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Sen. Kennedy's funeral
by Richard McBrien on Sep. 28, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionThere is a Latin phrase in the Easter Vigil liturgy, "O felix culpa" ("O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!" -- from the Easter Proclamation, also known as the Exultet, from its first word, "Rejoice").
In clerical circles at least, the expression "felix culpa" has frequently been used to describe an unfortunate event or circumstance that has a good, though unintended or unexpected, consequence.
The venomous (and I choose that adjective deliberately) reaction to Cardinal Sean O'Malley's presence at Sen. Edward Kennedy's funeral in Boston Aug. 29 was just such a development–a "felix culpa," or "happy fault." I'll explain why in a moment.
There is no one in the United States hierarchy with greater impeccable anti-abortion credentials than the archbishop of Boston. It is also true of Cardinal O'Malley that he has good pastoral judgment.
Thus, during the 2004 election campaign when some American bishops were threatening to deny Holy Communion to the other senator from Massachusetts, John Kerry, who also happened to be that year's Democratic candidate for president of the United States, Sen. Kerry's own bishop, Cardinal O'Malley, did not follow suit.
If any bishop might have denied Sen. Kerry Communion because of his pro-choice (not pro-abortion) votes in the U. S. Senate, it was surely the cardinal-archbishop of Boston. But he chose not to make such a threat or hand down such an order to his priests.
In other words, Cardinal O'Malley showed then, as he did again by attending Sen. Kennedy's funeral, that it is possible to be vigorously anti-abortion while at the same time exercising pastoral prudence.
Why, then, did I describe the harsh reaction to the cardinal's presence at the Kennedy funeral last month as a "felix culpa," or "happy fault"?
Because it showed good, conservative bishops like Cardinal O'Malley just how extreme and even fanatical some Catholics can be, and are, in the anti-abortion cause.
We here at the University of Notre Dame saw that extremism in action in connection with our graduation ceremony in May, when the likes of Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, and Alan Keyes, Barack Obama's opponent in the 2004 Senate race in Illinois, led the on-campus protests.
The event proved to be a triumphant success and a dramatic repudiation of the 80-odd bishops (not including Cardinal O'Malley, by the way) who had publicly protested the university's selection of President Obama as its commencement speaker and recipient of an honorary doctorate.
One archbishop, Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe, N.M., recently went on record in criticism of the "loud tactics" of some of his fellow bishops. (See his interview with Tom Roberts in the National Catholic Reporter, "Bishop decries 'combative tactics' of a minority of U. S. bishops," 8/26/09.)
There is a persistent rumor that Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States, had also privately criticized those bishops at a recent meeting of the U.S. bishops' conference, and that he has given the green light to other bishops, like Archbishop Sheehan, to speak out on the issue.
Some of the nastiest rhetoric from the anti-abortion forces in the Catholic church has come, however, from lay people, and it was directed most recently at surely one of the least likely targets in the entire Catholic community, namely, Cardinal O'Malley.
According to The Boston Globe, the archdiocese received "hundreds of phone calls and e-mails," in addition to negative comments by bloggers and some anti-abortion organizations which took the Cardinal to task for participating in the Kennedy funeral. Archbishop Raymond Burke, formerly of St. Louis and now the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, or Vatican Supreme Court, told a Washington gathering last week that "Neither Holy Communion nor funeral rites should be administered to such politicians." One of Cardinal O'Malley's sharpest critics was Raymond Arroyo, anchor and news director on Mother Angelica's Eternal Word Television Network.
The cardinal responded to this criticism on his own blog, excerpts of which were published in the Globe (Michael Paulson, "O'Malley defends role at Kennedy rites," 9/3/09).
He warned against "harsh judgments" and attributing "the worst motives" to people with whom Catholics have disagreements, saying "these attitudes and practices do irreparable damage to the communion of the church."
"If any cause is motivated by judgment, anger or vindictiveness," he continued, "it will be doomed to marginalization and failure."
And to those who argued that Sen. Kennedy did not merit a Catholic funeral because of his support for abortion rights, the Cardinal wrote: "In the strongest terms I disagree with that position."
"We will not change hearts by turning away from people in their time of need and when they are experiencing grief and loss," he added. "Our proclamation of the truth is hindered when we are divided and fighting with each other."
Sound words from Cardinal O'Malley.
© 2009 Richard P. McBrien. All rights reserved. Fr. McBrien is the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.
