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JFK & Jackie -- A Dying Wish
November 03, 2009 2:56 PM
ABC's Stu Schutzman reports from New York:
Like the constant drip of a leaky faucet, new facts, old suppositions and endless questions continue to riddle the assassination of JFK. In the nearly half century since, a crescendo of revelations usually appear as the anniversary approaches. This November is no different. In today’s Huffington Post, historian Steven M Gillon offers what may be a tantalizing new insight into the timeline surrounding events at Parkland Hospital that day.
Shots rang out in Dealey Plaza at approximately 12:30pm (cst). The President, mortally wounded, was rushed to Parkland’s Trauma Room #1. There, frenzied doctors described his condition as “moribund” i.e. DOA. “We have no hope of saving his life,” said one.
A priest was called to administer last rites. The Reverend Oscar Huber told reporters that when he entered the room President Kennedy was already dead, a sheet covering his body had to be lifted.
But the official time of death, as noted by the Warren Commission, 1pm (cst) may be incorrect according to new documents uncovered by Gillon. Kennedy aide Dave Powers, the schedule keeper on this Presidential trip, took copious notes which ultimately ended up with historian William Manchester. Gillon, who has seen the notes, says that Powers “stated that he saw the priest coming down the hall at 12:50pm." If the priest left the room at 12:50pm then doctors “had already determined that Kennedy was dead at least 10 minutes before the official time stated by the Warren Commission.” Why the subterfuge?
Gillon offers a fascinating explanation. “The time of death was a fiction,” he says, “to satisfy Mrs Kennedy.” Jacqueline Kennedy was frantic her husband’s last rites be administered before the soul left the body in accordance with Catholic doctrine. Post death the last rites would have been invalid. “Father do you think the sacrament had effect?” she asked the priest. “He tried to allay her fears,” writes Gillon. “I am convinced that his soul had not left his body,” answered Huber. “This was a valid sacrament.” Small comfort for a shocked and grieving First Lady. A scant 10 minutes -- a leap of faith?
November 3, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (15)
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oh God, how sad. I was raised catholic. I get this. So sad. And she was left with those two little little children.
Posted by: just sayn | Nov 3, 2009 4:27:21 PM
I just have a quick question, since I am not Catholic...how would a priest know if a soul had left a body or not? If you have not had last rites, what happens?
Posted by: deb | Nov 3, 2009 7:37:12 PM
This is nothing new. The book "The Day Kennedy Was Shot" by Jim Bishop discusses this. His book was published in 1968.
Posted by: sweetness77 | Nov 3, 2009 7:46:16 PM
We can have assurance of eternal life. Read 1 John.
Posted by: j | Nov 3, 2009 8:22:01 PM
His soul left his body the moment the third shot hit him.
Posted by: Doc Savage | Nov 3, 2009 8:23:47 PM
I think his faith & Jackie's faith was deep and he was forgiven for any human failings God is merciful and we are saved through His/Her grace. (Not sure about the gender of God, does a great spirit have a gender?)
I had not heard this, but it moves me to know how in the midst of all the turmoil, the country, perhaps the world upside down, Jackie's main concern was his soul.
She had her priorities right. It really puts this world in perspective.
Posted by: aheb | Nov 3, 2009 9:02:04 PM
So, are all you catholics saying that the millions (billions) of people in the world who die and aren't catholic are all going to Hell, because they didn't get "last rites?"
Posted by: HRPufnstuf | Nov 3, 2009 9:33:34 PM
Jackie would be disappointed that sacrament has been renamed. It is now called the Anointing of the Sick. Sure they can change sacraments,but not allow priest to marry, gays into the church, a women's right to choose, etc.
They had to change the name of this sacrament because people like Jackie thought if you did not receive it, you would not be allowed into heaven. Where the purpose of the sacrament is to give the person spiritual strength while facing an illness or death.
Posted by: Crazy Catholics | Nov 3, 2009 9:38:17 PM
In response to "Crazy Catholics". No, Catholics do NOT believe that anyone who doesn't get the last rites will go to hell. Catholics don't even believe that anyone who is not catholic will go to hell. Heaven is open to any baptized person who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Gays ARE allowed in the Catholic church, under the same constraints as heterosexuals: sex outside of a heterosexual marriage is sin, whether gay or straight. As for married or female priests, there is good, solid theological reason for those policies.
Posted by: J. Fields | Nov 3, 2009 11:02:20 PM
And what are these good reasons? Men and women are equal, why can't a women be a priest? I don't get it. Tell me about these "good" reasons you have, because I don't see why women should not be allowed to be priests.
Posted by: Z | Nov 3, 2009 11:35:06 PM
It's just amazing to me how, after all these years, every aspect of Kennedy's assassination is still being dissected. Over and over again!
Posted by: pfr | Nov 4, 2009 8:33:37 AM
The things and actions that were taking place, moment to moment, at that time, were shown different within a few days. I watched it all when I was a young teenager.
Posted by: matt Wood | Nov 4, 2009 3:23:10 PM
The reason the Church bans married priests has to do with inheritance laws. In the past when priests could marry, Bishops were passing on their holy properties to their sons. The Church could not have that so they stopped the practice.
Posted by: Mr. Bill | Nov 4, 2009 9:04:10 PM
The Bible says that when we breathe our
last breath the Soul goes immediately
to be with the Lord.We choose our destiny( Heaven or Hell)while we are
still alive.Why do people get so confused about what Scripture says?
Posted by: Betty | Nov 5, 2009 12:51:58 PM
Exactly right, Betty. It's so simple most people try to add "things to do" to get to heaven. No one can do a single thing to "earn" his/her way to heaven. One must believe in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. Nothing more, nothing less. Heaven awaits!
Posted by: Joe | Nov 5, 2009 2:30:54 PM
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