Re: Cardinal Lashes out at Angry Pro-Lifers, Soft-Pedals Criticism of Kennedy Abortion Support
I think the good Cardinal needs to be reminded of the cross. Christ's passion was a result of challenging the leaders of the day for their moral failings. Where are the Thomas Becketts, John Fischers and Thomas Mores these days?
Eric Moles
Ontario, Canada
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Dear Cardinal Sean Patrick O,Malley,
“For nearly half a century, Senator Kennedy was often a champion for the poor, the less fortunate and those seeking a better life. Across Massachusetts and the nation, his legacy will be carried on through the lives of those he served.”
I quote you from your blog, Your Eminence. Not just as Catholics, but the human condition during a time of mourning, extends a halo or almost sainthood on the departed. We want to hear the good things. That is a natural and comforting reaction for loved ones and admirers. But as a leader how could you not quell the public scandal by at least being yourself a witness of the Truth?
I grant you the noteworthy concession of not being the main celebrant at Senator Kennedy's funeral Mass. But to the world and even the Catholic faithful, you went along with the politics of the day by allowing such a public spectacle.
I won't touch on the personal scandals of Senator Kennedy. We are all sinners. But he championed, to use your words, the culture of death by his staunch support of abortion. The end justified the means. He supported contraception, abortion and an industry that lies to, maims and hurts women and kills our children. None of those unborn children ever had the chance to seek life, much less a better one. The lives Kennedy served were certainly not the unwanted unborn child. Kennedy has actually impoverished this nation.
“The faith is not a partisan act,” said Cardinal Ratzinger, “and the bishop could not call his people to be witnesses to the truth unless he was first a witness himself: It is the hallmark of the truth to be worth suffering for.”
I, too, as an Irish Catholic, pray for the repose of his soul. I pray for you as well Cardinal O'Malley to have the courage to witness to the Truth in season and out of season.
Patty King
San Antonio, Texas
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Dear Editor,
The lowly get excommunicated for working at abortion clinics. No Catholic funeral for them. But important pro-abortion politicians who worked hard in their lifetimes to make abortion accessable in the first place, like Edward Kennedy, are surrounded by cardinals and bishops and priests at their funerals.
Does this not seem a little hypocritical to you?
Tom Schuck
Weyburn, Sk
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Senator Kennedy publicly and obstinately supported abortion and gay marriage. Although he was not an abortionist, he enabled abortionists and is probably responsible for the deaths of many thousands of unborn children.
For our Church leaders to publicly honor Senator Kennedy is beyond my comprehension. Church leaders use words such as Charity and Love to cover their lack of courage and resolve.
Duane F. Bambusch
Indio, California
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Here AP presents the excerpts given by Cardinal McCarrick of Kennedy's letter & the Holy Father's (actually someone writing for the Holy Father) response. No full, unequivocal renunciation of his gravely sinful ways – not even a “sorry” in what he is said to have offered here.
Wonder what the full text of the Kennedy letter is? When will it be released? And, along the same lines, when will we ever learn??? Didn't want to preach on this (I had reprinted a fine column by Mr. Westen to include with the bulletin that he could speak for me) – really, I'm sickened by this.
Anyway, I did preach on this at all the Masses because the cruel irony of Mr. Schindler's passing away could not allow me, even over my great distress, to keep silent.
Lord, have mercy.
Fr Bill
Canada
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Re: September 1 Letters to the Editor – Ted Kennedy Funeral Coverage – Pro and Con, Praise for LSN
Dear Editors
I've been reading the reader's letters regarding Ted Kennedy's Catholic Funeral. I too wept. I am sorry – always – when someone dies as I know the grief the family feels, but this public spectacle of the Catholic Church was too much. They had their private funeral Mass at the Kennedy compound. That should have been enough.
The Basilica Mass was a U.S. Catholic Statement and I am terribly grieved by this spectacle and scandal.
I think that perhaps they should have removed the presence of Christ in the tabernacle before President Obama spoke. After all, this is a sacred space and Pres. Obama does not apologize for his belief in the murder of preborn children. And for all we know, neither did Ted Kennedy.
I don't know if Teddy had gotten an annulment from his first wife, who also is the mom of his beloved children, but she was ignored by the Church officials. I couldn't help notice that when Holy communion was offered the tv cameras moved away from the communion procession so we could not see who received the Body of Christ. That was merciful. What I saw might have been too much.