Let us read as lectio divina,
Let us read as lectio divina, contemplate, incarnate, "own" and act upon these wise and profoundly loving words of this great Cardinal of Boston, who 'warned against "harsh judgments" and attributing "the worst motives" to people with whom Catholics have disagreements, saying "these attitudes and practices do irreparable damage to the communion of the church." "If any cause is motivated by judgment, anger or vindictiveness," he continued, "it will be doomed to marginalization and failure." And to those who argued that Sen. Kennedy did not merit a Catholic funeral because of his support for abortion rights, the Cardinal wrote: "In the strongest terms I disagree with that position." "We will not change hearts by turning away from people in their time of need and when they are experiencing grief and loss," he added. "Our proclamation of the truth is hindered when we are divided and fighting with each other." Sound words from Cardinal O'Malley.'
Sound words from the Reverend Father Richard P. McBrien which we gratefully hear (AUSCULTA!) and so breathe the more easily, and live as Faith-filled Roman Catholics, grateful, and grace-filled.
Thanking God for leaving a space even for me, the least of all, I remain Roman Catholic, practicing and one day perfecting, and your least
frère charles
Thank you for your many
Thank you for your many responses to various articles. You give me hope that there are sane minds in the church.
Dear frere Charles du desert,
Dear frere Charles du desert, Once again very strong support for Fr. McBrien. One looking at the funeral for Ted Kennedy must ask of him/herself especially if one is Catholic the following: 1) Cardinal O'Malley stated that Ted Kennedy was a member in good standing with the Catholic Church. His second marriage was not publicized as having been annuled. Therefore his first marriage to his wife Joan must have been considered a valid marriage and he and Joan did have children. Are we to believe that all Catholics can go through the same circumstances and be buried from the Church? A simple yes or no will suffice. 2) There were at least three books written about the incident at Chappaquidic. All read basically the same and Ms Kopeckne apparently was alive for four hours and did not drown. She suffocated to death in an air pocket when the car tipped upside down. Why didn't Ted go the closest house which had lights on and call for help? When Ted went back to the house to get a couple of aides and return to the car to try to rescue Ms. Kopeckne why didn't one of his aides call 911 to obtain aid instead of trying to rescue her? And finally why did Ted swim approximately one and a half miles to check into a Hotel and get up at nine o'clock a.m. and appear at breakfast laughing and having a good time and still not report the "accident"?
We don't want to do "irreparable damage to the communion of the church"? This appears to be a precedent to the cover-up of the pedophiles. If our Priests have a tendency to cover-up who is there to teach us?
1) yes 2) countless more
1) yes
2) countless more books have been written which tell an entirely different story. The best book of course to read is by the late, great and very Honorable senior Senator himself. I refer you to Sister Maureen Fiedler's article posted here today about her interview with the assistant in writing this important work, of which the principle fault may be a tragic acceptance of the Warren Commission's pre-ordained conclusions.
I mean, Tom, were you there? Was Ted? Why such bitter personal engagement even now? And in what specific possible manner do you draw any connection at all to the ecclesial machinations of Cardinal Bernie Law?
"Who is there to teach us?"
Jesus Christ, who teaches: Love thy enemies.
A traditional Work of Mercy is to bury the dead, Tom.
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco)
Actually, the marriage to
Actually, the marriage to Joan was annulled. As for Chappaquidick, it was tragic but not rescuing someone, while regretable, is not a mortal sin. Buying into the lies of conspiracy mongers is, however.
I was not so much concerned
I was not so much concerned with the presence of the arch-bishop as to the horrible liturgy that it was. Have any of those responsible for setting it up ever read the liturgical books (the post-Vatican II liturgical books, mind you)? I wasn't sure because the presider seemed to be using sheets of loose paper instead of books. Good luck with anyone in the archdiocese who wants long pointless eulogies from now on (which are forbidden). Political speeches instead of intercessions. The best thing would have been to have a private funeral Mass (i.e. without cameras) and then have all of the things that should not be associated with a Catholic funeral Mass (i.e. long eulogies) done at Arlington the wake or another venue.
I agree with this. The
I agree with this. The liturgy was clearly cobbled-together in an effort to politicize what was supposed to be a religious event focused on intercession and prayer for Senator Kennedy's eternal soul.
