the utter exclusion of his refusal to humble himself regarding the grave sin of obstinately holing onto a belief in total contrast to the Church's clear teaching on abortion. Millions of Catholics feel as I do -- a funeral, a Mass: Yes, by all means! A private Mass with heartfelt prayers for his soul is appropriate. Ted Kennedy's funeral was a political showcase which neutralized Catholic teaching to the millions of Catholic viewers out there who simply don't know or cannot accept the teaching of Christ through His church.
Respectfully,
Marlee L
Published by: Jon Juergensen
Fort Myers, Florida 09/07/2009 01:10 PM EST
Let me see if I have this straight: Pro-lifers are "sinful", but not Ted Kennedy, who publicly and unrepentantly worked to ensure the slaughter of millions of babies?
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." Isaiah 5:20
Published by: Jehu
Milwaukee, WI, USA 09/07/2009 01:02 PM EST
The scandal is not that anyone is enjoying the thought of him going to Hell. It is that the statements made by the individuals involved in the Rite of Burial have led many Catholics (and others) to believe that not even the Church believes that abortion (etc.) should be outlawed. This situation has, in the minds of many, placed the Church's tacit approval upon the Senator's voting patterns.
In addition, let us not forget the words of Francis de Sales: "Hence 'the just man' who sings the praises of God's mercy over such as shall be saved likewise 'shall rejoice when he shall see vengeance.' (Ps.57:11) With joy the blessed shall approve the judgment of damnation passed on the reprobate as well as that of salvation on the elect. Since the angels have exercised their charity toward the men they had in their keeping, they shall remain in peace when they see them obstinate or even damned. Therefore, we must acquiesce in God's will and kiss the right hand of His mercy and the left hand of His justice with equal tenderness and reverence."
We cannot know the Senator's final fate. We must not, however, give others cause to believe that following in his footsteps is acceptable. That is what we in the opposition have been saying all along. None of us is enjoying this situation. How could we, when so many slaughtered youth have been told by the some in the Church sworn to protect them that their plight doesn't matter next to the "honor" of the one who approved their sentence?
Published by: Larry Donlan
Omaha, NE.USA 09/07/2009 12:48 PM EST
The greater scandal is the banal sentimentality of bishops like Morlino. It is a bait and switch argument to say it is “sinful to enjoy the thought that someone might be in Hell”. Ted Kennedy was one of the most successful enemies of the Catholic faith this country ever produced.
Perhaps the bishops "sinned" for allowing his abortion zealotry to span over three decades, leaving him in grave and manifest sin as they looked the other way.
So join in the praise, your Excellency. But, if Kennedy is in hell, it is bishops like you that share moral culpability.
Published by: ken jakulis
lady lake fl, usa 09/07/2009 12:38 PM EST
thanks to bishop morlino... iwas sad of sen. kennedy's political position... i felt like i should turn my back on him..
but the bishop opened my eyes... ANYONE that passes to the next world we should pray for them to recieve god's mercy.. if we are to expect mercy ourselves.. thank you bishop morlino...
Published by: Lois
Honolulu, Hi, USA 09/07/2009 12:33 PM EST
Your Excellency,
1. You conclude that kennedy probably made a good confession, and for the sake of his soul I pray you are right, but IF it is TRUE, then he should have publicly condemned his stance on abortion, same sex marrieage, and embryonic stem cell research to name a few, otherwise it is the same as a person waiting to reject sin on the deathbed while knowing he was sinning all along.
2. Was there no sinning on the part of the Church officlials who publicly serviced the funeral so elaborately? Is not the public view of the Church that sin does not matter? It apprears that a dismissal of the life of a person's actions who split from doctrine and the person's so public contradiction of Church teachings has no affect on what their judgement might be. This is one of the major reasons Catholics are so confused in society about Church teachings. If I reject Catholic teaching, I ceased to be Catholic.
Published by: Chris
Buford, GA, USA 09/07/2009 12:15 PM EST
The bishop seems to indicate Sen. Kennedy's moral culpability is lessened because some wrong thinking theologians misguided him. Sen. Kennedy surrounded himself with dissident priests just for the purpose of validating his wrong political belief on pro-life issues and thus to portray that one can be catholic and support intrinsic evil, thus the scandal.How many catholic women chose to get an abortion because they justify in their minds that it is OK because a catholic politician supports abortion?
It seems the there is a justification and rationalization going on claiming he made a "good confession." What about restitution? A good confession must include making amends. Senator Kennedy did not publicly renounce his long standing support of abortion before his death.I think he went through life being presumptuous, "I'll confess when death is eminent" mode.And ah good priest would have with held absolution unless Kennedy was willing to publicly renounce his support of abortion.
Its really sad because divorced couples are forbidden to receive Holy Communion until an annulment is granted, yet pro-death catholic politicians are allowed to receive. Where is the sanity?
Only God knows the state of Sen.Kennedy's eternal destiny. Our church leaders are responsible leading the flock with wisdom. Wisdom, courage, and good example are absent from some of our church leaders.
Published by: Jim Brewster
Olympia WA 09/07/2009 12:11 PM EST
Being a Catholic is being a Catholic, and a Catholic has a right and duty to participate in Church blessings - unless perhaps under the weight of grevious sin (deadly sin as St Paul named it). Senator Kennedy's funeral is a decision of Church officials. However, I find it distasteful for a non-Catholic (Mr Obama) to give a euology, and for a Prince of the Church to read selected excerpts from a letter that were obviously designed to equate the senator with a saint.
