Two Letters.

I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path. I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office, I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination, and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty, and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and been the focus of my work as a United States Senator.

I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field, and I'll continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone.

Excerpt, Letter of Senator Edward Kennedy to Pope Benedict XVI, which President Obama delivered to the Pontiff in July, 2009.

* * *

While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized -- the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old. [...]

I share in the confidence of those who feel that America is willing to care for its unwanted as well as wanted children, protecting particularly those who cannot protect themselves. I also share the opinions of those who do not accept abortion as a response to our society's problems -- an inadequate welfare system, unsatisfactory job training programs, and insufficient financial support for all its citizens.

When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception.

Excerpt, Letter of Senator Edward Kennedy to Thomas E. Denelly, August 1971.

Edward M. Kennedy 1932-2009

Edward M. Kennedy, R.I.P.

Robert D. Novak 1931-2009

• Catholic convert and political commentator Robert Novak passes away Catholic News Agency.
  
• Our Friend, Bob Novak and "A Prince of Darkness Heads toward the Light ", by Deal Hudson InsideCatholic.com
  
• Robert Novak, RIP: "Faith, Freedom and Free Enterprise", by Larry Kudlow. National Review
  

Update Jay Anderson has a roundup of reflections from around the 'net.

Catholic college faces lawsuit over refusal to provide contraception

The president of a small Catholic college said Friday he would rather close the school's doors than violate the church's teachings on contraception -- Ben Conery of the Washington Times has the story:

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has determined that Belmont Abbey College violated discrimination laws because the school's employee health insurance plan does not cover contraception, according to a letter the EEOC sent to the school.

"I hope it would never get this far," college President William K. Thierfelder told The Washington Times, "but if it came down to it we would close the college before we ever provided that."

The factual conclusion reached by the EEOC could be a precursor to the commission filing a federal discrimination lawsuit against the college. (More).

Further details from LifeSiteNews:

Eight BAC faculty members filed a complaint against the college for removing coverage for abortion, sterilization, and contraception from their employee health insurance, supplied by Wellpath. The faculty first complained to the North Carolina Department of Insurance that BAC was required to cover contraception under state law because it did not qualify for the religious employer exemption. Both the state department and Wellpath, however, disagreed with the complainants.

"If you ever came on this campus, the first thing you see is the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians," said Thierfelder. "That basilica is connected to a monastery. That monastery is connected to the main administration building."

The group of complainants, who joined forces with the National Women's Law Center, then made a gender discrimination complaint to the EEOC, which in March informed the Abbey that it had closed the issue. Two months later, the EEOC reversed its decision.

"By denying prescription contraception drugs, Respondent [the college] is discriminating based on gender because only females take oral prescription contraceptives," wrote Reuben Daniels Jr., the EEOC Charlotte District Office Director in the determination. "By denying coverage, men are not affected, only women."

College president William Thierfelder is insistent that the school maintain its fidelity to Catholic teaching:

"[I]t is absolute, unequivocal, impossible for us to go against the teachings of the Catholic Church in any way. There is no form of compromise that is possible."

U.S. Bishops launch website in support of 'truly universal' health care

U.S. bishops launch website on health care reform (Catholic News Agency):

As the American health care debate continues, the U.S. Catholic bishops have launched a webpage to promote support for a “truly universal” health policy that respects human dignity.

The page on the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) -- http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/ -- includes letters for bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress.

Related

• Cardinal Rigali tells Congress health bill "unacceptable" without changes Catholic Key August 11, 2009.
  
• Section 1233 authors are major proponents of euthanasia, assisted suicide, by Jill Stanek. August 12, 2009. (Further analysis here).
  

Americans United for Life launches 'Keep Abortion Out of Health Care' website

Americans United for Life issued a condemnation of the House Committee's vote defeating an amendment that would have ensured that taxpayers would not be forced to pay for abortion under the House’s health care bill:

House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a longtime beneficiary of Planned Parenthood donations who has a 100% favorable voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America, engineered a series of late-night shenanigans to kill the pro-life amendment by Reps. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).

First, Waxman voted for the amendment, which would have prohibited the federal government from requiring any insurance plan — including the “public option” — to provide coverage for abortion (with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother). Then, just minutes after the amendment passed 31-27, Waxman took advantage of a House rule that allows supporters to bring an amendment back for consideration later. This time, Waxman managed to strong-arm others on the committee to join him in defeating the amendment, 30-29.

The organization has also launched a new website: Keep Abortion Out of Health Care, asserting that legislation on health care reform be evaluated on the following principles

1. Health care reform must expressly exclude mandates of any kind for abortion. In addition, health care reform must not alter prohibitions on federal funding of abortion contained in the Hyde amendment or other provisions of law.

2. Health care reform must provide broad protection for the freedom of conscience of all Americans, whether or not they are health care providers or religious entities. No person or entity should be compelled to act contrary to their conscience in the payment for, provision of, or performance of health care.

3. Health care reform must not contain provisions that mandate or encourage the withdrawal or curtailment of effective life-sustaining treatment to the terminally ill, the chronically ill, or the permanently disabled.