General intercessions, depending on who writes them, can often be turned into political statements. If we have to endure the intercessions at Mass, then they should be composed along the same lines as the intercessions during Morning and Evening Prayer in the Breviary.
On the topic at hand, I have never been a supporter of the idea of refusing to allow Catholic funerals for Catholics, even those who are in opposition to Church teaching. The whole point of the Mass of Christian Burial is to ask God's mercy and forgiveness on the soul of the person who has died, and to pray for the happy repose of that soul. Senator Kennedy is in as much need of those prayers and that mercy as any of us, myself included.
Green declares: "General
Green declares: "General intercessions, depending on who writes them, can often be turned into political statements. If we have to endure the intercessions at Mass, then they should be composed along the same lines as the intercessions during Morning and Evening Prayer in the Breviary."
Last Saturday, coincidentally, and by the great grace and merciful love of God, I managed to travel about 125 kilometers or more east to our nearby suffering city of Ciudad Juarez, where the violence is unstoppable, in order to take part in a truly loving and genuine paraliturgical march for peace by over five hundred young people for three hours through the hot sun to the Cathedral, where to the continuing booming of large cardboard barrel drums held by the young men, the young women waved their regional and national banners before the altar, before the huge image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and before our Lord Crucified, beseeching earnestly peace integrally, physically, spiritually, psychologically. I sent photos and a report to our beloved and wise NCR editors, a ver que hacen . . .
While there, of course I hid away awhile in the Cathedral's basement bookstore catacomb, and purchased once more a Liturgy of the Hours in hopes I might actually once more develop the hourly habit of reading it reinforcing my other reading. The life of a hermit in exile is so hard, and I beg your prayers in this, with greatest regularity.
Yet this comment quoted here from Green leads me to open randomly this blessed book of prayers, published in its ninth edition nearly a year ago by Editorial Alba in the great city of Tlaquepaque in the state of Jalisco, for San Pablo, under the title Liturgia de las Horas el Pueblo, with Nihil Obstat from Francisco Sirito, Censor dep. in Mexico City and Imprimatur from the Archbishop of Guadalajara, Jose Salazar Lopez, President of the Bishops Liturgical Commission, Mexican Music and Sacred Art, this signature witnessed by the Secretary Father Ramon Godinez F.
Opening this wonderful and felicitous abbreviated breviary at random, inspired by the above attached quote from Green we find these petitions in my rough if strict translation:
For the fourth Vespers of Monday on page 341 we pray:
"You who by your Blood pacified the world, make far from us the sin of discord and the whips of war"
For the second Vespers of the third Sunday, again randomly opening to page 234, we pray (and please pray with me!): "To all those who love justice and struggle to achieve it, grant us that we cooperate sincerely and together in building a better world"
For the second Vespers of the first Sunday we pray upon page 38: "Protect with your mighty arm the Pope and all bishops, and grant they work together in unity, love and peace."
In particular let us join our hands and our less-than-mighty arms in prayer for blessings and fortification for our good Cardinal here quoted from the rightful and worshipful funeral rites of the late and very Honorable senior Senator of Massachusetts, and in particular for the fine and courageous and prophetic work of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, as regularly reported upon these grace-filled pages of ncronline.org
I would quote more of these petitions (I don't know, are they "political statements?") but fear trying your endurances, remembering Green wrote "If we have to endure the intercessions at Mass . . ."
pray for me please persistently
frere charles du desert OSB OBLAT
Frere Charles, I agree with
Frere Charles, I agree with Clint Green, but I think he should have said that the intercessions should have followed those in "The Rite of Christian Funerals." My former pastor always said that priests, deacons and parish communities should stick to the rites of the Church without adding or subtracting from them. He was a wise man. It would be nice if you referred to Clint as Clint rather than as Green. It shows more respect for a brother in Christ. Where is the love, dude?
Milbo, thanks for the
Milbo, thanks for the correction. You're right, I meant to say "Rite of Christian Funerals". Sounds like your former parish priest truly understood the liturgy. It gives me great hope for the future of Mother Church when I consider that most of the young seminarians, transitional deacons and young priests I know feel exactly the same way when it comes to the Church's liturgy.
As for Frere Charles, rarely do I see fraternal charity directed toward anyone who disagrees with him. Kinda sad for one who claims to be a disciple of our blessed father Benedict.
