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J.M.J.
September 8th 2009
Feast
of the Nativity of the BVM
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
There is much truth to the saying that many of our wounds are self inflicted. This has been especially true for the Roman Catholic Church. Recall that the clergy sex abuse scandal first came to light because of the Roman Bishops’ hypocritical nature and the laxity in handling the numerous pedophile priests. According to statistics the Roman Church is still reeling from the aftershocks.
Recently, the Roman Church further diminished her credibility when it was announced that a Mass of Christian Burial would be celebrated for Senator Edward M. Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica. It was also announced that President Barack Obama would be the eulogist.
Senator Kennedy, along with President Obama have been the most pro-abortion and pro-embryonic stem cell research politicians in the nation. As a matter of fact, Senator Kennedy refused to vote for Supreme Court nominees Robert Bork and Samuel Alito for fear their appointment might lead to overturning Roe v. Wade. These positions are inimical to Catholic Church teaching and throughout the years, the American hierarchy has railed against Catholic politicians such as Kennedy who hold such views. Some bishops have even advised them not to receive Holy Communion -- an action just short of excommunication.
In recent days the Roman spin-doctors have done their best to portray Senator Kennedy as a devout Catholic. Stories of his visits to church in order to pray for his ailing daughter Kara, a cancer survivor, and reports of his personal religiosity have been widely circulated. The media has also noted numerous visits by priests to the Kennedys’ home during his illness for the administration of the sacraments, presumably including confession and even the celebration of a private Mass in Kennedys’ living room. There is no report, however, of repudiation of his voting record or sorrow for his obstinate refusal to adhere to Catholic morality on two of the most important life issues. An important part of the Sacrament of Penance, along with sorrow for sin, is to try to repair the damages that our sins have caused. Certainly, enough time had elapsed between the diagnosis of the Senator’s terminal illness and his death for him to make amends and to alleviate some of the scandal. Yet, there is no indication that this has happened.
A Mass of Christian Burial is a privilege -- not a right. It is for those who have lived an upright Christian life. Senator Kennedy’s scandalous disregard of his Church’s teaching and the destruction of human life that may be attributed to his voting record make his funeral celebration quite scandalous. The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church states: “Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to evil… and that it takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it”(n. 2284-85). For such a person the Code of Canon Law says, “Church funeral rites are to be denied to the following (unless they gave some sign of repentance before death): manifest sinners to whom a Church funeral could not be granted without public scandal to the faithful” (c. 1184.3).
How many Catholics have been led astray by Senator Kennedy and other prominent pro-choice Politicians? And, finally, how many other “Catholic” politicians will be emboldened to emulate his behavior because of the honor the Roman Church is extending to him?
Sean O’Malley honors the murderer of millions of innocent unborn children
Some will argue that the Church, by its very nature, always gives the benefit of the doubt to the sinner. Yet, even such an act of charity calls for a pastoral solution so as not to mislead others and cause greater harm. It should be made clear that, as it is the purpose of every Catholic funeral, especially the Mass, to be celebrated to beg God’s mercy for the deceased. But, then even this solution is meaningless when the nation’s most pro-choice president ever is permitted to eulogize his ideological soul mate in the Church’s sanctuary.
In the 1930s, it was in a time just like this that a single Roman Catholic Bishop stood up and said "NO MORE!" to the hypocrisy, the media whoring, the money mongering. "NO MORE!" to the compromise of our Catholic values. "NO MORE!" to forgetting about Christ and His plan of Salvation for us. That man was Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who, as a result of the Roman Church, realized his vision of a Christ-centered, pure, national, Catholic and Apostolic Church. That vision lives on with us today.
Now, just as then, the Roman Church’s credibility has once again been undermined by their Bishops. Not too long ago, the last scandal was that of Pedophilia. This scandal is even bigger than that one because this creates even greater confusion through deliberate and willful action, not just disordered weakness. Will Roman Catholics ever break out of their apathy and brainwashing and see the truth? Catholics have a choice! In a time of universal deceit, even the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
In Christ
+Michael
Superior General
Opus Apostolorum