All I could think of while watching the funeral was that this could not be the Church I was raised in and have defended for over half a century. When they extolled the political victories of Teddy, I couldn't help notice that they never celebrated his strong and unwavering support of abortion or same-sex marriage – it was not so discreetly left out of the list of his political wonders. Although, during the prayers of the faithful – we did pray for something or other for the practicing gays of this world, I'm just not certain what that was.
I'm not shocked anymore. I am now certain that Catholics like myself – the so-called dinosaurs of the Church are no longer wanted or even tolerated for our beliefs in Catholic Church Teachings. Not even by our Church officials. In todays' Catholic Church you can believe in abortion, the killing of holy innocents, their blood staining our hands and still stand in the line for Holy communion to receive the Body of Christ.
Jesus said – Do this in Memory of Me. Have we forgetten the Passion of Jesus Christ? The suffering He endured for us?
Our Church officials have stolen something from my life – my one consolation from all the persecution I have endured for being pro-life, for being a devout Catholic. I feel our Church has abandoned us. God help us.
Kathy Rosilius
Elliot Lake, Ontario
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I can't help but think that now we have two very prominent incidents of the “desolating abomination” standing in the “holy place,” first with President Obama giving the commencement address and being awarded an honorary doctorate of law at Notre Dame, then with the very public Catholic funeral Mass of Ted Kennedy and all that came with it. These are only the two most recent and high-profile examples of distortions of Catholicism that are happening every day within the Church. We are truly living in the times of the spirit of the antichrist. We are truly experiencing the inversion of the cross in our culture every day.
When we consider the “pro-choicers” whose mantra is “Keep your laws off MY body” and on the other hand Christ, who says, “Take this, this is my body given up for you,” we truly can see what an inversion and perversion and a poverty it is to-in any manner whatsoever-promote abortion or the rejection of any life from conception through natural death.
I am more and more recognizing the “signs of the times,” in large part because of your amazing service that brings us news of these “signs” from all over the globe.
Jennifer Schmidts
USA
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Re: Obama at Notre Dame
A question for the people who have no problem with President Barack Obama having been invited to speak at Notre Dame University's graduation: Would you have a problem with a university inviting a person to speak at a graduation who supports a law that says, in essence, that Jews are non-persons who can be “legally” killed?
This is a valid question. This is a question that needs to be answered.
Patrick Benedict
Memphis, Tennessee
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Re: Reflections on the Kennedy Funeral
So what else is new? Canadian bishops capitulated on the Trudeau funeral, the Toronto archdiocese capitulated on the Ian Scott funeral, the Hamilton diocese capitulated on the Domenic Agostino funeral and that of a “married” homosexual man … the Catholic church will continue to be a joke on the abortion issue as long as outrages like this continue from the very top of the hierarchy.
Tony Gosgnach
Hamilton, Ontario
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Re: CBS Airs “Most vile, Obscene” Attack on Catholic Church “Ever Aired”
If this show continues to air on CBS, I promise to do all in my power to contact EACH and EVERY sponsor of any CBS news and/or sports program. In all my life, I have never heard such terrible things spewed about Catholics (of which I am one – and quite devout for that matter). You know if our Jewish of African American brethren had been attacked in such a way, there would be a major outcry from the ACLU and Anti Demfamation League. Oh no, the “fisheaters” are a timid, quiet bunch who won't do anything – well – we'll see about that.
I am not quiet; I am not timid; I am a proud Catholic – the one the liberal media warned you about. I will, and I promise you, I will do all to let your sponsors know they will be boycotted by the largest organized Church in the world.
How dare you. Shame.
Kathleen
United States
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Re:Canadian Catholic Author Michael O’Brien on Development and Peace and the Pope’s New Encyclical
Dear Editor:
Thank you for your work promoting the culture of life, and exposing the support of questionable organizations in developing countries by Development and Peace. I’d also like to thank Michel O’Brien for his article on this subject. It expressed exactly how I think in a way I am unable to express myself, in a charitable and precise way.
Our Bishops need to hear the truth, and humbly ponder it openly, allowing the Holy Spirit to penetrate their hearts and intellect, so God can guide them. It seems as though they are too proud for this, judging by some of their responses to these accusations (backed by solid evidence).
I can’t get over Bishop Weisgerber’s accusations that LSN is not catholic. LSN is an independent news source, never claiming to be catholic. LSN is reporting TRUTH, and Catholicism should be only about Truth, perhaps this is his confusion.
We need to pray for our church or bishops and priests, and forgive them for their questionable morality.
Bernard Morris
Sudbury, Ontario