I’m quite willing to pray for the guy. I certainly hope he found mercy. But I’m basically with Mark Brumley when it comes to the absurd de facto canonization of the Edward Kennedy. “Santo Subito” is one thing when it comes to the cry of the global Church at the funeral of JPII. It’s rather another when it comes to some party hacks in Boston.

God have mercy on Ted Kennedy. I sincerely hope his last confessions were fruitful and that the sacrament of anointing did what our Lord promises it will do.

Speaking of which, somebody wrote me to ask:

With Ted Kennedy’s passing, as found myself thinking, “Who was the most damaging public figure to the Church in last 100 years?”

Besides Ted, I considered people like Phil Donahue, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden (the latter two went on national TV to tell bold-faced lies about the church’s stance on abortion). Barack Obama at Notre Dame, perhaps…But I think what REALLY damaged the Church was Mario Cuomo’s 1984 Notre Dame speech that justified Catholic support for the pro-choicers: “While I accept my church’s teaching on abortion, I do not feel it is my right to impose this view on others.”

That speech opened the gate, gave cover to Catholic Dems, and I dont know how we can recover.

I’s like to hear who you think was the worst enemy of the American Church in the last 100 years.

That’s easy: me. Nobody else’s sins can send me to Hell. As the Prophet Chesterton said when asked “What’s Wrong with the World?”: “I am.”

PS: Since I apparently have to spell it out: The above exchange is *NOT* an invitation to combox warriors to start speculating on who is your favorite person to sit in judgment of and speculate about their eternal reward. All attempts to do so will be summarily deleted.

I’m quite willing to pray for the guy. I certainly hope he found mercy. But I’m basically with Mark Brumley when it comes to the absurd de facto canonization of the Edward Kennedy. “Santo Subito” is one thing when it comes to the cry of the global Church at the funeral of JPII. It’s rather another when it comes to some party hacks in Boston.

God have mercy on Ted Kennedy. I sincerely hope his last confessions were fruitful and that the sacrament of anointing did what our Lord promises it will do.

Speaking of which, somebody wrote me to ask:

With Ted Kennedy’s passing, as found myself thinking, “Who was the most damaging public figure to the Church in last 100 years?”

Besides Ted, I considered people like Phil Donahue, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden (the latter two went on national TV to tell bold-faced lies about the church’s stance on abortion). Barack Obama at Notre Dame, perhaps…But I think what REALLY damaged the Church was Mario Cuomo’s 1984 Notre Dame speech that justified Catholic support for the pro-choicers: “While I accept my church’s teaching on abortion, I do not feel it is my right to impose this view on others.”

That speech opened the gate, gave cover to Catholic Dems, and I dont know how we can recover.

I’s like to hear who you think was the worst enemy of the American Church in the last 100 years.

That’s easy: me. Nobody else’s sins can send me to Hell. As the Prophet Chesterton said when asked “What’s Wrong with the World?”: “I am.”

PS: Since I apparently have to spell it out: The above exchange is *NOT* an invitation to combox warriors to start speculating on who is your favorite person to sit in judgment of and speculate about their eternal reward. All attempts to do so will be summarily deleted.

His Vigil will be at Blessed Sacrament 7 PM tomorrow. The funeral will be the next day (same place) at 10 AM. Get there early for both because I think it will be extremely crowded: a beautiful testimony to a man much loved.

I’ve already started to ask his intercession.

Santo subito!