Dr. Hudson:

I wish you would have been more forceful in your criticism of Morlino. His column was a red herring, and I really could care less what words he had for Joe Biden way-back-when. Serious Catholics are tired of hot-air from our bishops. Their actions (or lack thereof) show that they don't take even their own words so seriously. So why the heck should we?

That's really the point where I am at: Bishops are mere sacramental functionaries for me. All I need these consecrated lumps of flesh for is to confirm and ordain, just so I can have a valid Eucharist. I find no use for them otherwise. I can get authentic Catholicism from Igantius Press, InsideCatholics, and other books and websites.

I mean, really? Why not kick the bishops off their thrones, make them get REAL jobs, where at least they can be of SOME benefit to Society, and then just dress 'em up for the special occasions when they can give us sacraments we otherwise can't do ourselves?

These spinelss buffoons are worse than the British monarchy: We pay them to live richly and comfortably, and what do they do for us, spiritually? Lead souls to hell by their actions and inaction. Really, folks: We don't need them.

This is not how it should be, but how it is. I'm just saying we should take the current state of affairs to its logical conclusion, start REALLY calling a spade a spade.

Bishops should let the culture of death bury their own dead:
http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.1379/pub_detail.asp .When Bishop Martino is asked back from exile it will be with his reputation, judgment and commitment utterly vindicated.

I could not agree more with what you have written, Deal. In all my perusing of the blogs pertaining to the Kennedy circus, I saw not one entry that wished for his eternal damnation. Most prayed for his soul but were scandalized by the public honor given to someone who actively promoted abortion. Suppose we had the case of a Catholic doctor who performed abortions but who contributed to Food for the Poor. Would be or she be held in similar esteem as Kennedy and be given a Catholic funeral with two cardinals? Doubtful.

I would say that if there is sin involved, as Morlino suggests, with any who have weighed in on the Kennedy liturgical circus, it is on the part of those who both at the funeral and afterwards saw fit to pronounce his soul as in heaven. If I were to do that, either for Kennedy or even myself, I would convict myself of sin alright - the sins of pride and presumption. I would encourage our bishops to go over the blogs more carefully and admonish those who have advanced the certain idea of Kennedy's salvation. As those ordained to teach, I would encourage Bishops Morlino, O'Malley, and McCarrick to instruct us further on the sins of pride and presumption. I would also suggest that they spend more time teaching the faith than hobnobbing with politicians -dead and alive.

"Circle the wagons, boys"!

I think the reaction to the comments about Kennedy fall into the category of "me thinks thou dost protest too much", or "guilt by association".

Those who would canonize the "lion" aren't quite ready to lie down with the lamb just yet - they have too many "social justice" (aka government) programs to implement and need the cover of the Church to appear "spiritual" in the process.

Never mind that the social teachings of the Church are THE Gospel, but when it comes to the moral teachings of the Church they claim "primacy of conscience" (but feel compelled to remove the conscience clause for Catholic medical professionals who feel compelled not to prescribe contraceptives and/or perform / refer for abortion).

In his letter of self absolution to the Pope, Kennedy said "I never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith." Well there you have it - straight from the horses rear - the other Immaculate Conception ! .

As the graying old "Church Lady" from Saturday Night Live used to famously say - "Well, isn't that speeeeecial". Just write a letter to the Pope, say five Our Fathers and five Hail Mary's and all is well in liberal la-la land.

Now - where is that health care bill ? It will be the first miracle to elevate his cause for canonization.

Don't you think that Bishop Morlino's and Cardinal Sean's defenses were based on what people said to them and not what these very busy men probably didn't read online?

I hope that this is merely an imprudent outburst of anger. Your disrespect of our Bishops is offputting and offensive...irregardless of their actions. Am I frustrated with their beating around the bush and being mealy mouthed on important issues? Absolutely...however I would kiss their ring just as surely as I would the most orthodox bishop around. St. Thomas More is my model here...he didn't go along with wrong, and he was loyal to his Church AND his King...even as he laid his head on the block

First, as mentioned previously, I don't know the state that Sen. Kennedy's soul was in at death. I hope that he was in good graces upon death.

But let's face it, some of the Church's leaders have allowed a multi-level acceptance of behaviour depending on who you are. From turning a blind eye to much of what public Catholic figures do and say, to admonishing what us smucks in the pews do.

All I can do, and all of us can do, is ensure that we follow Christ's teachings and be in a state of grace despite what human failings the Church has to endure.

