Kennedy's poignant letter to Pope

Admits he has been 'imperfect' and asks for prayer

KELLY FINCHAM,

IrishCentral.Com Editor

Published Sunday, August 30, 2009, 9:52 AM

Updated Tuesday, September 1, 2009, 9:24 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

6 Comments

The burial of Senator Edward Kennedy at Arlington in Virginia

Senator Edward Kennedy spoke from beyond the grave last night at Arlington national cemetery.

Reading from a letter that Kennedy had sent to the Pope in July; Cardinal Theodore McCarrick revealed just how strong Ted Kennedy's Catholic faith was.

In the letter, Kennedy, who described himself as an "imperfect being," asked for blessing and prayer in his struggle with brain cancer.

He said he knew he was close to the end and wrote; "The disease is taking its toll on me," "I am preparing for the next passage of life."

"I have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family and both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured and provides solace to me in the darkest hours.

"I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path.

1 2 Next page >

Nster.com

E-mail

6 Comments

See all comments

Spiritranger | Feb 19, 2010, 11:30 AM EST

poignant or pointless? Jesus said "repent and believe the Gospel", "unless you repent you will likewise perish", and "you must be born again." Christian repentance means more than just a feeling of shame or sorrow over sin. I pray for his family. God help us all to repent and believe.

Report abuse

tullamore | Nov 29, 2009, 08:56 AM EST

His fate rests with God, not the Popes and not ours.Unfortunately his bad decisions stand out in in our minds and we forgot the good that he did accomplish.

Report abuse

liseuxx | Nov 24, 2009, 09:02 AM EST

Notice that the Vatican NEVER made a public statement of mourning on Ted Kennedy's death. But when his sister Eunice died earlier, Pope Benedict sent out a statement on her life giving glory to Christ.

Report abuse

MaryWaterton | Nov 22, 2009, 05:50 PM EST

While he was alive he gleefully and willfully broke every law in God's Book, everything from abortion to homosexual marriage. I hope the undertaker had the good sense to bury Ted Kennedy in an asbestos suit.

Report abuse

texasannie | Nov 11, 2009, 08:16 PM EST

today is veteran's day, november 11, to all veterans i wish you the best and a heartfelt thanks for the service you have given, texasannie

Report abuse

texasannie | Nov 11, 2009, 08:12 PM EST

hi there! concerning this portion of ted's letter, it is not up to me to be his final judge and jury, however, i do have an opinion.....seems he admits he was a member of a family who had a very active faith..and he CHOSE to mock that faith with his decions in government and even his personal lifestyle.....and now that it is evident he will be "meeting his maker" he would like a kind word from the pope on his behalf.... Catholics should not push for abortion in any shape or form...and since i am a staunch conservative in my political belief and ted was a liberal, i also think just doing things for the advantage of any minority regardless if it hurts another group of people or not is not always the best thing to do....he had what i call rich boy guilt, it would have been better if he gave away some of his wealth instead of "ours".

Report abuse