Published by: Sam
Waterbury,CT.USA 09/07/2009 12:10 PM EST
the Bishop is right that some Catholics went overboard in judging Sen.Kennedy and demanding that he not receive a Catholic burial. However, the funeral service was not done in a 'subdued' way, but seemed rather to glorify the life and work of Ted Kennedy. He should have had a 'subdued' funeral Mass but the Church in her Cardinals and Bishops and priests praised and glorified Ted Kennedy. I am sure he did go to confession but since part of his life's work was to actively promote the culture of death, he should have publicly repudiated his anti life agenda, publicly proclaiming, not his usual pro death policies, but rather a strong pro life message, urging all his colleagues to support life and not death. Because he did not, and because he was so lauded, those Catholic anti life politicians are now emboldened to proceed with their anti life policies. I know that there were Catholic theologians and philosophers who convinced Ted Kennedy that he could be Catholic and pro choice. Kennedy was an intelligent man; like Pelosi who has her own beliefs in this matter, all they need do is study Church teachings and the writings of the Popes, especially Evangelium Vitae. And there is a misconception that those who work for the life of the pre born child ignore those children once they are born. That is a blatant lie. I work for the defense of life and also to get aid for the starving children in Haiti. And I work with others to help mothers and children and fathers who have chosen life.
Published by: Don
Springfield 09/07/2009 12:08 PM EST
It would be nice to see as much attention be given to the babies that are killed in abortion chambers that is given to Ted Kennedy by this Bishop. Enough already with trying to justify his evil positions. His votes went directly against the Catholic faith. When we place our Faith in a box then this is the result...there is much blame to go around...he should have been denied Communion long ago and this would have been a merciful act as he would have given him time to dwell on how wicked the positions he took were, and it would have protected Christ from sacriledge.
Published by: VoicesofThunder
Virginia 09/07/2009 12:03 PM EST
While some Catholics are outraged about the Kennedy funeral, I believe, that most of us are outraged that it was such a public spectical...not whether Kennedy deserved a Catholic funeral. Also, about the canonization of Kennedy at the funeral when spoken about by those attending and the clerics. That is what I think most Catholics are upset about.
Published by: nancy ryan
kessington,NH 09/07/2009 11:42 AM EST
Bishop Morlino ,You are the one who has sinned and you are judging without knowing. Remember the sin of omission is worse then the sin of comission. Abortion is the ultimate sin against God and stopped justifying it.It never can be justified.
Published by: Larry
Denver,Colo. USA 09/07/2009 11:40 AM EST
The good Bishop has hit the nail on the head. Thank God that there are clear thinking Bishops in our Church to help our misguided human failings from getting the best of us and doing the worst to us. May God bless Bishop Morlino in all his ministry for the Church.
Published by: Jim G
Williansburg, VA 09/07/2009 11:40 AM EST
I believe those who support Kennedy's public funeral sinned. This is a man who publically defied Church teachings for his entire career. He was a vocal supporter of abortion rights. He was the leader in preventing judges who could have limited those rights from being appointed to the Supreme Court. His actions are directly tied to the large number of abortions in this country. If he confessed in private than a private service would have been appropriate. But to publicly celebrate the life of a man with his record is a scandal and I believe a sin
Published by: Anne
NY USA 09/07/2009 11:38 AM EST
AMEN to Christ's mercy, your excellency.
I think people objected to the public scandal involved in the PUBLIC funeral.
It gives the impression that one can indeed live, advocating murder and genocide to the 'least of these.' Such a person then can be celebrated by Christ's bride, the Church, as an outstanding, good and faithful Catholic. I don't get it sir.
Thomas Moore lost his head for standing against less.
Published by: Jim G
Williansburg, VA 09/07/2009 11:34 AM EST
I believe those who support Kennedy's public funeral sinned. This is a man who publically defied Church teachings for his entire career. He was a vocal support of abortion rights. He was the leader in preventing judges who could have limited those rights from being appointed to the Supreme Court. His actions are directly tied to the large number of abortions in this country. If he confessed in private than a private service would have been appropriate. But to publicly celebrate the life of a man with his record is a scandal and I believe a sin
Published by: John D
Boston MA 09/07/2009 11:34 AM EST
Bishop Morlino is yet another "prelate" who "speaketh out of both sides of his mouth." Kennedy "confused" about catechesis? He did more to harm American society through 46 years in the senate than any other politician. This nonsense about caring for the poor is just that-NONSENSE!! Consider Fr. Robert Drinan. This priest coined the phrase, "if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament" Drinan was a rather convenient choice to head a meeting to "catechise anyone on the subject of abortion! Besides, Kennedy, Bishop Morlino and the rest of us , if real Catholics, realize that we have a pope. JPII, constantly reminded all of us, including Kennedy, Kerry, Dodd, Biden, Harken et al., all phony Catholics, that abortion is an "unspeakable crime." No one can say what was in the senator's heart in his last days. That is known only to God. We must pray for him. But we really don't need yet another equivacating, mealy-mouthed, mediocre "bishop" like Molino, watering down Catholic consciences with Bernadin's "seamless garment" apostate ramblings. After all, Your Excellency, it is the religiously uneducated "Catholic" vote that gave us 8 years of Clinton, and has now placed a demonic administration in office. Where were you when 2 generations of children were given pablum ibnstead of real faith preparation?? It is YOU and the other poor bishops of the world who have led us to this state. You are hardly qualified to talk on prolife matters!
Published by: VJM
OH/USA 09/07/2009 11:24 AM EST
For those that don't want to bother reading this windy rant, it can easily be summarized:
1. Think what you want, as long as you spend other people's money to "take care of" the poor
2. Vote as you like, as long as you're "inclusive"
3. Behave as you want, as long as you're non-judgmental of others
But, we can simplify it even more! Executive summary of Bishop Morlino's words:
Do whatever the heck you like, as long as you're a liberal!