We don't know the state of Kennedy's soul when he died.

We do know that his funeral made a mockery of our Faith. Kennedy was directly responsible for countless abortions; he lobbied for homosexual marriage and late term abortions; he never apologized publicly for his very public advocacy of legislation which clearly violated Catholic teaching.

His funeral was a stage for Democratic party politics going so far as to pimp out the grandchildren for universal health care and gay marriage during the Prayers of the Faithful.

The scandal is not that Kennedy received a Catholic funeral, but that the hierarchy didn't have the guts to stand up for the Faith. What else is new?

It may well be that Kennedy's self-absolving letter to the Pope illustrates just how badly our prelates failed. The funeral is only the more obvious fault, the other one is to Kennedy himself. It seems that he was still enough of a Catholic to be concerned, as his life was ending, about having rejected Church teaching on so many subjects that he was looking for confirmation that the Church was OK with his life overall. Had he ever been forced to choose between his faith and his political objectives he might well have come fully back to the fold. One can certainly understand how he might believe he could support abortion so long as he balanced it out with (in his mind) good public works ... like universal health care. After all, that seems to be exactly what the bishops are saying.

Mr. Giunta:

If you pay a little closer attention to the articles from Ignatius Press and InsideCatholic that you read, you'll understand that we need these bishops.

Like you and many other American Catholics, I too am frustrated with hierarchs who seem to be afraid to speak the truth for fear of seeming harsh or insensitive. The USCCB, taken as a whole, still desperately needs to grow a backbone.

But the answer isn't to kick 'em to the curb. Rather, we need to say to them, loudly and insistently, "We're ready to follow you, but you have to lead." Strange to say this, but in the current social and cultural context, we have to give our leaders explicit permission and encouragement to step out front and be confrontational, to tell them that we've got their backs. Maybe then, they'll start to model the One who came "to cast fire upon the earth" (Lk 12:49).

I am a convert to the Catholic Church. I was reared in a militantly anti-Catholic atmosphere. But one in which it was often observed, "I disagree with the Catholic Church but I respect the clarity and firmness with which they hold and present their positions." No more, alas, no more. Now that clarity and firmness has become muddy and wobbling.

I sometimes find myself comparing this place in time with that of England during the reign of Henry VIII. Or perhaps China during Mao's reign. The "Church of England" and the "Chinese National Church" offered "services" in the same cathedrals where once the Catholic Church celebrated Mass. In appearance things were little altered. But in actuality all was gutted from within.

There is an old hymn that says "once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide. When right is on the scaffold and wrong is on the throne". Clearly there are many highly placed prelates who are making wrong decisions which gut from within the "clarity and firmness with which Catholic positions are held and presented." Their participation in the lavish, dramatic, and extravagantly praise-filled public funeral for a politician who consistently and vigorously defended abortion on demand being a clear example.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said of such men in his time that they "sit on the seat of Moses" and by that authority have the right to have their teaching respectfully attended. But he made clear that we must not do what they do. The example of some contemporary prelates is not to be followed any more that was that of those who acquiesced in previous times to the enthroned wrong of their day.

St. Francis of Assisi encouraged people to hold on to one reason to respect the wrong-doing prelates of his day: they were necessary to bring him Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Prelates like those who participated in the Kennedy funeral spectacle have made any other reason to respect them impossible.

D.B.:

Whenever I greet a bishop, a am consistently the only person who ever gets down on their knee to kiss their rings. So please, spare me. I'm no Donatist.

Our bishops, on the whole, are spinless scumbags, but I respect their office nonetheless. Their persons? Like I said, as they are I don't need 'em.

No one likes my suggestion that, rather than live rich and comfortably on our dollars (like cult leaders), they should at least get REAL jobs and contribute to the community?

What is to differentiate Mr. Kennedy from someone like, say Al Capone? Sure, Mr. Capone was the head of a large criminal organization that wasresponsible for the murder of many people and much corruption. And sure, Mr. Capone was a drinker, a gambler and had sex with prostitutes. But he too had another side. Besides taking care of his family, Mr. Capone did things like hire African Americans to play at his clubs (this was in the 1930's before the civil rights movement), employed hundreds of people in his businesses and even ran soup kitchens for the poor during the Great Depression...even going regularly to personally serve meals.

One must wonder if Mr. Capone would have been accorded a funeral Mass similar to Mr. Kennedy's had he lived in our day.

