Following Karl: Should Kennedy Even Get A Church Funeral?

Sort of an off-shoot of the "politicians receiving the Eucharist" stuff:

From the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:

1. notorious apostates, heretics, and schismatics;
2. those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith;
3. other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.

§2. If any doubt occurs, the local ordinary is to be consulted, and his judgment must be followed.


Can. 1185 Any funeral Mass must also be denied a person who is excluded from ecclesiastical funerals.

I guess since Obama is speaking at the funeral, though, we have Divine Assurance that Kennedy repented.

Edit: Make sure you check out Turgonian and Joe's comments.