Senator Kennedy's Final Attempt at Salvation

The American Thinker ^ | September 13, 2009 | Frank S. Rosenbloom, M.D.

[Scanian]

The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy was truly the end of an era. He had been extolled as the "lion of the Senate." Understandably, given the impact of his life, the news media were filled with stories about Kennedy, his family, his trials and tribulations and his contributions. I was most surprised to read that a month before his death Senator Kennedy had written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, which was delivered to him by President Obama. As a practicing Catholic, I took great interest in Kennedy's thoughts about his Catholicism at the end of his life.

[pnh102]

Ted Kennedy was Catholic? I would have never guessed.

[neodad]

He’s too late now. Either he is saved, or isn’t. No after the fact...

[libertarian27]

"Lion of the Senate."

The Swimmer

[mkjessup]

‘The Lyin’ of the Senate’, no wonder Fat Teddy got behind 0bama in the presidential primary season last year, he recognized a fellow liar that was certainly up to his standards.

[freedumb2003]

Excellent article. The comments are great, as well.

[nascarnation]

If they make him a saint, I’m switchin to Baptist

just sayin.......

[Scanian]

Glad you liked the post.

[Ouderkirk]

May he burn in Hell.

[narses]

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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[Marysecretary]

Hmm, Teddy was more interested in the Catholic Church than in Christ Himself. Nope, that’s not gonna go too far with God. I don’t wish him ill, but since there’s no purgatory, he’s got to face His maker one day and I’m afraid it won’t end the way he figured it would. After all, he was baptized, right? (sarcasm)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Ask not what the Kennedys can do for you, but what you can do for the Kennedys."

[politicalmerc]

Fine, Now he is the pussy cat in hell.

[chiefqc]

While I have the greatest respect for Pope Benedict XVI, he is still a man therefore I believe that Senator Edward Kennedy was talking to a man when he should have been talking to his God.

[fso301]

I was most surprised to read that a month before his death Senator Kennedy had written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, which was delivered to him by President Obama.

Were it a confessional, it would have been a book rather than a letter.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

the best post of Kennedy I have ever seen~~!!!

[Savage Beast]

In 1940, a storm washed the automobile, in which Robert Mitchum and a man named Righter were driving to Florida, off a bridge and into the waters of a Louisiana swamp. Mitchum got out. Righter was dazed and trapped in the car that seemed about to slide into deeper water. Mitchum scrambled to safety. Then he struggled back into the water, forced the car door open, pulled Righter out, and saved his life.

When the grateful Righter exclaimed that Mitchum had risked his life to save Righter, Mitchum shrugged off his heroic behavior with an off-handed quip, characteristic of him, obviously considering his actions to be nothing more than any decent person would do--and rightly so.

For a better account of this incident, see:

Robert Mitchum
"Baby, I Don't Care"
by
Lee Server
New York: St. Martin's Press, March 2001, p. 49

[Scanian]

If Kennedy had sought after God 40 years ago, instead of seeking after blondes, perhaps he would have gained a clear idea of what Christianity really is.

His seeming notion that grace can be obtained by doing supposed “good works” with other peoples’ money is beyond pathetic. Within that peculiar idea, I think, lies one of the central precepts of the liberal belief system: I am a good person if I take your money and give it to someone whom I determine in my vast wisdom needs it more than you do.

[Melian]

Excellent article. Thanks for posting it. I think it captures Catholic thinking on salvation and living the faith very well.

I found it extremely interesting that Ted Kennedy only gave $2700 to charity. With his fortune, he could have had a tremendous impact on individuals’ lives; but he, like many of the Kennedys, think they are destined for great deeds, not those small moments of real sacrificial giving to the man right in front of you.

What does it profit a man’s soul to enact beneficial laws when he won’t save a woman drowning right in front of him? Only God can sift the value of Ted Kennedy’s soul but I don’t think he was a very impressive man.

[Northern Yankee]

Excellent article.

This really nails it on the head.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

“The Holy Father did not respond personally, but the Vatican sent a letter to Senator Kennedy. It states in part:

“Dear Mr. Kennedy: We appreciate your thoughtful and considerate appeal for salvation, but unfortunately you have broken one the most important rules of good story-telling. You have to let the protagonist solve his own problems, and to have him do so in at least a vaguely plausible manner.”

[shield]

I feel the same way this author feels...he is not in a too nice of a place.

[RetSignman]

[he should have been talking to his God].

He had ‘his god’ deliver his message to the Pope.

[pray4liberty]

Was JESUS even mentioned in that letter? Or was it all about I-I-I-I-me-me-me-me Ted Kennedy?

[Victoria Delsoul]

Kennedy's letter gives us insight into the mind of a man who had the very liberal inclination to look for instant gratification but also had the deeper understanding that the very principles of modern American liberalism are morally indefensible. Despite his obvious concerns, he could not bring himself to write three words so contrary to liberal thinking: "I was wrong."

Yes, he was wrong, and he never admitted.

[Scanian]

Exactly! IIII am a good person because IIII gave away other people’s money! Doesn’t that speak well of me me me??