EDITORIAL

Reflecting on the loss of a Catholic in the public square

Sept. 3, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died Aug. 25 after a yearlong battle with brain cancer, was a man revered by many as the greatest senator of our time.

But as an influential Catholic in the public square for half a century, many saw in the senator a great potential gone unfulfilled.

His leadership on a variety of issues — including immigration reform, opposition to the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, and raising minimum wage — were positions also championed by the Catholic Church. He was known as an advocate for the poor and a fighter for the little guy.

Sen. Kennedy’s stance on abortion, however, was in stark contrast to the Church’s position, which is that life begins at conception and should be valued as such.

The Massachusetts senator opposed the Partial-Birth Abortion Act, supported Roe v. Wade and was a chief supporter of allowing the use of federal funds for fetal tissue research projects, according to Catholic News Service.

As an influential politician from the country’s most famous Catholic family, we must condemn the fact that in spite of his work on behalf of the poor, Sen. Kennedy defied Church teaching on abortion.

In his 2006 booklet “Catholics in the Public Square,” Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted reflected on what it means to be a Catholic politician today and encouraged Catholics in all walks of life to live their faith in all that they do.

“Christ wants us to be [in the public square], loving our neighbor, doing works of charity, promoting the common good and defending the dignity and right to life of all,” the bishop wrote in a 2006 column that coincided with the release of his booklet.

The most basic and fundamental right, as stated by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, is the right to life from the moment of conception, and is the foundation for all other personal rights. This is one of the non-negotiable issues of our Catholic faith, and Bishop Olmsted states in his booklet that as a Catholic public servant, one cannot separate the beliefs of our faith from the public dimensions of a lawmaker.

It is not our intention to use this space to detract from the many great accomplishments of Sen. Kennedy; rather, it is our hope that other Catholic politicians and those who seek to engage the public square in the future take this moment to reflect on what it means to be a Catholic politician today.

Toward the end of his life, it was reported that the 77-year-old senator began attending daily Mass and spent much time in prayer. He called for a priest moments before he passed away.

Like many Catholics and others of good will, we mourn the passing of Sen. Kennedy and will pray for the repose of his soul in hopes that he finds eternal salvation in the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is our hope that the Democratic senator found clarity and peace in his remaining days on earth, and a change of heart for the lives of the unborn.