On the funeral of Ted Kennedy - Public Sin Calls for Public Repentence by Gary L. Morella

Right to Life - Environment

Final Thoughts on the Funeral of Ted Kennedy

Public Sin Calls for Public Repentance
Gary L. Morella

When you get right down to it, no one knows whether Edward Moore Kennedy died a repentant Catholic except his Just Judge. But we all know by his actions in this life that he could never be convicted of being a Catholic, but well deserved the title of apostate who repeatedly flouted Church teaching on Faith and Morals. For example, Ted Kennedy couldn't have cared less about the Fifth Commandment – Thou shalt not kill – of a faith that he publicly repudiated by his actions as Senator.

The Devil's hero Ted Kennedy's pro-baby killing record can be found at this link. What you find there are the plain facts about Kennedy ‘s voting record:

Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion.
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.
Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions.
Voted NO on banning human cloning.
Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims.

And the list goes on. In the end, Kennedy scores 0% by the NRLC (National Right to Life Committee) on abortion issues.

Fr. Mark Hession: Edward Kennedy was a wonderful Catholic and is already in Heaven, above.
The same pulpit was given to pro-abortion Obama to praise his "mentor," below.
Barack Obama speaking from a pulpit

The momentous scope of Ted Kennedy's public scandal demanded public reparation - which he did not make, even though God gave him numerous chances as Kennedy was staring at his certain death and, then, his eternity.

In the pre-Vatican II Church it was clearly understood that public sin requires public reparation. Why weren’t the Senator’s priests telling him this – not only at his death approached but throughout his life? One can’t help but wonder if, in fact, Kennedy ever made a good confession at the end, which cannot occur without a firm purpose of amendment.

Should we simply take the word of a priest who tells us that Kennedy made amends for everything at the end and was “at peace” with himself? If he came to that peace by way of sorrow for his public promotion of abortion and homosexuality, then why wasn’t that astounding news announced to the press? Why wasn’t this necessary public repentance for Kennedy’s very public sins with their heinous widespread effects throughout American society shouted from the rooftops of the Catholic Church? Then there could have been rejoicing at the fact that he was no longer cut off from God’s Mercy - which is meaningless without God’s Justice.

If he repented, as is claimed by the priest who last saw and confessed him, why didn’t the Church fulfill its duty to let the world know that fact so that the public would know that Kennedy did not die still upholding his unconditional public support for killing, sodomy, and the entirety of the culture-of-eternal death that he formally and shamelessly championed?

Sadly, to believe that Kennedy truly repented at the end for the considerable evil he did throughout his life demands a real leap of faith. And even if that were the case, we shouldn’t have to accept this on faith alone. That's not enough - for the very good reasons given below by the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, in The Summa. He makes it very clear in Question 28 that public penance is necessary for public sins in order to give an edifying example of repentance for others.

Article 1. Whether a penance should be published or solemnized?

Penance is a sacrament. Now some kind of solemnity is observed in every sacrament. Therefore there should be some solemnity in penance.

Further, the medicine should suit the disease. Now a sin is sometimes public, and by its example draws many to sin. Therefore the penance which is its medicine should also be public and solemn so as to give edification to many.

Some penances should be public and solemn for four reasons. First, so that a public sin may have a public remedy; secondly, because he who has committed a very grave crime deserves the greatest confusion even in this life; thirdly, in order that it may deter others; fourthly, that he may be an example of repentance, lest those should despair, who have committed grievous sins.

The traditional Catholic bottom line in the pre-Vatican II Church was this.

Ted Kennedy should have been asked to make public penance by the priest at the end of his life if, in fact, he repented of his grave sins of promoting baby killing and homosexuality. This needed to happen because the effect of Kennedy's grave public sins on our country was so immense that these sins cried out to Heaven for public reparation!

If, in fact, he would have renounced his former work for the Devil, that renouncement needed to have been made public by the Church BEFORE giving Edward Kennedy a Catholic funeral, which otherwise he wouldn’t deserve. Even then, he still would not deserve a public Catholic burial, but rather a very quiet one.

The fact the Church demanded no public reparation and eulogized Edward Kennedy as one who is now enjoying eternal happiness in Heaven was even more scandalous than what Kennedy did.

Share

Follow us

Posted August 31, 2009

Related Topics of Interest

   What Is To Blame for the Demographic Catastrophe?

  'Nine Frozen Little Ones Hanging Out'

   Vatican II Inverted the Ends of Matrimony

   The Holy See Abandons its Pro-Life Position

   The Fallacy of Roe Vs Wade

  Ratzinger against Public Sanctions on Abortionists

  The Confused 'Clear Teaching' of the Bishops

  Ratzinger Flip Flops on Communion for Pro-Abortion Politicians

Related Works of Interest