Statement by Tony Hearn

on September 26, 2005

Regarding Alleged Heir to Kenedy Fortune

I have been asked if in my vision of Sarita Kenedy East and my subsequent conversations with her whether she said anything about her deceased brother, John G. Kenedy Jr.

My answer is an unqualified “No!” Sarita said nothing to me about her brother.

What Sarita did say to me was that I was to tell the bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi that he was to act with the love of Christ toward the poorest of the poor with regard to the bequest she had left to the Catholic Church of Texas through the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation.

With regard to the court case essentially challenging the right to the proceeds left by Sarita Kenedy East to the Catholic Church, in my view, and certainly with nothing said by her to me about it, the substance of Sarita’s message stands. It is that whoever has the means to help the poorest of the poor should do so unstintingly without hesitation and with the abundant love of Christ.

Sarita told me that the bishop of Corpus Christi should act as a nurturing mother to the poorest of the poor. Whether he has done so is a different matter.

Several years ago, the Attorney General of the State of Texas sued the bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and he resigned as the president of the board of trustees of the Kenedy Foundation, to avoid action against him by the State of Texas on charges of misappropriation of the charities’ funds and other complaints. The foundation’s board was re-organized.

Based on an informal review of the foundation’s history of giving, it would seem that the trustees show more interest in meeting the financial needs of the Catholic Church than of helping the poorest of the poor. But that is my personal opinion.

With regard to Dr. Ray Fernandez who is seeking to discover his relationship to the brother of Sarita Kenedy East, in a recent meeting with him, I told him personally that Sarita’s message to the bishop of Corpus Christi is worthy of his regard.

Whether or not he ultimately receives proceeds from the Kenedy estate, there is a universal obligation of those with means to help those without means. This is not a novel notion. It is the binding law of Christ. It is the binding law of love. If Dr. Fernandez becomes a millionaire by whatever means, it is his solemn obligation to share his wealth generously with the poor. If he does, I hope he does a better job that the bishops of Corpus Christi.

I hope and pray that the justices of the Supreme Court of Texas rule in favor of the exhumation of the remains of John G. Kenedy, Jr. Dr. Ray Fernandez has the moral right to determine his heritage.

What Dr. Fernandez does once he knows whether he is a Kenedy heir is a matter for his conscience. I pray that he measures up to his alleged great aunt’s message.

Tony Hearn

September 26, 2005

Encounter with Dr. Ray Fernandez, left, Marie

Fernandez, his wife, center, and Tony Hearn, right,

in mid-summer, 2004, in San Antonio

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