Today's Los Angeles Times includes an opinion column by Tim Rutten titled Kennedy's Catholic legacy. Rutten writes:

His was one of those ethnic American families where the memory of immigration's hardships lingered through the generations

This seems rather ironic in light of the Kennedy clan's wealth and legacy of alchohol abuse and illicit sex. There's no mention of Mary Jo Kopechne. However, abortion is discussed:

Kennedy remained opposed to abortion well into the 1970s, but after reflection and further consultation with the theologians, he eventually embraced their unanimous conclusion that Catholic officeholders could be pro-choice while remaining personally averse to abortion. That, of course, has since become the position of a majority of American Catholics, particularly those under 40.

"Averse" means having an active distaste--abortion is such an unpleasant thing, after all. Apparently that same mentality fostered the tolerance of abuse of young boys by some priests--"I would never abuse an altar boy myself--it's disgusting--but each priest has to make that decision for himself."

As much as Kennedy may have opposed abortion in the early 70s, his respect for human life was evident on July 18, 1969 when he left Mary Jo in a submerged Oldsmobile without bothering to contact authorities until her body was discovered.

Looking back, the senator from Massachusetts, who had moved beyond the tribal Catholicism of his upbringing, was describing precisely the way a majority of young American Catholics now experience their faith. Many of them might also have smiled when Kennedy quoted Pope John XXIII: "We must beware of those who burn with zeal but are not endowed with much sense."

And that certainly applies to anyone claiming to be Roman Catholic and yet defying the pro-life stance of the Pope. Selling out one's faith and moral beliefs for political expedience is a sad legacy indeed.

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