I have no problem at all with Eric Giunta calling a spade a spade. The American Bishops were bought and paid for long ago. To preserve their tax free status and avoid arrest for enabling pedophiles they understand they need to keep their mouths shut except for the empty platitudes reserved for our statist leaders. Cardinal "Sean's" scandalous display is only the most recent example. Those few Bishops with the guts to stand up for the Faith are either removed or marginalized.

Here's a post-modern moment for everyone. This article and its comments are being nitpicked by other bloggers:

http://tinyurl.com/lnycmo

If you disagree with Kennedy Catholicism, prepare to be lampooned elsewhere.

Deal,

I think you are off base.

I think the good Bishop has seen what the lavender mafia will do to anyone that dares speak up against their beloved liberal pro abort friends. Martino gets axed, yet the Agony in Albany continues. What choice does the Shepherd of Madison have if he wishes to remain the Shepherd of Madison?

There is only one sin to the American Hierarchy, and that's speaking ill of a democrat.

The problem with the Kennedy funeral is the same problem that afflicts many funeral masses. We have all forgotten, including some of our bishops, what the funeral mass is for: The funeral mass is to pray for the soul of the departed.

It is not a place for eulogies praising the dead. There is a time and a place for that (the wake, the funeral luncheon). NOT the Mass and NOT inside the church.

I have been to many Catholic funeral masses for non-public people and I have seen this problem there also. This problem, common in many funeral masses, was amplified by Kennedy's fame.

Second, none of us would get the bishop to say our funeral mass. So why was Kennedy given this great honor, especially in light of his brazen opposition to church teaching? Of course, we are all sinners, and we do not know the state of Kennedy's soul at his passing, but the priest who was ministering to him during his illness should have prayed the Mass.

The letter to the Pope, written BY Kennedy, PRAISING Kennedy, was totally over-the-top and possibly the worst offense of all. I didn't know the dead could come back and praise themselves at their own burials, but apparently they can! Perhaps I shall write a letter about myself and place it with my will and last wishes! I almost fell off my seat when that was read. As far as I understand, the burial is still part of the funeral rite and should be treated as such. Again, not a place for praise and eulogies. A place for prayers for the soul of the departed.

Thanks to Hess Family
Here is my response to the website you referenced.
(Before you condemn Deal Hudson)
Bill Sr. Says:

7 September 2009 at 11:20 am
I suggest that you read Raymond Arroyo’s commentary for yourself to see if you feel there might be some bishops who are out of phase with the faithful or they may at times “edit” Papal announcements to us in order to keep the message in line with their personal views.

Gentlemen:

Methinks you're all off base in accusing our "hierarchy" of not possessing a backbone!

If you want to witness howls of rage, demands for re-excommunication, complete marginalizatio etc., just mention four letters: S.S.P.X.!

As a matter of fact if you desire to see a full blitzkrieg on the part of our prelates, utter the name, Richard Williamson, especially in a positive manner!

People lack backbone over matters that do NOT concern them!

In the case of the average post conciliar prelate, that takes in most aspectw of the traditional Faith!

Missionary efforts must be extended to the USCCB to return its members to it, "kicking and screaming" necessary!

I think senator Kennedy was pro-law----not pro abortion. The law, which his oath of office required him to uphold, is struggling to be neutral. A woman has possession of her fetus and thus has control--not the state or the church or bishop somebody. To support the law is to uphold the sanctity of one's oath of office and legal neutrality on the abortion issue--entrusting mere woman with the authority over her fetus. The church doesn't like that--but it is not immoral. It is immoral to demonize someone for abiding by his oath of office. Hence I think clear thinking prelates did properly by honoring Mr. Kennedy.

Ann is correct.

The proper way to have handled the matter was a small funeral presided by his parish priest; there is no place for a Eulogy at the funeral mass... much less a spectacle.

The bishop would have been well within his jurisdiction to preserve the dignity of the Funeral Mass.

As for the wake, well that could have been as silly and self-serving as the Kennedy supports could have wanted.

What is distressing from an episcopal point of view is that it appears that the bishops cannot control their own realm and that they are pushed around by such things as Media Coverage, important families, and political contingencies.