Rarely do we see from Green
Rarely do we see from Green any facts to back up his opinions
I note milbo1's kindly
I note milbo1's kindly cultural suggestion regarding the use of names, and had believed that I was properly using the journalistic norms employed upon these present very professional pages as elsewhere throughout journalism in anglo America, in which after the first, full reference to a complete name, simply last names are printed. In this therefore I find that not only do I suffer from the usual and persistent severe limitation in my literary capabilities, but also from my extreme unfamiliarity with anglo-American cultural practices.
I sensed that to jump to the extreme intimacy implied in employing only a first name would be presumptuous of me, and unwelcomed, as I had been trained otherwise in other places. Certainly the cultural usages among anglo Americans appears to the point of the arbitrary, and another excuse eagerly to take offense and to feign high umbrage.
Would you also place the liturgical judgment of your local parish priest over that of the distinguished Cardinal? This smells of dissent . . .
And, may I call you mil?
You may call me:
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco)
Merci, Frere Charles!
Merci, Frere Charles!
a votre service, copain!
a votre service, copain!
Families do have a right to
Families do have a right to some say in planning such the funeral Mass. If you don't agree with how they honored their family patriarch, you could have turned on the Golf Channel.
Chicago's Catholic NewWorld
Chicago's Catholic NewWorld has a letter this week about this issue. Among other statements, the author states that he offended Mr. XVVVVVV and every other conservative Roman Catholic by his (the Cardinal's) presence. I offered this response:
I wonder if Mr. XVVVVVV and others offended )that Cardinal O'Malley blessed the late Senator Kennedy's body
considered the whole of the day of his funeral and burial. I found the day
on the whole to be a wonderful representation of Catholicism at its best:
?Those who eulogized him did not ignore that he, too, was a sinner;
?The letter he wrote to the Pope which was read at the commendation by
Cardinal McCarrick served as a public statement of fault and request for
reconciliation--implying his desire for reconciliation with the Church;
?The Vatican response was like a public absolution.
There may be conservative Roman Catholics who would deny the possibility of
forgiveness and redemption for public figures who sin but, unlike Mr. XVVVVVV, I
would not think it is every one of them.
I must side with Cardinal
I must side with Cardinal O'Malley and Fr. McBrien on the issue of Cardinal O'Malley's presence at Ted Kennedy's funeral mass. I no longer consider myself Roman Catholic for many reasons - the stand on birth control, the pedophile scandal, the insistence on original sin, its teaching that Jesus is God and had to atone for our sins, the teaching that Mary is a virgin, etc. etc. etc. However, I sense a real feeling of community when I do go to mass or even to the Presbyterian Church which I sometimes attend, and morning prayer during which Communion is given and so I receive. Maybe I should wear a sign with my beliefs or lack of them so the priest knows what to do, refuse or permit my reception of the Eucharist. How many were at the funeral for TK who believe as I do or even different beliefs???? Judge not and you shall not be judged.
If you don't believe that
If you don't believe that Jesus is God I am glad you no longer call yourself Catholic (or Christian?). The ironic thing is that some LCWR sisters have been quoted saying as much.
Did your personal venom
Did your personal venom really require this non-sequitor?
Kindly if anonymously supply
Kindly if anonymously supply your source material for this assertation
Go back to Laurie Brink's
Go back to Laurie Brink's LCWR speech where SHE describes some communities who themselves are proud to be post-Christian and have moved beyond Jesus.
I notice you anonymously
I notice you anonymously remain incapable of producing a specific quote.
Thoughtful and insightful as
Thoughtful and insightful as always, Rev. McBrien. Bravo!
The Cardinal Archbishop of
The Cardinal Archbishop of Boston is a man of great prudence and pastoral care. God bless him. It is sad that Archbishop Burke, now that he has been sent to Rome, cannot keep out of politics here in the States. They moved Burke to Rome, it might be a good idea for him to stay there.
Perhaps we might discover
Perhaps we might discover through Archbishop Burke's frequent public appearances and pronouncements upon these shores that those discreet office workers in Rome do not want him banging arond making a mess in their nice clean Signatura either.
Why don't you prove what you
Why don't you prove what you say instead of being such a gossip?
This man is above reproach; you in you desert whatever are questionable, in my estimation.
Care to spare, frere?
For you, my dearest, Cyp, I
For you, my dearest, Cyp, I "care to spare" all that I have, whatever little I have, if you could only assist my severely limited literary capacities by explaining this phrase, which is new to me.