And, if anyone dares to question this, then Bishop Morlino says you're a Sinner! Woa! He got out the "S" word! Can you believe a liberal Bishop actually used the "S" word? But of course, doesn't apply it to a baby-killing, family-killing, culture of death supporting politician. No,No,No, he only brings it out of the "bad word vault" to apply to those that question the "Lion of the Senate".
Published by: ellen
madison,WI 09/07/2009 11:24 AM EST
Great Article Bishop Morlino on our CHURCH'S Stance on Divine Mercy, and we are ALL in need of CHRIST'S Mercy.
I have also read a great article by Father EUTENEUR(HUMAN LIFE INTERNATIONAL),and he warned about Eulogizing a PUBLIC FIGURE - even though sincerely misled by some of the heirarchy. We have a CANCEROUS EVIL - regarding the Sanctity of life, and Planned Parenthood has become so Powerful. Pro Lifers are considered the VILLIANS, and if we aren't awakened from our Slumber, our future CHILDREN will have much to Suffer. I mentioned to a Retreat Master that "I felt so HEPLESS in TODAY's SOCIETY, and he responded: "That's when you turn to GOD" We need to be on our KNEES IN PRAYER! Mother Mary - PRAY for US!
Published by: Dawn Wells
Racine, Wisconsin USA 09/07/2009 11:21 AM EST
Didn't Jesus say, "By their fruit, ye shall know them!" AKA by their actions, you will know where they stand....Ted Kennedy's voting record was 100% pro-abortion, even supporting the dreaded "Partial X abortion procedure, right up to the time of delivery! He was so pro-abortion that NARAL gave him, bestowed to him a 100% rating! Kennedy NEVER "walked the faith", INSTEAD, he was a "great talker!" Never once did he PUBLICLY defend his "Catholic Faith." Never once did HE publicly admit his guilt in Chappadiwick! He had ALL the money needed to purchase his verdict of "innocence." Any normal Joe Blow would have been given a "Guilty" degree for waiting 19 hours before contacting the Police! But not Ted Kennedy! When it comes to MONEY, POWER, and INFLUENCE Justice is VERY, VERY BLIND!
You can tell "THAT PRIEST" what and where he can DO with his condemnation of those who do NOT support his eulogy of Ted Kennedy! Ted Kennedy was for Ted Kennedy and nothing less! I did NOT believe in supporting Ted Kennedy while he was alive because he did NOT support the rights of the unborn as a representative of the people! SO....while should I support this man with kind works while he died! Ted Kennedy ONLY talked HIS Faith.....AND that was nothing less than being a HYPOCRITE! And that Priest is nothing short of being a hypocrite in bypassing his liberal record of voting down every pro-life piece of legislation!
Published by: Francis Butler
Church Point, LA, USA 09/07/2009 11:19 AM EST
Dear Bishop, the scandal is not whether or not Kennedy is in heaven or hell, but rather that a funeral can be used for political purposes - to promote a "health" plan that will pay for more,not less, abortions. Kenney could have had a Mass in a small Church without all the media, etc.
The fact that Kennedy was misled by some liberal Catholic priests forty years ago really does not justify his lifelong commitment to killing babies. Kenney could read and watch statements coming from the Vatican over the years stating clearly the evil nature of abortion...he apparently closed his eyes to the light of the Gospel of love and chose to further the culture of death...I hate to think he may be spending eternity looking into the eyes of the millions of babies his legislation caused to die. God have mercy on his soul. Hopefully other Catholic politicians - Biden, Kerry, Pelosi, etc. will wake up and "smell the coffee". Finally, Where was his Bishop over the past 50 years trying to enlighten is conscience???? I do think many Catholics are scandalized and disappointed at the lack of leadership frm so many Bishops. You have our prayers. Amen
Published by: R. Duhon
Crowley, LA USA 09/07/2009 11:17 AM EST
Bishop Morlino is right in saying that
Senator Kennedy needed a funeral; however,
it should have been an untelevised private funeral.
In the public Funeral, it seemed that all of the
Priests and Bishops made Mr Kennedy a Saint.
Mr. Kennedy, I hope enjoyed God's
Mercy at his judgement. However,
this was a man that promoted Abortion and a Gay lifestyle. He gave
abortion ideas to the pro-abortion President
Obama.
It seems that the Catholic Church
seems to say that rich people can
get away with any type of
horrible sin like promoting abortion,
but regular poor lay people have to avoid
this horrible sin of Murder of the unborn.
Published by: Mary Kay
Port Angeles,WA 09/07/2009 11:01 AM EST
It would be sinful to "enjoy" the thought of anyone being in hell.Obviously, such a person is not concerned enough with their own salvation. The Apostle's were afraid of their own salvation we are not fearful enough.Bishops should remember who their boss is, Jesus, and they will answer to Him. Bishops should not be fearful to support life, in public.
Sometimes it is uncomfortable standing up for the unborn but standing up for the truth was what Jesus was all about. Sen. Kennedy was given a pass in the public square by many priests and his Bishop.
I pray for the Senators soul and his family. I hope he repented and has a chance for heaven.
Published by: Frank J Kaiser
Oakdale, CA USA 09/07/2009 10:58 AM EST
With all due respect from a daily Mass attendee and a Roman Catholic very knowledgeable in my faith I offer that this Bishop is full of horse manure. He and his other liberal Bishop brothers are the reason for the sparsely populated pews on Sundays. God forgive them I pray.
Published by: Mary Ann Kreitzer
Woodstock, VA 09/07/2009 10:48 AM EST
Subdued? Die we see the same funeral?
I agree with Bishop Morlino that it is wrong to wish someone in hell or enjoy the thought of it.
But it is also sinful to create a scandal leading people to believe that it is perfectly fine for someone to support abortion, sodomy, same-sex marriage, etc. while hypocritically professing to believe in the fundamentals of the faith.