How so many of our bishops love to stand before the powerful, willing to absolve men who fought not to uphold the law, but to enshrine the murder of children. There was a picture of John Kennedy beside the picture of the Pope in my mother's kitchen,
but Ted was as a legilator an extremist who supported both abortion and homosexual marriage. Because someone is baptized a Catholic doesn't make them a Catholic, if I'm not mistaken Henry VIII, Luther and Hitler all had that priviledge. I can't help but wonder if the esteemed bishop from Boston wouldn't have happily stood over Hitler's coffin had the war gone the other way. Anything for a photo op and maybe an invite to the White House.
(Comparing Ted to Hitler is not so extreme, Hitler was responsible for 9 million dead in the camps, we've murdered maybe 50 million in the womb)

Mr. Wilson:

Is a law valid which sanctions the slaying of the innocent?

And does a Catholic have the moral option of defending that law?

Tom, I suppose, given your reasoning, that any Catholic serving under the Nazis and executing the commands taken under oath to uphold their laws of genocide, should have been accorded full Catholic funeral priveleges. C'mon.

Ann, I think you have come up with one of the best suggestions yet. So here goes...

Dear Holy Father, I have been an exemplary Catholic all my life...at least I always wanted to lead a good life and I want you to know how hard I tried. I served the poor, those with drug and alcohol problems and myriads others in our society according to the precepts of the social teaching of the Church. I know that this gives me a pass for the many times when I cheated on my wife, took my girlfriend for an abortion of our baby, operated an abortion clinic (I never did the abortions myself) and for my hand in trafficing in children from Eastern Europe. But as I mentioned, never did I pass up an opportunity to give aid to the poor. I even once sent a check for the Special Olympics.

Please, dear Holy Father, have the Cardinal read my letter to you at my funeral. It will help give me a pass to heaven because, as I have seen in my own lifetime, writing a letter to you is all that really matters...so that everyone knows I was a good person...at least in my own estimation. And in the end, we all know, Holy Father that, in the final accounting of our lives, it is letters to you that win us our salvation.

Just to throw this out here: Cardinal O'Malley has written on his blog in defense of his presence at Kennedy's funeral.

Senator Kennedy waged war against unborn children for 35 years, all the time claiming to be a faithful Catholic.
He would not even agree to spare the innocent babies as they were being born.
We must pray for him and for those who eulogize him.
The spectacle in Boston is a scandal.

And another thing:

When are we gonna start blaming the Holy Father for his silence and inaction over these atrocious happenings?

At what point will he merit the title, "Obama's Pope"?

I'm afraid I have multiple problems with Bishop Morlino's column, http://tinyurl.com/n4d3ee. In almost every paragraph, he leans over backwards to put the best possible interpretation on Sen. Kennedy's actions. I'm afraid he leans over to the point of losing his balance.

For example, he says that Ted (and Bobby) Kennedy's convening of several theologians to give them advice on how they should handle abortion showed that they took their Catholicism seriously. Funny, shouldn't they have included someone to balance the likes of Robert Drinan and Charles Curran? Shouldn't they have subsequently engaged in honest debate with others who took a different view? I think what they took seriously was the political need to draw Catholics along in the liberal agenda and pull the sting from the abortion issue. Bishop Morlino concedes that Sen. Kennedy may have been led into some ambiguity and confusion and so led others. But could it be that ambiguity and confusion were exactly what the Kennedys wanted?

Again, he characterizes Kennedy's letter to the Pope as recognizing the authority of the Pope as the Vicar of Christ. Maybe, but it appears more open to the interpretation that he recognized the political value of the Pope's approbation for all the good deeds that Kennedy was careful to list, while referring in passing to unspecified "failings." Fortunately, he didn't get it.

As for all the good the Senator accomplished in his political life, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc., the bishop fails to distinguish between performing charitable works with one's own resources and performing politically advantageous works with forcibly extracted other people's money. Sorry to be such a cynic.

I have met Bishop Morlino several times and enjoyed his erudite and always entertaining talks. Maybe he is still on vacation and someone on his staff wrote this.

Ditto with Fr. Michael #27. We are part of the Church militant and must be courageous. The late great Fr. John Hardon said, "Unless we recover the courage of the early martyrs, the Church in America will not survive." Let us pray that the bishops and priests would have the same courage in leading Christ's faithful today.

To Anon #29

Not my point at all.

My point is that it is not up to us to decide if he should have received a Catholic funeral or not.

However, it is clear that eulogies and excessive praise of the dead do not belong at ANY Catholic funeral mass.