As for proof of the above I best refer you to our very insightful column by the great Mr. John Allen, who recently wrote eloquently, and between the lines, regarding the "impresionante" anglo-American presence in Vatican offices, and cleverly without naming names addresses this very point.
In my parish bulletin there
In my parish bulletin there was a request to contact our congressmen and senators to oppose Healthcare bill H.R. 3200. The request was based on false information that the bill "dictated" federally funded abortion and euthanasia. It requested that we look at an article from the Wanderer entitled "Time to Go Grampa". You get the picture. I think the church should cash in its tax exempt status and file PAC papers for the ultra-right.
Amen to that!
Amen to that!
Did this come from the
Did this come from the Bishop, the Pastor or someone on a parish committee? If the latter, complain to the Pastor. If the middle, don't give them money on Sunday.
Good Stuff!! Let's hope
Good Stuff!! Let's hope other rational leaders feel comfortable standing up like the good Sean
Cardinal O'Malley was right
Cardinal O'Malley was right in what he did, proving himself the Franciscan that he is. I am sorry to have to disagree with my friend Raymond Arroyo on this one. Please don't judge Raymond, you on the Catholic left. He is a charitable man, at least to this schismatic priest.
Anyone who thinks Ted Kennedy
Anyone who thinks Ted Kennedy should have been denied a Catholic funeral must read his memoir. The depth of his Christian faith and the breadth of his concern for others shine through the pages.
Those who Walk In The Spirit
Those who Walk In The Spirit choose Life. There is a difference between our failure to always live our Lives according to The Truth and asking for God's Forgiveness and denying that The Truth is The Truth to begin with.
Thank you for this essay, Fr.
Thank you for this essay, Fr. McBrien. Cardinal O'Malley did us proud at Kennedy's funeral; thank God for bishops who have not abandoned their pastoral role for that of inquisitor.
Thank you for this essay,
Thank you for this essay, Father O'Brien, but I have to admit that I was stunned when before Mass after warmly embracing President Obama and his wife in the pew, Cardinal O'Malley snubbed Vice-President Biden, who extended his hand and began to rise from the pew, only to have the Cardinal turn his back on him--on national television. I appreciated his coming, but he made his point before the Mass I thought.
That was pointed out by the
That was pointed out by the commentators on the network I watched. Then quickly corrected. The Cardinal and the Vice President talked for a number of minutes before the President arrived and Mass started. Video was shown of their talking. What we saw during Mass was a mis-communication between the Cardinal and the VP.
Oh my, i think hell may have
Oh my, i think hell may have frozen over....I kind of agree with Fr McBrien for once.
Excellent column. For those
Excellent column. For those wishing further understanding of Cardinal O'Malley's (and Richard McBrien's) position I recommend the article "What happened and did not happen at Vatican II" in the Winter 2006 (Volume 53 Number 4) edition of Theology Digest.
Does anyone know what
Does anyone know what Kennedy's personal position was on obortion? I have a feeling he was opposed to it but because he did not want to break with the Democratic Party, he supported abortion rights. I think he was pro-choice rather than pro-abortion. The thought of the procedure being illegal again could lead to greater problems than what we have.
So what you are saying is
So what you are saying is that Kennedy had no backbone and could not stand up for what be believed in? Then all of that stuff about how he stood for those who had no voice they were talking about around his death is all BS because, to use your logic, he disregarded his beliefs to be politically correct (and probably get funding).
A valid question to
A valid question to "anonymous" is do you have any idea what it takes to be a Senator? One might think a man who served in the Senate so long would be above the shouts and prattle of non-supporters. The thing is no Senator can please even as much as half of the constituency. No matter what a Senator does, there will always be those who yell for decapitation. And, because he was a Kennedy, his life was even more public than others. Your message, written with the benefit of anonymity, is excessibely judgemental. When Teddy went to the Senate, I was one who thought a light-weight treading on the coat tails of his brothers. In point of fact, he left the greatest legacy of the four boys.
Apparently he believed in
Apparently he believed in universal healthcare so strongly that he devoted his life to it. At least that is what was being said surrounding his death and funeral. That is what the Democrats are not trying to use to harness some energy for their proposals. If he truly believed that babies are human beings like he believed in universal healthcare, then he wouldn't care what his constituents or anyone thought or what the fall-out was, he would fight to protect them. The fact is that he sold out to keep with his party when they sold out innocent lives for the backing of the abortion industry. Ted Kennedy could have been a huge voice for the protection of the unborn--but he backed down. Imagine Ted Kennedy, the liberal lion of the Senate, heir to the Kennedy legacy, champion of the poor, bucking his party to stand up for the unborn! What a strong and powerful example that would have been. But, he gave in.
