[Colonel_Flagg]

Not to flame our Catholic Freepers in any way, but can someone explain to me why he is evidently receiving a funeral mass? How can be possibly be in communion with the teachings of the church given his known political positions and votes on abortion? Would he have had to repent on his deathbed?

Christ is not willing that anyone, even Ted Kennedy, should perish, but what is the position of the church on this?

[CitizenM]

He could have "repented" in his last days. I guess we will never know. But, as far as I know, if he was never ex-communicated from the Church, he would be entitled to a Funeral Mass. I suspect many criminals have, in one way or another, had this. Think of the Mafia, many were Italian Catholics, committed horrible crimes, but showed up at church and received the Sacraments. And, had extensive funerals in the Church. I guess the Church's position is based on forgiveness and letting God be the final judge.

But, boy would I love to hear what God has to say to Kennedy at the Pearly Gates. And I hope Mary Jo is there to listen and watch. Ted can't argue his way with God!

[A.A. Cunningham]

That is known only to his confessor and Almighty God.

However, based on his lifetime of work and his failure to publicly repent, do penance and renounce his sins he should not be given a funeral Mass and Obowma should not be granted access to the Cathedral, IMO.

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.

§2 If any doubt occurs, the local Ordinary is to be consulted and his judgement followed.

In addition, according to the Order of Christian Funerals in The Rites of the Catholic Church, there are no eulogies at a funeral Mass. O'Malley is allowing the Archdiocese of Boston, Canon Law and the faith to be mocked by both the Kennedy's and Barry Soetoro.

[pbear8]

The Church is always hopeful that a sinner will repent, even if it is at the last second. God is Mercy and Love and will give him his just reward. It is for us to pray for the repose of his soul and for comfort for his family). Jesus died for the Kennedys too. God desires the salvation of souls, Satan desires eternal damnation for them.

[cubreporter]

Abortion being one and the main reason but also...did he receive an annulment? With three children he received an annulment???? Don’t even get me started!!!

[mlizzy]

Not to flame our Catholic Freepers in any way, but can someone explain to me why he is evidently receiving a funeral mass? How can be possibly be in communion with the teachings of the church given his known political positions and votes on abortion? Would he have had to repent on his deathbed? Christ is not willing that anyone, even Ted Kennedy, should perish, but what is the position of the church on this?

The time for denying Ted Kennedy Catholic sacraments was when he was alive. Although priests do not like to make these types of calls as it becomes sensational and the Church becomes like a circus. My own brother-in-law (a priest) denied two of our sons the Host at a funeral "memorial" Mass given for my mother (she was not Catholic). He denied them because they are away from the Church and he had every right to do so. He did, however, give Communion to our younger son who he thought was attending Mass, but he wasn't, so that was a bit awkward. Now recently we had a one-year memorial Mass for my mom and he gave them all Communion. We did not talk to him about it, but if he denied them the Host this time around, it would have made a bit of a spectacle out of the Mass as there were only a handful of people there, so I'm guessing that was his reasoning for not denying. So things can get sloppy in a hurry when one makes these types of decisions/judgments. Whether Ted Kennedy has a Catholic Mass or not will not matter in regard to his soul (in my opinion) if he did not repent. How can a Mass help a heretic? However, no one needs prayers more than Ted Kennedy at this point in time and it's up to Catholics everywhere to send a few his way.

[SevenofNine]

AH in Cathoic religion we give to anybody actually I think Kennedy family pay off Cathoic church long time ago

[FReepapalooza]

“Not to flame our Catholic Freepers in any way, but can someone explain to me why he is evidently receiving a funeral mass? How can be possibly be in communion with the teachings of the church given his known political positions and votes on abortion? Would he have had to repent on his deathbed?

Christ is not willing that anyone, even Ted Kennedy, should perish, but what is the position of the church on this?”

Bears repeating.