O’Malley defends Kennedy’s Catholic funeral

(RNS) Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston on Wednesday (Sept. 2) defended his attendance at the funeral of Sen. Ted Kennedy, a prominent dissenter from Catholic teachings on gay rights and legalized abortion. O’Malley wrote on his blog that it was “appropriate to represent the church at this liturgy out of respect for the senator, his […]

(RNS) Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston on Wednesday (Sept. 2) defended his attendance at the funeral of Sen. Ted Kennedy, a prominent dissenter from Catholic teachings on gay rights and legalized abortion.

O’Malley wrote on his blog that it was “appropriate to represent the church at this liturgy out of respect for the senator, his family, those who attended Mass” and others praying for the Kennedys. “We are people of faith and we believe in a loving and forgiving God from whom we seek mercy,” the cardinal continued.

The funeral for Kennedy, who died Aug. 25 from brain cancer at age 77, was held last Saturday at Boston’s Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where the late senator regularly prayed after his daughter was diagnosed with cancer.


Conservative Catholics have said the church sends mixed messages by protesting Kennedy’s stance on gay issues and abortion for years, but allowing him to have a Catholic funeral. Judie Brown of the American Life League said: “Spitting on Christ himself at his crucifixion could not have been any more disdainful than what we witnessed Saturday.”

“There are those who objected, in some cases vociferously, to the church’s providing a Catholic funeral for the senator,” O’Malley wrote on his blog. “In the strongest terms I disagree with that position.”

Changing abortion laws requires changing minds, O’Malley wrote, which becomes more difficult if the church alienates people. “We will not change hearts by turning away from people in their time of need and when they are experiencing grief and loss,” the cardinal wrote.

O’Malley also called on Catholics to tone down some of the heated rhetoric on abortion. “At times, even in the church, zeal can lead people to issue harsh judgments and impute the worst motives to each other. These attitudes and practices do irreparable damage to the communion of the church,” he said.

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