As for the meeting of theologians. Articles I have read express the belief that the purpose of the meeting was to develop the rationale to allow politicians to use the moral sophism of, "As a Catholic I'm personally opposed to abortion, but..."
The fact that two "theologians" included in the meeting were Fr. Charlie Curran and Fr. Robert Drinan say it all. They appear to have been chosen for the same reason contracepting Catholics go priest-hopping to find a confessor who will say, "Follow your own conscience."
Published by: don miller
coatesville, pa 09/07/2009 10:45 AM EST
That seamless garment trash has been discredited by true pro-lifers years ago. The Cardinal Bernardin first started it and he was weak on pro life, especially abortion.
Published by: Jacques
Marseille 09/07/2009 10:44 AM EST
Nobody finds joy in the damnation of a man. The one who does is Satan himself.
I don't understand that Bp Morlino said he was afraid that "for not a few Catholics, the funeral rites for Senator Kennedy were a source of scandal— that is, quite literally, led them into sin", since objectively they were scandalized. Where does the catechism of RCC teach that being scandalized is a sin?
Being scandalized means that there is scandal somewhere.
"Woe to the man by whom the scandal happens"
Does the scandal happen by those who are scandalized? That's odd rethoric!
The exact sequence in the case of Ted K. is:
1/ He supported abortion since years and was excommunicated "ipso facto latae sententiae"
3/ Being excommunicated, he couldn't be buried with the funeral rites of the RCC.
4/ He had to make a public retractation of his stance to see the excomm. lifted
5/ Possibly he did that on his deathbed, we will neve know. Only his confessor knows.
6/ In that case he could get the catholic funerals. But it was an utmost undecency that a number of priests, bishops and cardinals concelebrated the funeral mass. Only one priest was enough in order for the Church to show a minimum disapprobation.
The very scandal is that a number of catholic faithfuls cannot have at least a funeral benediction in some remote parishes due to the priests shortage while Senator Kennedy had a concelebrated mass.
Published by: stephen
ri/usa 09/07/2009 10:35 AM EST
do you bishop believe that it just might have been other motives that caused mr. kennedy to support abortion and that whole immoral life style.such as the sexual sins he confessed to and the drinking and partying,power,money,worldly fame ect.no what he needed was a personel conversion to jesus,the lord said you shall know my followers by their fruit.hopefully ted converted on his death bed.the catholic religion is not about trying to be good, it is accepting jesus and living for him and then goodness will come,because of his grace,remember the state of grace,freindship with god.no one is ignorant of the churches teaching on abortion,she has gone out of her way to make it clear to all.when so called catholic political figures support abortion they incur an automatic excomunication, was this lifted by his bishop,we have the right to know,public sin public repentance.this type of thing scandalizes good catholics who try to live a holy life.
Published by: Monica Edith
TX- USA 09/07/2009 10:19 AM EST
The question I respectfully ask the Bishop is, "If Ted Kennedy was the cause of scandal by his high profile, anti-life Public positions, causing other Catholics to fall, or abortions to be obtained, doesn't the scandal continue after Kennedy's death, since he did not Publicly recant? I can't see how the scandal would be removed by a private confession. Wouldn't the temporal effects of him sin remain if others are still following his lead into sin?
I'm doing my best to obtain a plenary indulgence on Mr. Kennedy's behalf, and for the whole world. I believe this can aid in the removal of temporal effects of his sin. I invite others to do the same.
I'd also appreciate any of the Bishops answering my question. Thank you.
Published by: Paul L. Kozlowski
Dearborn, Michigan, USA 09/07/2009 10:18 AM EST
TPlease forward the below e mail to Bishop Morlino:
Dear Bishop,
After rereading the article, "Some reacted sinfully to Kennedy's Catholic burial...", some obvious questions come to mind. First, to make a quantum leap and say that some Catholics "enjoy the thought that someone might be in hell", is rash judgement. How does one know if one "enjoys" this thought? Some Catholics (probably many) that believe that this funeral was not only a scandal, but also a mockery of our Faith, entertain thoughts of joy? Senator Kennedy MAY BE in hell (maybe he is not, I do not judge his soul). Second, what are the parameters for granting a Catholic Funeral. It appears very likely that not only according to many Vatican and most other respected Catholic theologians that this criteria was not even close to being met. Third, it is inconclusive to conclude that Mr. Kennedy did in fact repent for his part in promoting the silent holocaust & same sex unions among other ideas contrary to the Catholic Faith, besides his second marriage by Archbishop Tutu. These are basic no brainers.
I would like to conclude that if a person was a serial pedophile or a promoter of mass murder yet also a public figure, would you grant the same funeral? The question is: was it appropriate and would scandal be involved if such a Catholic funeral should be granted?
Paul, Cathy, & baby Michael Kozlowski (my son, who lives - a survivor of the silent holocaust).
Published by: Joseph Wagner
Sarasota Fl. 34238 USA 09/07/2009 09:52 AM EST
Hi
I am in agreement with the Bishop I believe Senator Kennedy will receive God's Mercy and will be in heaven.
Joseph Wagner Sr.
Published by: K. Schroeder
Kansas City KS 09/07/2009 09:50 AM EST
Bishop Morlino, Of course God's name is Mercy but when one professes and publicly promotes abortion as the late Sen Kennedy did, there is an obligation to publicly to correct that stand and to state abortion is intrinsically evil.
We never never heard that from Sen. Kennedy. Surely, in the past 40 years he was advised of the truth!!
Published by: Bill Donahue
Danville, IL 09/07/2009 09:38 AM EST
Amen.
