Senators Kennedy & Kerry's statements on the passing of Pope John Paul II

[paineinthearse]

http://kennedy.senate.gov/index_high.html



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April 2, 2005

STATEMENT BY SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON THE PASSING OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Capps [phone]
Washington, DC. Senator Edward M. Kennedy issued the following statement:

"I join my fellow Catholics and people everywhere in grieving the passing of the Holy Father. He was a devout and beloved spiritual leader for the Church who inspired people of all faiths and brought us closer to the great goal of peace on earth. Even in his last days when he could not speak, he still was a strong moral voice heeded across the globe."


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April 4, 2005


SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY FLOOR SPEECH ON PASSING OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
(As Prepared for Delivery)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Capps / Melissa Wagoner [phone]

Around the world as we honor the passing of the Holy Father, we are filled with his spirit and we are inspired by his legacy of peace and compassion. We pray for him and we pray for one another during this time of grief and reflection.

I first saw the Holy Father in Boston in 1979 as he touched American soil for the first time as Pope and reached out to the American people with his holy strength. Several hundred thousand rain-soaked men, women, and children gathered on the Boston Common to hear his homily that began with his extraordinary welcome, "America the Beautiful, even if it rains!" And through his eyes that was what we were: beautiful, free, and open to all possibilities.

He greeted my family warmly on many occasions and blessed us for all our endeavors. On our visit to the Vatican in the 1980s, he welcomed my sister Jean's program Very Special Arts for the disabled in the arts and participated in a festival for 7,000 Italian children who were challenged physically. He told us that in God's eyes, we were all created equally, we all had creative gifts, and all of our talents were enlightened by God. On that occasion I presented him with a bust of President Kennedy, whom he spoke graciously about.

In countless ways during his years as Pope, the Holy Father inspired people throughout the world and brought them together in peace and reconciliation. In his travels to distant lands, citizens of many different faiths were deeply moved by his appeals to the common humanity of all people under God. And in his final days, he inspired us all again with the surpassing grace and dignity with which he left us.

I am struck by the words of one of the Pope's favorite passages that was read to him in his final hours, from Psalm 119:

"Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."

Pope John Paul II lives on in the hearts of all of us who were touched so deeply by his life. May his example continue to guide us and people everywhere in all the years ahead.

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http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/press/record.cfm?id=235240&&

Statement from Sen. John Kerry on the Passing of Pope John Paul II


Saturday, April 2, 2005

Washington, D.C. -- Senator John Kerry issued the following statement on the passing of Pope John Paul II.

"The Holy Father led the Catholic Church during some of the most challenging times the world has witnessed, and persevered through enormous suffering with inspirational dignity. Teresa and I were deeply saddened to hear of his passing."

"Drawing upon his enduring moral strength and conviction, Pope John Paul II advanced the cause of solidarity in his native Poland and helped to topple communism around the world. We will never forget the example he set by forgiving the man who tried to take his life, and by praying at the Western Wall to ask Jews for their forgiveness. He traveled to places forgotten by all but God to pray for the sick and the poor, and millions turned out to hear his voice, even when strained. In death, as in life, his incredible spirit provides every Catholic with strength and his memory provides us with wisdom. Teresa and I join people all over the world in mourning this tremendous loss. The Holy Father is in our prayers."

[ClassWarrior]

1. What?? You mean Dems REALLY ARE speaking out??

You mean the Corporate Whore Media just aren't covering it??? Wow...

<sarcasm off>

NGU.

[glarius]

2. The media....in keeping with their slavish support of Bush, are doing

everything possible to link the Pope to Bush....If I hear "culture of life" one more time, I'll PUKE!....Since the Pope died, I have been waiting to see something on TV from the Kennedys or Sen. Kerry....I knew they must have said something....As far as I can see the ONLY thing Bush had in common with the Pope was in being anti-abortion...The Pope was against the war in Iraq, against capital punishment, against big business controlling the world.....the list goes on.....Bush, in his usual cunning, deceitful way, has latched on to the Pope in order to benefit from the reflected glow!

[ClassWarrior]

3. kick

:kick:

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

4. .

[Arkana]

5. What? Limpballs was talking out of his ass?

That's news to me. :P

[ClassWarrior]

6. Can he talk out of anything else?

:rofl:

NGU.

[paineinthearse]

7. Kennedy, Kerry plan to attend pope's funeral

http://www.wrgb.com/news/regional/regional.asp?selection=article_32117

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 1:37 PM

Kennedy, Kerry plan to attend pope's funeral

(Washington - AP) — Massachusetts Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry have been invited to be part of a congressional delegation traveling to Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul.

Kennedy met privately with the pontiff during a visit to Rome in the 1980s. He recalls presenting the pope with a bust of his brother, President John Kennedy.

The small group of senators attending the funeral will also include Democrat Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, who in 1983 delivered a message to the pope from Polish solidarity leader Lach Welesa.

[ClassWarrior]

8. Damn them for not living down to my expectations!!

<LOL>

NGU.