Posted on 08/26/2009 9:51:57 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Frankly, I do not quite know where to start, in terms of focusing on the role of religion in the mainstream media coverage of the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy. For starters, his Catholic faith is a given. At the same time, so is his standing as a deeply troubled leader, husband, father, uncle and patriarch of the always controversial Kennedy clan.
Thus, let me offer this chance for our readers to help us scan the coverage, looking for the best and the worst of the news coverage of the role that faith played or did not play in the life and career of this lion of the U.S. Senate. It is, of course, impossible to separate his work from his standing as a Roman Catholic in the culture of Boston and Massachusetts.
So let me pose this question as a starting point for the discussion (and please read it carefully):
True or false? Based on the information available in the mainstream press coverage of his death, Edward Kennedy is the most influential American Catholic political leader in our nation’s history.
Take a deep breath and start reading, here, here, here and here (of course), for starters.
You may also want to check out some material from two very different evangelicals. First of all, here is a link that will take you to a short statement about Kennedy and his faith from the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners. Here’s the key part:
In the aftermath of the 2004 Presidential elections, the Democrats were roundly accused of losing the “moral values voters” in America, and of being the party of “secularists” who were hostile to faith and religion. The very first Democrat to call me and ask to talk about that accusation and how to change the moral debate in America was Ted Kennedy. He invited me to his home, where he, and his wife Vicki, engaged me in a long and very thoughtful conversation, into the night, about the relationship between faith, morality, and politics. Their own deep Catholic faith was evident and their articulation of it very impressive. Our discussion was not partisan at all — it was not about how to win religion back for the Democrats. Rather, we focused on the great moral issues facing the nation, and how we as people of faith needed to respond to them.
Then, head on over to the weblog of David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network, who has posted some crucial quotes from a 1983 speech by Kennedy entitled “Faith, Truth and Tolerance in America,” which was delivered at the late Rev. Jerry Falwell’s Liberty Baptist College (which is now simply called Liberty University).
Here’s a link to the full speech, too. A sample:
… I hope for an America where neither “fundamentalist” nor “humanist” will be a dirty word, but a fair description of the different ways in which people of goodwill look at life and into their own souls.
I hope for an America where no president, no public official, no individual will ever be deemed a greater or lesser American because of religious doubt — or religious belief.
I hope for an America where the power of faith will always burn brightly, but where no modern Inquisition of any kind will ever light the fires of fear, coercion, or angry division.
I hope for an America where we can all contend freely and vigorously, but where we will treasure and guard those standards of civility which alone make this nation safe for both democracy and diversity.
So what kind of Roman Catholic was this Kennedy?
Only God and his father confessor — if he maintained such a relationship throughout his life — have any right to claim inside information about the state of his soul and neither will be granting interviews today. It will be interesting to note the role of the hierarchy in his funeral Mass.
However, journalists can deal with facts. Kennedy took many public stands that clashed with the doctrines of his own faith and, during the final years of his life, caused Catholics on the left and the right to search for every scrap of information about his standing in the church. How tense did this get? Click here.
So here is that question one more time. Read it carefully.
True or false? Based on the information available in the mainstream press coverage of his death, Edward Kennedy is the most influential American Catholic political leader in our nation’s history.
Only God and his father confessor — if he maintained such a relationship throughout his life — have any right to claim inside information about the state of his soul and neither will be granting interviews today. It will be interesting to note the role of the hierarchy in his funeral Mass.
However, journalists can deal with facts. Kennedy took many public stands that clashed with the doctrines of his own faith and, during the final years of his life, caused Catholics on the left and the right to search for every scrap of information about his standing in the church.
An icon for what kind of Catholic? The Catholics in Name Only?
Catholic for abortion???
Unfortunately, he was Liberal Catholics’ icon. To mainstream and right wing Catholics (like myself) he was a jerk who should have been excommunitcated.
Ted may even follow with a, "You don't know who I am!" and God will reply, "Yes Ted. I do."
Kennedy was born into the Catholic faith like Hitler was too.
But individuals such as these could hardly be considered to be real Catholics.
Catholic for divorce and remarriage?
Give me a friggin break. Catholic? Only when he wanted the Catholic vote.
I dont have inside infromation from his confessor either, I dont need it. The information right in front of me is enough.
Abortion, a bought and paid for annulment from a wife of 25 years. a wife he drove to near insanity. Adultery, Murder,
Lies, Gluttony, if Kennedy was a Catholic in anything other than name only I am the Pope.
Now we get to watch as the Catholic heirarchy fall all over themselves planting this imposter.
I thought he bribed the church into granting an annulment rendering his children to the status of bastards. Anyone?
>>For starters, his Catholic faith is a given. <<
I stopped reading there. Those who are pro-abortion, treat women with no respect, drunks, divorced and a cheat are NOT Catholic in anything but claim.
It would be like me claiming to be a doctor, without a medical degree. What, you say two RAT women did that?
There ... it's fixed now.
Don't know about the "state" of Kennedy's soul at the moment of death, but...
Here are the facts about the "state" of his soul while he was alive:
Edward Kennedy made no secret that he supported abortion. Any Catholic who intentionally or deliberately gives substantial support for abortion commits a mortal sin & is automatically excommunicated.* Any Catholic who publicly promotes abortion or denies that abortion is a mortal sin commits heresy & is subject to excommunication.** Any Catholic who supports the legalizing of abortion or supports legislation to legalize abortion commits a mortal sin.
That being said, I'm sure Edward Kennedy was given the opportunity to renounce his heresy & receive the sacraments.
*Canon 1364 §1
**Canon 751
True . . . if by American Catholic you mean the church that Obama addressed at Notre Dame.
Alex, I think this deserved a barf alert warning.
Do not use potty language - or references to potty language - on the Religion Forum.
I was unaware this was also a religious thread ...I replied to it off of the regular forum.
If you do not wish to see Religion Forum posts, do NOT use the “everything” option on the browse. Instead, browse by “News/Activism.” When you log back in, the browse will reset to “everything” - so be sure to set it back to “News/Activism.”
I prayed the Fatima prayer for Teddy:
“....lead all souls into heaven, especially those most in need of Thy grace.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.