Published by: ann
pa 09/07/2009 09:21 AM EST
what's truly sinful is the way so many liberal priests & bishops in this once great nation are more concerned about their reputation,money,trying so hard to fit in with secular society, instead of living lives pleasing in the Eyes of God-not men & being too cowardly to stand for TRUTH. Of course we prayed for ted! I'm sure he's suffering now & has met all the unborn that he & his legislation helped to kill. WE continually pray for his soul and all deceased souls. He should not have been remembered as a saint or a patriot. He is neither. The hypocrisy! There were more unknown people praying for his soul than all those that attened his funeral who were there only because of money and politics. You priests & bishops will have much to answer for-to whom much is given much is expected.
Published by: Stella
Austin, Tx, USA 09/07/2009 09:08 AM EST
I agree with most of Bishop Morlino's statement. However, part of the problem that a majority of the bishops have with the pro-life movement is their watered down defense. Yes. We don't know what Sen. Kennedy did as he prepared to face eternity. Yes. We agree that God's mercy is endless and no sin is too great to receive His forgiveness and we pray that Sen. Kennedy will receive his just reward. But what I think most Roman Catholics who are more faithful to the Holy Father and the teachings of the Magisterium are upset about is that, surely knowing the damage he did in his staunch opposition to defense of the the most defenseless, Sen. Kennedy could not find it in his heart, even facing eternity, to reject his most scandalous political positions against life. His private behavior is private. We cannot assume that he "convened some theologians" who gave him bad advice for what he surely came to see was in direct opposition to what was being proclaimed loud and clear by both John Paul the Great and now Benedict XVI. Defend Life! If Kennedy loved his Faith as some would have us believe, we have to ask ourselves why he chose to turn a deaf ear and adhere to what he surely knew now was bad advice he would have rejected it and changed his position no matter what the political cost.
Published by: Michael
Pittsfield, MA 09/07/2009 09:08 AM EST
Obviously, the very convening of this meeting showed that he took his Catholicism seriously ..........REALLY.
The good Bishop? must be on a the New Age/New Religion Planet....Ted Kennedy was - what is clearly defined and ruled by the True Catholic Church - as a Public Sinner.....the Church requires a Public Sinner (he sins of voting for the killing of the innocent and anti-family bills) to notify and announce in Public that he has recanted his publice views on abortion etc. Confession to a priest is not the only requirement...All the so called catholics he has led to perdition with his support of abortion etc. The good bishop??? should brush up on his Catholic Faith and studies..another example of the Vatican II Novus Ordo wishy washy faith
Published by: Harold Crews
Columbia, South Carolina 09/07/2009 09:01 AM EST
With all respect due to his Excellency it is rather obvious that some people who objected to Ted Kennedy's Catholic funeral were sinning. But it is also rather obvious that some people who favoured his Catholic funeral were themselves also sinning. Whenever there is a large number of people who favour or oppose anything it is certain that some do so for improper reasons.
Additionally I do not agree that Kennedy benefited the poor and downtrodden in society at least overall. You are not helping people when you encourage their dependency on government and sense of being a victim. This is particularly the case when you are politically benefiting by buying political support out of tax dollars or public debt. Especially when his career in the Senate consisted of otherwise opposing Church teaching. Let us not confuse actual charity which involves personal sacrifice and rent seeking.
Published by: Laurie
Canada 09/07/2009 08:57 AM EST
There is a problem with balance when dealing with this issue.
There are those who just take mercy for granted as the antidote for all sin, and there are those who might be full of contempt and find satisfaction to believe that a sinner has been sent to hell. These two extremes are sinful. One is presumption of being excused without due repentance and reparation,and the other is human judgement. Both extremes lack humility.
I think the analogy Bishop Morlino makes of the "seamless garmet" for the Church's pro-life stance is brilliant. This is as clear as it gets to explain that pro-life is not just a "single issue" but woven into the whole of a cultural view.
I am afraid I cannot accept the excuse of being led astray by ambiguous teaching from theologians when it comes to the fundamental life issues.
I can site the words of Paul to Timothy, (2 Tim 4:3)"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths."
The other is Matthew 15:14 when Jesus was addressing some Pharisees offended by His teaching. "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides; And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
Lastly, if there was a confession, surely a public statement of admission of error could and should have been made.
Published by: Isabelle
Alabama USA 09/07/2009 08:55 AM EST
Kennedy led the charge against Jesus in the least of His Brethren. As the fate of millions of innocent and defenseless children stood before him, he condemned them to torture and to death.
The killing of billions of God's children throughout the world, Bishop, is not a mere "misdeed" but a crime against humanity and the killing of Jesus in the least.
Even in his letter to the Holy Father,there was not the least sign of repentance. It merely expressed the self proclaimed glories of himself while the condemnation of Jesus continued in his name.
He should never have been permitted a public Catholic Funeral. He lived as if God did not exist, condemned Jesus to death in the least and will be remembered always as another Pilate who knowingly and publicly condemned our Lord while trying to wash off the blood from his hands.
The blood remained!
As for who sinned, I'm afraid as usual, it was the Bishops who did nothing in the face of human slaughter and who sided with the enemies of Jesus Christ, letting him be betrayed, condemned, tortured and put to death so that they might be comfortable living in the world.
The Church was born to fight and not to accommodate evil. Where were the Senators scars? Where are yours?
"The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of Bishops". (St. John Christendom.)
Published by: Joseph
Pennsylvania 09/07/2009 08:53 AM EST
His Excellency is very correct in saying "no one should rejoice at the thought of someone being in hell". However, this most public of funerals, with not one but two "Princes of the Church", i.e. Cardinals, is astounding.(Not to mention having the most radical President ever speak)
Perhaps Senator Kennedy repented in his last days, and we can certainly hope so, but his sins were very public and needed a public retraction from him to prevent scandal.
No one is rejecting "mercy", as the bishop claims,but rather we acknowledge the God who delivers Mercy also delivers Judgement and Justice.I personally pray for mercy from God, not Cardinal O'Malley or any bishop.