I don't think that is what
I don't think that is what the poster was saying at all. I know that there are those who disagree, but there also are those of us who believe that being pro-choice is not necessarily being pro-abortion.
Kennedy was pro abortion.
Kennedy was pro abortion. There is no difference between being pro-choice and pro-abortion. In both instances the believer is in favor of allowing a mother to choose to murder her own child. Being in favor of allowing murder is not Christ-like, no matter how you try to spin it.
Stop trying to sugar coat the sin. Whether a pregnancy is desired, undesired, a product of rape, incest, or whatever, its still murder.
Catholics dont support murder and that includes abortion.
TM (did that not once stand
TM (did that not once stand for Transcendental Meditation?) writes: "Whether a pregnancy is desired, undesired, a product of rape, incest, or whatever, its still murder."
Realizing please that I suffer from a chronic and very debilitating severe limitation of literary capacities, kindly assist me in searching for your immediate antecedent for the pronoun "its (sic)" as what you have apparently written insists that each pregnancy is murder.
How so, TM?
Have you read recently the statistics on the number of newborns and infants unknown buried out in potter's field off the island of Manhattan? I happened to be reading for review Michael Greenberg's new Beg Borrow or Steal collection in which he raises this spectre.
Certainly a very difficult question for our moral theologians, and also an urgent indication of our national need for a universal and accessible health care system instead of (or supplementing at least) the current "pay up or die" system, spawn of Nixon.
Dear Anonymous, Judging
Dear Anonymous, Judging Kennedy's votes I would say he was pro-abortion. He did not vote to do away with partial birth abortion in which the fetus is born and then hideously murdered! And than of course one cannot be pro choice and also pro life!
I realize that this post is
I realize that this post is not addressing the reason for your article, but you did mention it and I think it needs to be addressed more extensively and regularly. And that is the tone and honesty of those who critize, not just on this issue, but on a whole spectrum of issues in our political debate. I have been consistantly disappointed in the failure of our religious leaders to lead in guiding any of these discussions. All to often, it seems to me that if bearing false witness about someone who thinks differently can help a cause, there is not the willingness to speak out against that false witness. Also, the hate that is promoted by many of the pundits is ignored if it is seen as helping a cause move forward. It is a deriliction of duty for our religious leaders to ignore, allow and, sometimes even activly encourage the disrespect and hate that is so often found in our national debate. I believe this has weaken the body of Christ as well as our nation. Clearly, regardless of what the issue is, bearing false witness and hate are not Christian values, although all too often they are disguised and promoted by some of our leaders.
Amen! Well said!
Amen! Well said!
Great Irish poet WB Yeats in
Great Irish poet WB Yeats in his Prayer for HIs Daughter writes:
"For Arrogance and Hatred are the wares / / Peddled on the thoroughfares."
Or on FAuxnews!
Thank God For NCRonline.org!
Thank God for the very REverend Fater RIchard P. McBrien!
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco)
Who are we to judge that
Who are we to judge that which is within the heart of another? And who are we to mete out judgment on behalf of God? I hope some of those "venomous" statements were the result of mere ignorance rather than calculating meanness.The measure of a good pastoral minister is is not merely presiding at liturgical celebrations. It is compassion and the reflection of the mercy of God coupled with prudence and good pastoral judgment.
Now entering my sixth decade
Now entering my sixth decade of life as a practicing Catholic, struggling to muster a sense of charity toward our bench of bishops as a whole, …yet, Sean Cardinal O’Malley is the rare exception.
.
He is currently serving in his third assignment of having to clean up the mess left in the wake of clergy sexual abuse and the malfeasance of his predecessors. Even though himself being a cardinal, among the first properties sold to pay off the massive debt of the archdiocese was the cardinal’s residence/palace… and he voluntarily chose to live in a relatively austere rectory instead. Unlike most of his fellow bishops, he puts his money/poverty where his mouth is, a shepherd sharing in the hardships of the flock.
.
