[NYer]

Once again, we can clearly see that demarcation line between Social Democrat Catholics and Church teachings. From what I understand, the Jesuits were instrumental in helping the Kennedy’s and Cuomos in separating faith from politics.

[NYer]

Catholic Priests and Professors Share Blame for Kennedys' Pro-Abortion Identity

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

And??? What was the point of the letter? It was all about him.

[TexasRedeye]

I have opposed the death penalty ...

He even lies to the Pope!

What does he say to defend killing literally millions of unborn souls in the mothers womb?

[tioga]

the sin of promoting abortion was not addressed......that’s a big one to leave to chance.

[browniexyz]

I am shocked by the Church’s complicity in whitewashing Kennedy and attempting to include BO in the process. If, indeed, such letters were written at all, why weren’t they kept private?

[Kandy]

Hopefully that wasn’t all he confessed to the priest who administered the Last Rites to him - to clear the slate before death, but with the necessary sincere sorrow and repentence in order to receive forgiveness before meeting God.

[Carley]

This has got to be satire.

[nathanbedford]

"I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war." Anyone who has read my about page in which I discuss the repentance of Nathan Bedford Forrest, will realize that I would not knowingly insinuate myself between a man's conscience and his God. So I accept that Kennedy's repentance is in good faith.

But the assertions contained in his letter are left for the living and we must set the record of his actions here on earth straight for those of us who remain on earth.

"Champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity"

Granting the poor entitlements rights which Kennedy sought to do time and again is not opening opportunity. In fact, Kennedy excoriated Robert Bork in his infamous speech on the Senate floor by falsely imputing onto Bork a desire to end those entitlements and leaving the poor Unsuccored. Kennedy's career has been one long campaign not for equality of opportunity but for equality of outcome.

"I have worked to welcome the immigrant, "

No, Senator Kennedy, did not work to welcome the immigrant, he deliberately made Western European immigrants unwelcome and deliberately made other immigrants based on racial preference more welcome. More, his welcome did not extend only to immigrants but also to illegal immigrants. Kennedy's legislative history is one of frustrating every attempt to limit illegal immigration.

"to fight discrimination"

Again Senator Kennedy worked to fight discrimination only of a certain kind. Racial discrimination against white Americans was not opposed by the senator. Moreover, discrimination against achievers and political conservatives was actually practiced by Senator Kennedy.

"expand access to health care "

Yes, he worked to expand health care to illegal immigrants. He did act to require achievers to pay for the healthcare of others.

"expand access to... education"

He sought at every turn to limit access to the kind of education he approved of which was run by educational elitists and apparatchiks with the result that America possesses the dreariest statistics of any Western industrialized nation.

"I have opposed the death penalty "

Liberals such as Senator Kennedy have succeeded in so attenuating, in time and likelihood, the punishment from the murder that much deterrent value has been washed out of capital punishment laws. How many innocent people died as a result of Senator Kennedy's activities?

"fought to end war"

How many people died in the aftermath of the Vietnam war as a result of efforts of liberals like Senator Kennedy to abandon the people of southeast Asia to the Communists who proved to be the murderers the right had predicted? The record of Senator Kennedy in this regard is not that of a pacifist in opposition to war but that of an ideologue in opposition to wars waged in America's national interest.

The reckoning for Senator Kennedy's sins has already occurred between him and his maker and it is not for us to presume on that process. But we have a duty to our children to keep the record straight here on earth.

[Gay State Conservative]

I sincerely doubt that the Pope was fooled by this letter.I know for a fact that Saint Peter wasn't fooled.

Not for a second!

[Arthur McGowan]

Kennedy’s letter is pathetic. It’s about as sincere as his Chappaquiddick speech.

As for the “Pope’s” response: The pro-abortion pansy McCarrick is as big a liar as Kennedy ever was. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be a complete fabrication. McCarrick returned from Rome in 2004 with a letter from Ratzinger (about Communion for pro-aborts) that he had been asked to distribute to all the U.S. bishops. He concealed its existence, instead, and lied about what Ratzinger had said.

[Lawgvr1955]

It looks to me as if the Pope sent back a "form letter" of a blessing.

And it wasn't a personal reply even. It reads like something from an assistant.

[The Great RJ]

Strangely absent from his litany of good works during his almost 50 years in Conngress was Teddy’s unwavering support for abortion rights. Also I note no remorse for any past sins. Perhaps when Teddy met his judgment Mary Jo Kopekne was there to greet him.

[wolfcreek]

As per Rush Limbaugh:, Everything Ted Kennedy championed to help people only ended up hurting them.

[RobbyS]

I once heard Bib Dornan(?), the conservative Catholic and congressman from California call McCarrick “the cockroach,” because of the way he scurried about, and because of his evasiveness on doctrine, especially about abortion. He also shares with the insect his ability to taint everything he touches. I would ask how did such a man get to be a prince of the Church, except I know how often the Church has installed such persons in power.

[Raycpa]

This interaction reminds me of the exchange in Mark, Matthew and Luke where a man was trying to gain eternal life by his deeds and Jesus corrects him and tells him the way to eternal life is to follow Jesus.

Ted Kennedy puts all of his life works at the feet of the pope and implicit in his letter is the same question “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?”. The pope’s gentle answer is to point to the savior, Jesus Christ.

The Rich Young Man
16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17”Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

18”Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

20”All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

[Alex Murphy]

“I want you to know, Your Holiness, that in my nearly 50 years of elective office, I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, fight discrimination and expand access to healthcare and education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a Unites States Senator. I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I will continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone. I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me."

Behind closed doors in the papal library, Obama handed Benedict a letter that Senator Edward Kennedy had asked him to personally deliver to the pontiff. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs later told reporters that nobody - not even the President - knew the contents of the sealed missive....The letter, most likely already re-sealed and tucked away in the Vatican archives, was probably just a dying Catholic's request for a papal blessing. In the eyes of the traditionalist wing of the Church, however, Kennedy should have been asking the Pope for forgiveness....
-- After Kennedy's Death: Silence from the Pope

"A crummy commercial? Son of a bitch!"

[CharlesWayneCT]

It’s funny how nobody even blinks at the audacity and privilege this represents.

There are millions of Catholics, and many are on death’s door. None of them would ever expect they could get an envoy to take a letter for them to the Pope, much less get an answer.

But Kennedy, since he has money and, well, he’s Kennedy, just assumes that he deserves a personal appeal to the Pope.

And Obama, who would no doubt frown upon being asked to take a letter from a “common folk” had no problem serving as a postal worker for Kennedy.

[anton]

What a scam. He pulled the Pope’s pants down with this one. No chance the Pope would eulogize this dirtball, so they send a private letter and then have some stooge priest read parts of the reply. Geez. You’d think the Vatican could have figured that one out.

[Fantasywriter]

I can’t bring myself to read the letters. Can you tell me if the Pope urged Kennedy to repent of his pro partial-birth activism? Thank you.