Someone who was a "cafeteria Catholic" like Kennedy, could have been and should have been buried, without all the pomp and circumstance that was afforded him.
One final point, isn't it sad that this Bishop writes condemning those who were scandalized but does speak out against those who cause the scandal in the first place? It is also ironic that Bishop Joseph Martino (Scranton) retires for health reasons after he is viciously attacked for promoting Church teaching but Morlino and his ilk are seemingly everywhere? As sad as it is to say, as Bishops such as Morlino "face their own mortality" we will be rid of those who enable Catholics to flaunt Church teaching from receiving honors for those who actually lived their Catholic Faith and not just used it as a crutch when convenient!
Published by: Marcie
Fond du Lac, WI USA 09/07/2009 08:51 AM EST
Here we go again with more hypocrisy and distortion form the Catholic Church. I believe the anger and criticism has been directed at the Church and their hypocrisy for giving such honor and adulation to one person who stridently and brazenly worked against basic Catholic beliefs. To accuse those who were offended by the grand spectacle of partaking in sinful behavior is a really childish attempt at deflecting the shame to someone else. It won't work with me. I say now double shame on the Church and its bishops. No one wants to think of another in hell, and mercy is always something we hope for, but why such a lavish and over the top service? Even Christ didn’t have such pageantry when they took him down from the cross and laid him in the tomb. Wouldn’t a simple humble funeral with one priest officiating have been enough? Maybe the church was displaying its lack of faith by requiring seven priests to plea Kennedy’s case to God?
Published by: Rev. Peter R. Riani
Elizabethtown, NY USA 09/07/2009 08:46 AM EST
Bless Bishop Morlino!
Published by: Lisa A.
Westfield, MA, USA 09/07/2009 08:42 AM EST
Thank you so much for publishing this! As a Catholic and much more conservative resident of the Commonwealth than most of my neighbors, I was certainly no big fan of Mr. Kennedy, but on hearing of his passing, I must humbly say my first thought was to pray for the repose of his soul. I was shocked at the vehemence of the reactions of many. I was very comforted to hear that he had a priest at his side when he passed. Thank you for this reminder that we are all sinners, Christ's blood was spilled for us all, we are all far from perfect, and we are all in need of Christ's mercy. St. Joseph, patron of a holy death, pray for us all!
Published by: Bernie
Sudbury, ON, Canada 09/07/2009 08:40 AM EST
Good artical, and very accurate. The way I understand this situation is that Ted Kennedy should have been given a private funreal mass, not a public one. If he had been denied a public mass, this would serve to send a message to other "catholic" politicians. The church had an opertunity to send a message. No one should be denied the sacrements, or a funreal mass, not even TED. In my opinion, the public mass was the church endorcing Ted Kennedy's political views.
Published by: Louie Verrecchio
Hampstead 09/07/2009 08:24 AM EST
I have high regard for Bishop Morlino, but this is disappointing. Surely the bishop simply intends to foster compassion for Kennedy, a sinner who needs prayers of mercy in death just like we will one day.
Yet, he goes way too far here. He says, "it could at least be said that there was some ground for confusion" regarding Kennedy's position on abortion based upon the opinions of a collection of renegade theologians.
Let's be honest; the Church's position is anything but not ambiguous. Anyone that takes a contrary position does so knowing full well they are opposing Holy Mother Church. This would include every dissenting theologian and priest that Kennedy assembled and then some. It ain't that complicated folks.
Bishop Morlino unintentionally confirmed those who "shop" for priests and bishops that will tell them it's OK to contracept, it's OK to divorce and remarry outside the Church and take Holy Communion, etc...
Foster compassion, Bishop Morlino, yes, but please don't make excuses for Kennedy's unconscionable failure to heed the clear teaching of the Church.
Published by: Marie Tremblay
Chesterfield, NH USA 09/07/2009 08:07 AM EST
The Bishop's statement is highly inadequate for it fails to address the scandalous nature of a public funeral Mass for a pro-abortion politician whose personal lifestyle was also a scandal.
I prefer Fr. Euteneuer's words which are far more balanced and do not reflect a political agenda. The President of Human Life International said (in part):
"We must, as a matter of precept, pray for the salvation of heretical Catholics like Senator Edward Kennedy, but we do not have to praise him let alone extol him with the full honors of a public Catholic funeral and all the adulation that attends such an event. There was very little about Ted Kennedy's life that deserves admiration from a spiritual or moral point of view. He was probably the worst example of a Catholic statesman that one can think of. When all is said and done, he has distorted the concept of what it means to be a Catholic in public life more than anyone else in leadership today."
I don't think Bishop Morlino fully understands this. And that too is a scandal.
Published by: Calogero
New Castle 09/07/2009 07:57 AM EST
I wonder if Kennedy was a racist and part of the KKK would that had made a difference?
Published by: Ted
New Jersey 09/07/2009 07:44 AM EST
I don't believe that there were any people who thought Ted Kennedy should not have a funeral mass - I rather know that the vast majority of disagreement was concerning the pomp and tributes read aloud during the mass that were seen by millions of americans on tv. The tributes touted Ted Kennedy as a hero and wonderful person. There is no place in a funeral for these types of speeches. It should have rather been a completely spiritual focused funeral mass. Ted Kennedy was a terrible example of a Catholic who never publically renounced all of his Anti-life or pro-homosexual stances so it is a scandal that so many in the clergy were there seemingly to glorify and cannoize this man. The focus should have been on the Mercy of Jesus Christ. Instead it was a tribute to this man and simply gives the impression that the Catholic Church is and was squarely behind him.
Published by: Tony
Denmark, WI, USA 09/07/2009 07:11 AM EST
Kudos to Bishop Morlino. All Catholics would do well to remember that God is our Judge. Instead of condemning a dead man, we are called to pray for his immortal soul.