His stance regarding the Kennedy funeral, as well as his refusal to “bribe” politicians with holy communion as reward or punishment, shows that he has a true pastor’s heart. He “gets it”… no one is won-over by being beaten over the head with a book of legalisms, or by valuing inanimate doctrinal “purity” over gently and empathetically shepherding the souls of God’s people (even when it feels more like herding cats). He mirrored our Lord, who patiently valued human need and healing over nit-picking the letter of Law. I thank God that priests like him have been part of my life, especially during the worst of trials.
.
Yes, Cardinal O’Malley “gets it” — what being an Icon of Christ is all about. Too bad his detractors do not.
Aileen, you are forgetting
Aileen, you are forgetting that Cardinal George also sold the palace the Bernadin, Codey and all the other princes of Chicago lived in. Cardinal George also gets it!
Public support of abortion is
Public support of abortion is a scandal to the Catholic people if it is done by a Catholic politician.
Pastoral does not mean overlooking evil or trying to "get along". I cannot judge Cardinal 0'Malley but pitting bishop against bishop is just adolescent.
Father, please grow up!
How many people have been affected by the very public funeral rites of this man, seemingly in the approval of the Church, who made no public disavowal of his promotion of abortion, same sex unions, and embryonic stem-cell research. Who cares how many poor people he championed? How many children died in the womb because of his advocacy of abortion on demand?
The millions of unborn children killed in this country since 1973 cry to heaven for some kind of justice. I'm sorry; but killing the most defenseless individuals is just barbaric; and the harm done to the women who have abortions and the men who either coerce or pay for them is lifelong. And the elderly, infirm and handicapped are next...just look at the proposed "health care" package. Yikes!
You know Hitler was a Catholic, too.
Should have he had a public Catholic funeral?
Cyprian, I find people like
Cyprian,
I find people like you more scandalous to the membership of the Catholic Church than people like Ted Kennedy.
Read the New Testament!
Thank you for the fraternal
Thank you for the fraternal correction. I pray that I may be forgiven of the 'scandal' I cause to others.
But you are missing the point.
Forgiveness is not the issue; I hope and pray Sen. Kennedy is embraced by the heavenly Father.
It is the public scandal involved when someone who consistently opposes the rights of the unborn and lobbies for things that are inimical to Catholic Faith throughout his career that is the "millstone" Jesus spoke about (that's in the New Testament).
And for your edification, I do read the New Testament every day. Sorry, JimNY, you find Jesus' hard words difficult. I find them difficult, as well.
We're all in the same boat. No?
I know where Jesus ask of us
I know where Jesus ask of us not to judge, to love our enemy, to forgive those who sin against us, tohave compassion, not to condemn others, but where in the gospels does he address the women who had abortions?
Cyp, could you please list
Cyp, could you please list the ways in which you discern the senior Senator from Massachusetts, the Honorable Edward Kennedy, who strove to implement Matthew 25 as described in his new biography (hopefully you have read either in order to inform your strongly expressed opinions), "lobbies for things that are inimical to the Catholic Faith throughout his career." Kindly vouchsafe us a list of these "things" for which he "lobbies" (and was he in fact as you indicate a lobbyist?) from his long career as a public servant and a very public Roman Catholic, the most famous in the USA, with dates and SB#'s, etc.
Thank you.
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco
The killing of ANY
The killing of ANY defenseless individual is barbaric. Yet too often it seems that the ones some people see as defenseless are ONLY those in the womb.
A question I have had for a long time in this debate is what is the difference if the anti-abortion crowd takes control of the political realm from that of say what is happening in some countries ruled by Taliban forces?
And a last comment, for all of us who sometimes get too self-righteous, maybe we should all read Flannery O'Connor's short story "Revelation."
Thanks, Fr. McBrien!! God
Thanks, Fr. McBrien!! God help us though if it starts to matter what Raymond Arroyo thinks!!
God bless Cardinal O'Malley
God bless Cardinal O'Malley
Thank you for another
Thank you for another wonderful and educational column. It is so good to know that there are people like you speaking out in the church!
How many of us really deserve
How many of us really deserve a funeral Mass and Christian burial??
Actually, according to the
Actually, according to the prophetic voice of Scripture, NONE of us is "deserving" of any good thing. Two citations, among many:
"We have all become like one who is unclean, and all of our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment and filthy rags". Is.65
The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? I the Lord search the mind and try the heart... Jer.17
God is the judge of each individual soul. The only other person having legitimate involvement is the individual's confessor. Everyone else needs to mind their own business — to turn their high-power laser beam of critique back upon their own souls and their own pet sins... which certain of the most vocal obviously assume to be somehow of less consequence in the eyes of a holy God.