Prayers for the soul of the departed? Yes. Excessive, drooling, hyperbolic praise of the departed? No.

That was the error in the Kennedy funeral.

The situation with the Bishops should move us, not to hate them, but to try to be better ourselves.

The "lives of the saints" are loaded with stories of future saints who did the right things (remaining faithful & charitable), even though some Bishop or Pope they were close to, seemed to be doing the wrong thing.

oh! now i get it. eric giunta is doing a parody of misplaced moral indignation. he couldn't possibly mean those things.

The man was a baptized Catholic which means he had an indelible mark of a Catholic. What occurs prior to his death and after is in the hands of the Lord. No one Not Raymond Arryo, Judy or anyone else has the right to pass judgement despite their own personal feelings. "THOU SHALT NOT JUDGE LEST YE BE JUDGED" is complete in itself - which means - THOU SHALT NOT JUDGE LEST YE BE JUDGED." Period. Amen. No qualifications anywhere to this statement. So let all the Christians who are in such an uproar remember this is not simply about whether they wish to see the man in Hell, but about passing judgement at all. Lest they forget and be judged by the only TRUE JUDGE.

Carol, no one here is judging; rather, they are evaluating actions. God Himself has given us the ability to discriminate between good and evil.

Carole,

Will you please read what Arroyo, Brown, and Lawler actually wrote? Bishop Morlino was wrong in accusing pro-lifers of taking pleasure in the thought of Kennedy going to Hell! Who the heck is he talking about? Is he intentionally trying to mislead Catholics whom he knows won't take 5 min. to actually read what pro-lifers are saying? Go read, come back, and make a relevant comment based on the facts.

Thanks for standing up for the Catholic faith. Also a note to the good priests like Fr Michael who read / commented on the blog....keep fighting!

Apart from praying for those all those involved in staging these continuing scandals -- whether politicians or clerics -- I suggest the laity stop completely any funding of those directly involved.
Stop any funding that could end up with the bishops conference and to the Campaign for Human Development, for example, which for years sent millions to ACORN which has long been known to be a criminal conspiracy.
Know precisely how any contributions you make are being used in the Church.
If your parish collection is possibly used for questionable ends, give your donations to your local St Vincent de Paul Society. Let your pastor know why.

I have a feeling some of our Bishops are toeing the liberal party line because they are being blackmailed. How else could they reason this way?

John in OH:

In bringing up the subject of blackmail one begs the question!

Were episcopal candidates properly vetted in Rome?

Or rather more darkly, were they vetted using different standards?

I hope Ted Kennedy’s funeral is the final chapter in the long sorry history of the American Catholic clergy’s love affair with the Kennedy family.

What is most frustrating about all this is the notion that one can publicly and proudly oppose fundamental precepts of the Catholic faith, publicly and proudly rail against anyone who upholds Catholic teaching on the value of human life or the sanctity of marriage, and still be honored as a faithful Catholic in good standing with the Church upon his death.

Where do we draw the line on this? Would our bishops endorse Catholic funerals and burials for dissident Catholics who spent their entire life publicly and proudly denying the divinity of Christ? If so, then what does it mean to say “I am a Catholic”? Does two plus two equal five if we want it to?

I’m sorry if I come across as berating Senator Kennedy, but his life as a politician says all that needs to be said about this. Kennedy was proudly and diametrically opposed to the Catholic Church’s teachings on the sacredness of human life and the sanctity of marriage, and never made any public apologies for the stances he took. His was instrumental in making it acceptable for Catholic politicians to publicly opposing Church teaching, and he leaves behind more publicly dissenting Catholic understudies in the senate than I care to count.
I have no idea where Kennedy’s soul resides now, and I would not presume to guess. I truly hope that he had a conversion.

But the damage he did as a publicly dissident Catholic remains, and unfortunately this will stand out as his ‘legacy’ in as far as being a Catholic politician.

Dear Deal, Thank you so very much for your insights and your kind words, particularly about Bishop Morlino. He is indeed a man of integrity and personally I did not take offense at what he wrote. Great analysis. Judie

The good Abp. Martino's resignation, as well as his
second in command I believe, leaves me wondering if there
is any "connection" here. Why is it sinful to criticize
Kennedy for his actions; and yet a good sheperd of the church
resigns for criticizing voters and politicians on the
the other hand?

Deal,

Thanks for writing such a great article. I, unfortunately figured that the Kennedy funeral would be a spectacle, much like the way many of the Kennedy's lived their lives. I did not watch the funeral.

