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Q&A: Ted Kennedy Biographer Adam Clymer on Kennedy's Catholicism

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God will judge us all. Every person conceived has a purpose. We are to seek the Truth, Speak the Truth, Share the Truth, and Defend the Truth. The Truth will set us Free. We are conceived to Love. Life is all about Love. Love God and our neighbor. We are to Protect Life. Thou shall not kill.
Unborn babies are the least fortunate of all our people. They are the weakest, poorest, and most dependent. They can not speak out against the slaughter nor can they demonstrate to tell the Truth about how horrific the receiving end of an abortion is.
Our country would be a better place without abortion and the slaughter of 3200 babies a day in America.
God Speed Love over slaughter.
Love Life.

ComPassion of IN 10:10PM September 03, 2009

None of us are perfect and the extremist comments I have read here as we mourn a man who genuinely cared for people and helped those less fortunate is just so very sad to me. Perhaps those who write these things never benefited from anything that Senator Kennedy did. I did not agree with everything he did or all of his views but I did see my elderly parents benefit from his programs such as Meals on Wheels when they were both sick and unable to go to the store or properly cook for themselves and I have seen firsthand the good that City Year has done for the city of Boston. These are just two examples. There are so many.
A true or proper Catholic doesn't have to be perfect and they can have their own ideas and opinions that may not be in line with what some Catholics who have posted here believe. I don't recall judgmentalism being a Catholic trait. The opposite is true. And this is one of the things that I admired in Senator Kennedy. He helped people of all races and religions, children, elderly, disabled, military, sexual preference, and more. Sure, Senator Kennedy made mistakes in his life. We have ALL done things that were wrong or that we are ashamed of. God forgives and requires forgiveness from all of us.
Thank you Senator Kennedy for your time and devotion to helping the less fortunate and for trying to make the state of Massachusetts and our country a better place. May you rest in peace and godspeed to your family.

Heather of MA 6:30AM August 29, 2009

You cannot be a real Catholic or Christian for that matter and support the genocide of abortion. The human sexual act of love was created by God as an act of love between a wife and husband that unites them to Christ. Sex is not a recreational sport to be enjoyed by anyone who feels the whim to engage in it for fun. It is not love when sex becomes recreational and results in the killing of an innocent life, rather it is hatred in the highest form.

Paul of CT 10:42PM August 28, 2009

Abortion is not health care. Abortion is not social justice. Abortion is not Love. Abortion is Slaughter of 3200 unborn babies a DAY, 96,000 a MONTH, 1.2 Million a year, and more than 45 Million in 36 years in America.
This is a slaughter of the least of our people(poorest and weakest).
We will stand together and Say NO to the free slaughter without a chance to respect and protect the lives of both the mother and the child.
Respect Life.
Protect Life.
Protect Love.
Love Life.

ComPassion of IN 10:19PM August 28, 2009

Lisa, Thanks for sharing this. I did not know this and it sheds new light on many things.
Kennedy displayed an eloquent pro-life position in 1971, prior to Roe v. Wade, when he wrote a letter to Catholic League member Tom Dennelly.
“While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized—the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old," he wrote."
“On the question of the individual’s freedom of choice there are easily available birth control methods and information which women may employ to prevent or postpone pregnancy. But once life has begun, no matter at what stage of growth, it is my belief that termination should not be decided merely by desire," he added.
“When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception," he concluded.
In 2005, Catholic League president William Donohue talked about Kennedy's transformation on abortion.
"Sadly for him, history will look back at this era and recognize that he didn't care enough about human beings to take responsibility for children from the very moment of conception," he said.

ComPassion of IN 9:49PM August 28, 2009

The same priest who summarily denied my request to begin annulment process, was later found guilty of theft from the Church and homosexual relations with much younger men. There is so much hypocrisy in the Church. I follow my conscience and not the dictates of these very fallible men.

claudia johnson of RI 8:44PM August 28, 2009

Dr. Sallyannne McColgan of MA, Please read this article on the question about Women as Priests.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/WHYWOMEN.TXT

ComPassion of IN 11:30PM August 27, 2009

Dr. Sallyannne McColgan of MA do you have data that supports your statements of the percentages?
I have read what you wrote several times and I am not sure I understand where you stand.
Do you agree with the Catechism of the Catholic Church or not?
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
2270
"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person--among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life."
2271
"Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law."
2274
"Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being."

ComPassion of IN 10:54PM August 27, 2009

If you look to the Cardinals appointed to American archdioceses you will find that many if not most are registered as or have endorsed the Republican platform. The bishops are more evenly distributed, with the majority not declaring a party affliliation. Priests and nuns tend to be more Democratically oriented, as id the laity.
This is the pattern found in most corporate hierarchies. The higher up, themore Republican; the lower down, the more Democratic.
May I ask why Catholic bashing is the last acceptable prejudice practice. We continue a great deal to all aspects of American life. We believe in living the practice of social justice that is clearly outlined in the Gospels, Acts and Epistles. We are among the the group of religions that is the least likey to proscelitize. We are the largest religious group in the USA, by sects.
While as a scientifically Catholic I believe that life starts at conception, the teaching of the church is not infallible on this point. It has not been proclaimed ex cathedra. The teaching is advisory. 100 years ago the church and most religions in the judeo-christian community did not ban slavery. The teaching has changed, but is still advisory. So much for: "In Christ there is no north or south..." The position of women in the church is still discriminatory against women. It is not an infallible teaching; it is advisory.
Perhaps if catholics, and those who love to bash them would only read carefully and find out what is truly dogmatic teaching we could try to be more Christlike and not judge people. We are called to form right consciences, not just accept one that is created from hearsay, ignorance and laziness, Because I was told what I should think by someone who identified as a catholic does not mean it is gospel based or based in truth.

Dr. Sallyannne McColgan of MA 10:43PM August 27, 2009

If Rudy Guliana died he would never get a Catholic funeral. But then, he is a Republican, and that isn't the party of most of the hierarchy in this country. Being a Democrat trumps everything: religion, abortion, fetal stem cell research, gay marriage, you name it. The "Social Justice" of the Democrats, never mind if it is right out of the Communist Manifesto, is the magic phrase that rights every wrong from the murder of unborn infants to legalized sodomy. And that is why Ted Kennedy is getting not only a Catholic funeral, but a euology from the most pro-abortion person ever to hold the office of the Presidency. Few would object to a private funeral Mass for Mr. Kennedy, but the huge televised event in a large basilica is just another scandal for the Church. Satan must be proud!!

JTC of KS 9:40PM August 27, 2009