The spiritual arrogance of those who point their finger at another brother or sister in Christ while screaming of "scandal", and demanding that the sacraments and/or a funeral Mass and burial be withheld, is beyond astonishing. Perhaps they should re-read the story about 'the Pharisee and the tax collector' found in the gospel of Luke! Perhaps they might gain God's perspective of who, in reality, actually leaves their temple of worship "justified".
The influx of modern day Pharisees, along with the rancor and the divisions they have caused, is the rotten fruit of the so-called "reform of the reform". Jesus told his followers that the only unforgivable sin was the denial and misrepresentation of the Holy Spirit. No amount of fancy clerical garb and elaborate liturgical practice can successfully conceal the petty ugliness of the unholy "different spirit" which values the 'traditions of the Church' more than the 'Lord of the Church', His Holy Spirit and ALL of God's people. It is a modern rapid-media twist on the darkness and oppression of pre-V2 "traditionalism" at its worst.
God bless Cardinal O'Malley.
God bless Cardinal O'Malley. I only hope that my hatred filled brothers and sisters won't be too disappointed when Ted is there to plead for their meager souls at their judgment
A very cogent commentary, but
A very cogent commentary, but for me, the Cardinal's presence (or absence) at the Kennedy funeral meant little ---just some windowdressing. Unlike Cardinal Cushing at JFK's funeral, where he mourned "Dear Jack" in voice and action that demonstrated that he truly knew and loved the President, Cardinal O'Malley could have sent a cardboard cutout in his stead. The most moving part of that days' rites for me was when his wife, sister and sister-in-law put the pall over the casket. Similar to the women at Jesus' empty tomb, they didn't men or men in brightly colored robes to do their duty and to bear witness to all in a time of grief and pain. Bravo Vicky, Jean and Ethel. You represent Church to me.
What people object to is the
What people object to is the PUBLIC nature of the funeral. If Senator Kennedy had spent 30 years supporting laws and policies that instead of supporting abortion supported racism would Fr McBrien still be advocating this moral three card monte in the face of such a grave injustice.
Thank you for bringing to
Thank you for bringing to light the good pastoral judgment of Cardinal Sean O'Malley. I had no idea that people were trying to deny a Catholic burial to Senator Ted Kennedy. This only proves what a true minister of the Gospel the Cardinal is and how out of control the anti-abortion promoters are. They condemn those who kill the unborn, while turning a blind eye to those who "kill" the lives of victims and families of pedophile priests.
"We will not change hearts by turning away from people in their time of need..." Wow! A Cardinal speaking about "changing hearts" is a rare treat.
"If any cause is motivated by judgment, anger or vindictiveness it will be doomed to marginalization and failure." Words to live by.
It is so encouraging to read
It is so encouraging to read about the likes of Cardinal O"Malley and the very pastoral approach to people who seem to act contrary to the "official" Church's teaching. I am always amazed at the critics who would deny Communion to some because of their actions or words, which the critics consider to be sinful and yet when the critics receive Comumnion they declare to all "Lord I am not worthy to receive you..." Father McBrien keep up the good work and continue your prophetic work.
Given Kennedy's many years of
Given Kennedy's many years of public service and the passion, pro or con, that mere mention of the 'Kennedy' name stirs, should we be surprised that his funeral caused more pro or con?
Wouldn't it have caused that anyway? No matter what position he held or supported there is always an opposite position that would object.
The Cardinal held to classic, traditional RCC position on funerals. The funeral had to be broadcast because of the hundreds of thousands if not millions in MA and the USA that wanted to see it.
Personally I disagree with the Church's trying to do away with eulogies within Mass. If we can have all kinds of solitations read to us after Communion at Sunday Masses; within a funeral Mass a few short eulogies are appropriate since we are sending our beloved off to eternal life. Our memories should go with them if we wish.
As a practical matter, if our Church continues to insist that the funeral home is the appropriate place then we will see more services at funeral homes, with probably just Memorial Masses in the Church, because not everyone is there all the time. As for the cemetery, not everyone goes to the cemetery and fewer still to a funeral repast. Mass is the most pastoral place to have personal eulogies.
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