We ask you, urgently: don't scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
On a 'A Catholic Funeral for Ted Kennedy?'
FREE Catholic Classes
'My reading of the canonical tradition behind Canon 1184** says that those actions suffice as 'some signs of repentance' making Ted Kennedy eligible for a Catholic funeral.'
Highlights
NEW YORK, NY (Catholic Online) - Ed Peters is a respected Canon lawyer who regularly publishes his helpful analysis on vital canon law questions and issues on a weblog entitled "In the Light of the Law". It can be found at http://www.canonlaw.info/blog.html
His recent posting is entitled "A Catholic Funeral for Ted Kennedy?" which we set forth in its entirety below:
*****
"A Catholic Funeral for Ted Kennedy?"
Edward N. Peters, JD, JCD
"Most of Teddy Kennedy's politics, and most of whatever parts of his personal life I knew through the media, angered and sometimes even disgusted me. But my opinions about Teddy's legacy are not at issue in assessing his right to a Catholic funeral under canon law. I trust that my writings on the proper understanding and correct application of 1983 CIC 1184 (the canon regulating the funeral rites to be accorded - - or not, as the case may be - - to Catholics) are reasonably well-known to readers of this blog.* So let's move directly to the canonical question of Kennedy's funeral.
"Now, any man with a 100% rating from NARAL (to highlight just the tip of the iceberg of Teddy's decades-long campaign against natural rights) has, to put it mildly, the burden of proof in seeking a Catholic funeral (okay, technically, his executors have the burden of proof, but you see the point) in that notorious pro-aborts seem to be "manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful."
"Unless, that is, "they gave some sign of repentance before death." And there is at least some evidence that Ted Kennedy did just that.
"Mark Leibovich of the New York Times notes that, among things, "The Rev. Mark Hession, the priest at the Kennedys' parish on the Cape, made regular visits to the Kennedy home this summer and held a private family Mass in the living room every Sunday. Even in his final days, Mr. Kennedy led the family in prayer after the death of his sister Eunice . . . [and when] the senator's condition took a turn Tuesday night a priest, the Rev. Patrick Tarrant of Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville, was called to his bedside."
"Folks, my reading of the canonical tradition behind Canon 1184** says that those actions suffice as "some signs of repentance", making Ted Kennedy eligible for a Catholic funeral. Of course I wish that Teddy's repentance, if that is what it was, had been more explicit, for the scandal the man left was enormous and demanded great atonement in this life (or more dreadfully in the next). But on the narrow question as to whether Edward Kennedy is eligible for a Catholic funeral, the information before me suggests that he is, and that a bishop who permits such rites can find support in the Code of Canon Law for his decision.
"Now, about President Obama giving a eulogy thereat, don't even get me started."
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

Nearly Half of American Children Now Struggle with Chronic Health Issues — Anxiety and Depression Lead the Surge

Vatican Approves Devotion to Marian Apparitions in Slovakia—Without Declaring Them Supernatural

Pope Leo XIV: AI Must Uphold Human Dignity and Build a More Fraternal World
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Friday, July 11, 2025
St. Benedict of Nursia: Saint of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
Infant Jesus of Prague Novena Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
Daily Readings for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.