The death of Catholic hopes and aspirations

The John F Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede

On 22nd November, 1963, John F Kennedy, President of the United States of America, was shot down, like a dog, on the streets of Dallas.

As violent deaths go it was close to the top, taking place, as it did, so publicly in front of the world's newsreel cameras and alongside his wife who cradled his shattered head in her arms in the mad dash to the nearest hospital.

It was only some years after his death that the media began seeping news of marital infidelities and domestic discord. The media has a tendency to do that after the death of great men and women.

I am not saying that they were wrong, I do not know, one way or the other, and today is not the day for scandal mongering.

I do remember the build up to Kennedy's election; how the unthinkable became fact and a Catholic was sworn in to the most powerful office in the world.

Every morning at assembly, Sister Catherine Walsh OP, would beseech us to pray that Kennedy would get elected, and our prayers were heard and, on 8th November 1960, the USA had a Catholic President for the first time in history.

We owe a great debt to John Fitzgerald Kennedy; his facing up to Kruschev in the Bay of Pigs incident, his breaking of the unions hold on industry and his work on behalf of the civil rights of all citizens.
And many more endeavours as well.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace. Amen