Published by: Matt H.
Gainesville, FL 09/07/2009 07:08 AM EST
Bishop Morlino's defense of Kennedy is predicated on the "seamless garment" argument. The "seamless garment" argument is a heresy of the Church.
The “seamless garment” is what Cardinal Bernadin called a “multi-issue approach to public morality”. The basis of his misguided theory of a “consistent ethic of life” is a systemic vision rejecting the preeminence of one issue in favor of an “explicit connection among the several issues”, by joining “the humanity of the unborn infant and the humanity of the hungry; it calls for positive legal action to prevent the killing of the unborn or the aged and positive societal action to provide shelter for the homeless and education for the illiterate”. You get the picture; his theory was an affront to Catholic moral theology. Only God knows the fetal death toll resulting from it. Someday, history will place it right along side another great argument perpetuating legal abortion: Governor Cuomo’s statement that, as a Catholic, he personally was opposed to abortion, but that he would never impose his personal views on his constituents.
Every pro-life advocate understands Bernadin’s article (and Bishop Morlino's apology) for what it is: a nuanced theological justification excusing Catholics from moral culpability when voting for pro-abortion Democratic politicians. To this day, when Catholics vote for pro-abortion politicians (or bishops seek to defend them), it is predicated on Bernadin’s “seamless garment” argument.
Published by: Robert
NY 09/06/2009 11:08 PM EST
It is very true that it is exceedingly sinful to take joy that someone is in Hell and yes we are not privy as to the exact state or Mr Kennedy's soul at death.
However, from what has been mentioned there is no indication of a real repentance upon his part. Yes there is an acknowledgement of human failings as well as a long enumeration of his accomplishments. Yet human failings do not necessarily equate with sin. There is no ackowledgement of serious sin or guilt. They are evidently lacking. The letter is reminiscent of the Pharisee telling God how much he has done rather than an acknowledgement of sin. Remember he was a consumate politician who was many things to many people. His letter is also intended to be so.
The emotions of those upset are very understandable and in fact justified so long as they do not become excessive. It ill behooves the bishops to speak very positively of a life that had such grave flaws and yes sin. It would be more truthful to give the proper place to the the acts of promoting murder and other offenses against Natural Law rather than minimizing their importance or nature by inordinately emphasizing the little good he did do. To do otherwise is scandalous and deceptive.
As far as him not going to Hell it is possible but given the depths of sin and his perserverance in it without any substantial signs of repentance it is highly unlikely.I hope he didn't since God loved him very much though he gave very little evidence of any regard for God
Published by: Jake
Cleveland, OH 09/06/2009 10:53 PM EST
I notice the priests and theologians were singled out for leading Ted astray. Where were the bishops these many years. The mark of the sheppard is the crook. It's meant to reach out and grab sheep by the neck, and pull them out of danger.
Why doesn't a public scandal such as Ted created require a public refutation of one's former ways/beliefs as part of a valid confession.
I hope one can recognize the effects of on-going scandal on the faithful.
Published by: Nicholas Beck
Savage, MD 09/06/2009 10:28 PM EST
While the bishop makes some very good points about not presupposing one's judgment, it befuddles me that he could even remotely construe Mr. Kennedy's funeral as "subdued." There was nothing subdued about the funeral, and that is the source of the current controversy. It was a politicized spectacle, which was not even in conformity with the CCC, let alone basic standards of decency.
Published by: Patrick Minnis
Yorktown, VA USA 09/06/2009 09:28 PM EST
I pray that Sen. Kennedy receives the Lord's mercy, but I remain scandalized by church leaders who ignore a fundamental church teaching and by their actions tell the world that "the right to life" and support of it in the public square are optional for Catholics. Did any of the priests surrounding Teddy advise him to disavow his long-held public views on abortion? And why is that those who promote legislation to forcefully take money from citizens and redistribute it thru a corrupt & inefficient system are any more for the poor than those who are pro-life & willfully give their own money to charities that work efficiently for the poor with love as a motivation? There is many ways to help the poor. There is only one way to save the unborn. End abortion.
Published by: carl
charlotte, nc 09/06/2009 09:04 PM EST
the ted kennedy affair has really made me question whether or not i want to continue being Catholic. why should i bother trying to live according to the church's teachings, when the general consensus among the church's leadership, and most of the "faithful", is that it just doesn't matter?
Published by: Randy Lilly
Ironton/Ohio/USA 09/06/2009 07:27 PM EST
How you can claim to be Catholic - but continually in life in word and deed take part in the killing of innocent children. I pray for God's mercy on Ted Kennedy. The bigger scandal is how people claim to be Catholic and in word and deed support abortion, and the church continues to enable them. Maybe Ted Kennedy is right and it is a choice that Catholics can make? Or will the church be held responsible for enabling such a lie? People are excommunicated for many lesser reasons. In word and deed - take part in maintaining the laws that kill 4,000 babies a day (not to mention the babies created and destroyed for stem cell research) and confusing Catholics all over the world and you can continue to take the Eucharist and you will get a Catholic burial, all acceptable by the church. May God have mercy on His Church. That is more confusion, not mercy. Jesus didn't tell both theives crucified with him that they would be in his kingdom on that day. Why? If Ted Kennedy confessed his sin, God forgave him. God is faithful and just. However, in all of Ted Kennedy's end of life statements/planning there was nothing about his repentence for the evil he unleashed on this world - creating again the scandal that it is okay to be Catholic and participate in the killing of innocent children in word and deed.
Published by: Lynn
Carbondale, IL 09/06/2009 07:16 PM EST
Which is more scandalous; Ted Kennedy's continued obstinant behavior as a public servant of the American people over a 30 year period, regardless of his bad theological counsel, through which his legacy is leading others to sin by following his example & assuming it OK by the Church because he forged the way??...or that the Church leaders did little to make it crystal clear in a unified voice that he was inviolation of Church Teaching? I guess after the massive dissent of priests & theologians on Humanae Vite, nobody takes correction by the Bishops seriously.