When I read the transcripts of Ted Kennedy's letter to the Pope outlining all of his "good deeds" I couldn't help but laugh at its insincerity and the brashness of the individual who thought that writing this letter would somehow win him favors. God knows what he did and God will be the judge of his soul, so the letter made no sense. It was like the babbling of the Egyptian pharohs when they would, as a part of their religion, read the book of the dead after they had passed in order to get through the doors of heaven. Part of the book was a listing of all of their good deeds and the sins they had NOT committed. TK is very much a product of our country and our society, as we have lost all knowledge of personal sinfulness.

As we are all sinful, Mr. Kennedy's scandalous life and scandalous funeral are great things to reflect on when thinking of our own sinfulness. I pray that the Bishop who has not reflected on his own sinfulness during this scandal will get some good time in the confessional, as God is great and I pray for his change. I also hope that you all pray for me and my next confession.

God can make everything right. It seems to me that we are witnessing these things now so that we may all see what is right and wrong and change our lives.

When the law is immoral, then to be pro-law is to be immoral. That was the philosophical lesson taught by the court at Nuremburg after WWII.

Remember that our Lord commands respect for His Law over and above mere human law. What right does mere human law have to demonize an innocent child and subject him/her to execution without trial?

When an innocent human life is threatened by an unjust law it is the duty of every Catholic to defend the life and abort the law, instead of vice versa.

A child is no more a piece of property than any other human being. Maybe you ought to prayerfully read the Catechism and the Scriptures.

Sen. Kennedy was not any more neutral than the unjust law that condones the taking of innocent human life. He supported abortion with every ounce of his political being as do the majority of Democrats.

This defense of Kennedy is akin to the saying that Nazis were justified in taking innocent lives because it was the law of the land in Nazi Germany (yes, it was perfectly legal in Hitler's Germany).

Deal,

I'm not sure I am reading you correctly, but as to when a "spade should be called a spade", I think Judie Brown gets it right:

"Now millions of Americans are totally confused about what it means to be Catholic. The words that were uttered by these prelates prove that they did, in fact, ignore the dead babies in order to give glowing words of praise to the man who sanctioned their killing."

I've mostly avoided coverage of the lionization of the "lion of the Senate". However, the public adulation of the man's public record - does leave me confused about "what it means to be Catholic". Judgments about the late Senator's soul should certainly be left to someone of higher authority than any of us. However, judgments about his public record and the utter failure to speak honestly about his disregard for life? It seems to me that is precisely the duty of the shepherds (priests and bishops) placed in authority over us and in this they failed. Utterly failed.

And for those of us outside of the Catholic Church, however we might be drawn to her, this does leave us wondering.

Kamilla

Below is my response to Cardinal O'Malley's blog--Don't let this cause further division within the Church:

With all due respect, I believe that the Church is already much divided and has been gaining steam after the clerical dissent on Humanae Vite in 1968. (McCarrick signed that list) Sadly, statistics prove that there is little unity among Catholics on the fundamentals climaxing in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and only a remnant faithfully attend Sunday Mass. Mother church has been invaded by New Age, Modernism (which covers all heresies) and political agendas. A majority of Catholics can no longer discern between good and evil and abortion is supported out of a misguided and disordered compassion. So this is where we are but with a sure hope for the future with much effort.

I think Fr. Raymond J. de Souza in his article of August 12 entitled, A Tale of Two Kennedy's, expressed the issue well:

The Shrivers represented the old Democratic Party -- economically liberal and culturally conservative. They were routed by the new Democratic Party -- economically liberal and culturally libertine -- of which Ted became the poster boy. The tortured relationship of the Catholic Church with the Democratic Party mirrored that cleavage. Eunice was the ideal of the Catholic in public life -- passionately committed to the poor, defender of the weak, pro-life, morally upright and a woman of faith and family. But the party followed Ted.

The Shrivers were devout Catholics who lived their faith with integrity privately before bringing its implications to the public square. * * * And the Kennedy family is continuing to follow in Ted's legacy; even Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger, the beloved daughter of pro-life Eunice. A vote for Obama was a vote for abortion; clear & simple.

In response to Ted's letter, His Holiness, the Pope, prayed for T. Kennedy that "in the days ahead you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God, our merciful Father."

