Kennedy's colleagues in Congress praise his strong spirit

Published: 2008-05-22

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Capitol Hill colleagues praised the fighting spirit of longtime U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts after learning he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. On the Senate floor May 20, Kennedy's colleagues stopped deliberations to offer words of encouragement for the 76-year-old senator, who was hospitalized in Boston May 17 after he suffered a seizure at his Cape Cod home. Three days later, Kennedy's physicians announced that tests showed the seizure was caused by a malignant tumor in the upper left portion of his brain. He was released from the hospital May 21. A course of treatment has not been announced. "I hope and pray that an all-caring, omnipotent God will watch over Ted and keep (him) here for us and for the nation," said a tearful Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who has served with Kennedy, a fellow Democrat, for more than 45 years in the Senate. Kennedy, a Catholic, was elected in 1962 to the seat once held by his brother, John F. Kennedy, who became president in 1960. He has worked with Catholic bishops and Catholic Charities officials on a variety of issues, such as immigration, the federal minimum wage and health coverage. He also has been criticized by Catholic leaders for supporting legalized abortion and embryonic stem-cell research.

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