No, we should not wish Hell for our lost Christian brother and yes his false counsel are in large part to blame, but the Catechism calls for a public apology of the repentant public servant (politician) as a show of good will as to his re-conversion. Ted had time to try to finagle his empty Senate seat, which method was ethically questionable, but no apology to his Catholic brothers & sisters about his obstinate stance on abortion that he must have known is in the present Health Ins. Bill--the culmination of his life's work.
Scandal can lead to sin or to prayer: I chose to pray in reparation for the sacrileges being committed against our Lord's most merciful & Sacred Heart by the Catholics that participated in his funeral Mass. It is the disciple's responsibility to seek Truth in the Church which is proclaimed everyday by the Pope and daily Scripture. How did they miss it?
Published by: Get Smart
Philadelphia 09/06/2009 06:04 PM EST
I'll go a step further. Today, Bishop Marlino has demonstrated that he is not fit to be a Bishop--and has risked losing his soul by championing a scandal within the American Catholic Church.
He condemns faithful, pro-life Catholics
but says nothing about the heresy of the too numerous pro-abortion Catholic politicians throughout our land.
A Bishop has a even greater responsibility than a Catholic politician to promote the Sanctity of
Human Life--and will be judged accordingly.
Bishop Marlino's seamless garment will not shield him in the afterlife--where
God's justice will prevail.
Published by: Kevin
Rockford 09/06/2009 05:33 PM EST
Sen. Kennedy worked for 35 years to kill unborn children and then receives a grand funeral with the most pro-abortion president in American history speaking in a Catholic Church.
Now the pro-lifers are the sinners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW - No wonder abortion reigns in our land
Published by: Radomysl Twardowski
Bismarck, ND, USA 09/06/2009 04:43 PM EST
The problem is that a great majority of priests and bishops and theologians in America (?80-90%) are card-carrying democrats and generally their sympathizers on the left. Try to square the circle. "You cannot serve two masters". Of course any judgments as to where the deceased person's soul is headed are not our business.
Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 09/06/2009 03:27 PM EST
Bishop Morlino is accusing Catholics who do not approve of the splashy funeral that they are happy to see kennedy in Hell: Why doesn't Bp Morlino consider that we are not happy about that, but angry that kennedy is being used to continue to scandalize the Church? Too many bishops covered up for the pedophiles and homosexuals and now they want to cover up for the abortionists. Who here, Bp Morlino, is the sinful one? Or do you think that this time the bishops can get away with it because there are no victims who can sue them?
Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 09/06/2009 03:21 PM EST
If ted kennedy had made a good confession, then he forgot about the part where he has scandalized the public, by not having the priest inform the public of his recantation of his heinous evil.
If ted kennedy had done the right thing at his last moment with a priest, then Bishop Morlino would not have to use a lot of rhetorical speculation and requests for blind trust to make the point.
Let us see if Bp Morlino can convince the Pope of his view?
Published by: David Werling
South Bend/Indiana/USA 09/06/2009 02:58 PM EST
The un-catholic thinking of Bernardine rears its ugly head again. Will the "seamless garment" garbage ever die?
Will all due respect to H.E., Morlino is yet another Catholic bishop with his head in the sand, willing to go to extraordinary lengths to vindicate the Teddy Kennedy. He goes so far as to completely misrepresent the facts. As everyone knows the famous Kennedy theological colloquium was by no stretch of the imagination an effort to arrive at the truth. Just a cursory review of the "Catholic" theologians invited reveals not an effort to find truth, but an effort to justify a politically convenient position on abortion that would serve the Kennedys as prominent members of the Democratic Party's inner workings. It is over the top for H.E., Morlino, to insinuate that Teddy didn't know any better based on this "catechism", but I will give Morlino this much: the lack of a strong stand on social issues, obviously caused by the same political expediency that brought us Bernardine's seamless garment garbage, certainly has caused more than enough confusion in the American Church.
Bishop Morlino is a good bishop as far as I'm aware. However, he is still in that mindset that seeks to ally the bishops with the Democratic Party. It's time for Morlino to realize that the old political affiliation of the bishops with the Democratic Party and liberalism isn't being swallowed by Catholics who are serious about their faith.
The Bernardine days are over.
Published by: Michael Murimi
San Antonio, TX 09/06/2009 01:42 PM EST
Ted Kennedy deserved mercy no less than the bishops and priests who either abused or ignored the abuse of Jesus' little ones. Bishop Morlino is correct to say that nobody has the right to condemn. Unfortunately, many self-righteous people, I am afraid to call them Christians, have somehow assumed the role to condemn others. I wonder what God would say to them.
Published by: Ted Vallery
Conroe, TX. 09/06/2009 01:37 PM EST
Senator Kennedy will be held accountable for his participation in aiding the "poor" women in our society to have legal abortions. Bishop Morlino, please forgive me if I express my feelings that there is ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION for excusing one's self in the name of compassion for helping a woman who will have her child murdered because you happened to find some wretched, blasphemous theologians to tickle your ear. My prayer for Senator Kennedy is to be granted mercy, the same mercy that I wish the Senator would have given to the most needy of protection in our society, the conceived but not yet born. The Senator's fate is in the hands of the Father of the unborn and the Father of us all. Blessed be His Holy Name!
Published by: Robert Lockwood
Lafayete, CA 09/06/2009 12:36 PM EST
Here is the problem with our Bishop's and their theology. Senator Kennedy is responsible for millions of unborn being killed in the woumb and millions to come. All he had to do was live, preach, and legislate in accordance with Catholic teaching. This he did not and to honor him is in error.
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