Ted had said that "he tried through his faith to right his wrongs."
Let us hope that he realized that the Lord requires *surrender of sin to His merciful heart and not justification of works for salvation. If he had been trying to serve God first and then his fellow man I believe that his choices would not have been disordered.

Last Sunday's Scripture readings were instructive on the issue of Catholic witness in the public square & the Church.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
The alternative prayer:
Lord God of power & might,
NOTHING IS GOOD WHICH IS AGAINST YOUR WILL, and all is of value that comes from your hand. PLACE IN OUR HEARTS A DESIRE TO PLEASE YOU and fill our minds with *INSIGHT INTO LOVE...so that every thought may GROW IN WISDOM and all our efforts may be FILLED WITH YOUR PEACE. * * *

Do not add or subtract to what I command you. Observe the commandments carefully, thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations.--Deut.4

Psalm 15
The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord: who thinks the truth in his heart; who slanders not with his tongue; who HARMS NOT HIS FELLOW MAN while he honors those who fear the Lord and WHO ACCEPTS NO BRIBE AGAINST THE INNOCENT....

All GOOD GIVING and every perfect gift is from above, from the Father of lights with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.--James 1

Gospel of Mark 7:
Jesus responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
-this people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me; teaching doctrines as human precepts.- You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."
"From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, murder, theft, greed, malice, deceit, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly; and they defile."
* * *
I spiritually participated in both Eunice's and Ted's live-feed funerals for the purpose of offering prayers in REPARATION for my wounded Bridegroom, Jesus. Prayers for the coldness, negligence, carelessness, daily profanities and acts of irreverence of so many Christians & those that assist at Holy Mass and for the sacrilegious outrages from ungrateful Christians who draw near to receive Christ with mortal sins on their souls (most especially the Catholic politicians that continue in obstinancy of sin in their reception of Communion).

This has been the fruit of weekly Eucharistic Adoration and all God's doing.

I am something of a student of WWII. I have always been disturbed by how complaisant the clergy (Catholic and Protestant) was in the Third Reich. Obviously there was some principled resistance to the Nazis and their ideology, but you have to look hard and far to find it. Overall things on that front things were very, very quiet.

With far less at risk here, the bishops demonstrate even less leadership. They are like a crooked cop--the exact opposite of what we had hoped for.

I remain Catholic in spite of them, not because of them.

Were we not taught to forgive? Since the absolution can be received just before death, we do not know, nor shall we judge onother person's state. All should receive a dignified passage or inturnment wether we agree with them or not. Since we all are sinners, we all need as many prayers as possible to make it through the pearly gates if our direction is not in the other direction. We do not know anyone's path after live until we make our own.

The man will be remembered on earth for the good he did by some and evil he did by others. This applies to some bishops and priests as well. Remember they are men as well. I personally do not listen to either who do not follow the teachings of the universal Catholic Church.

Remember, when you point a finger at someone, 4 are pointed at you.

Commemdations to Deal Hudson, Fr. Michael & Fr. Jim.

I don't have to look very far to find Catholic resistance to the Third Reich- no further than Pius XII's baptizing of 800,000 Jews or St. Maximillian Kobe's actions in the concentration camp.

I believe Pope Benedict showed us the model when he gently but firmly snubbed House Leader Pelosi.

Roe Vs Wade passed in 1973 under Nixon and his Republican majority congress and upheld by his personally appointed 5 Republican Supreme Court judges along with the other 2 Republican judges already on the bench!

So excuse me! It is the Republicans and Republicans only that passed and upheld Roe Vs. Wade and everyone is so stupid in civics these days they do not understand that at the Supreme Court level the Republican majority will never overturn this law! So do call a spade a spade and do not criticize and condemn people who had nothing to do with this issue - thoughts are not actions.

Actions done were on the Republican side and when did the Roman Catholic Church become so hateful and revengeful using itself for political agendas as this!

How dare you criticize when you yourself are disobedient to the Holy Father and the real laws of our Church being so rebellious that the bishops here have stated openly that Rome will never run the "American" Churches! You hypocrites! Clean your own house first - those that live in glass house can not throw stones. God alone is the judge of Ted Kennedy and each and every one of you disobedient self-righteous hypocrites! Your souls will answer to God for your actions!

I distinctly remember hearing a nod to the radical homosexual agenda during the Mass also...Wow. What a sad day for the American Catholic Church.

Thank God for the net. We can really hear Rome during these perilous times!

Let's please pray for CP