Assisted death grounds to refuse Christian funeral, bishops say

[seagal]

“Priests should consider refusing to conduct funerals for people who have chosen a physician-assisted death, say new guidelines from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.”

theglobeandmail.com/news/national/assisted-death-grounds-to-refuse-christian-funeral-bishops-say/article32159903/

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Sad that direction on this type of thing is needed.

 

[Padres1969]

“Priests should consider refusing to conduct funerals for people who have chosen a physician-assisted death, say new guidelines from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.”

theglobeandmail.com/news/national/assisted-death-grounds-to-refuse-christian-funeral-bishops-say/article32159903/

I thought the Catholic canons had already done away with prohibitions on Catholic funerals for suicides. How would assisted suicides be any different?

 

[porthos11]

I thought the Catholic canons had already done away with prohibitions on Catholic funerals for suicides. How would assisted suicides be any different?

Because the Catholic canons had NOT done away with prohibitions on Catholic funerals for public sinners and assisted suicides are not done without informed consent.

This means that unlike a suicide due to depression for example, an assisted suicide is presumably done with clarity of mind.

Therefore, canon 1184, s.3, which says

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:
s.3…other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.

Key being “manifest” and “public scandal.”

 

[po18guy]

“Priests should consider refusing to conduct funerals for people who have chosen a physician-assisted death, say new guidelines from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.”

theglobeandmail.com/news/national/assisted-death-grounds-to-refuse-christian-funeral-bishops-say/article32159903/

Not black and white, but requiring the use of prudence.

 

[MaryT777]

Because the Catholic canons had NOT done away with prohibitions on Catholic funerals for public sinners and assisted suicides are not done without informed consent.

This means that unlike a suicide due to depression for example, an assisted suicide is presumably done with clarity of mind.

Therefore, canon 1184, s.3, which says

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:
s.3…other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.

Key being “manifest” and “public scandal.”

Thanks for the reference to the canon.

 

[Rosebud77]

The suffering and alienation that this would inflict on families who may well not have agreed with the person;s decision but been unable to change their minds is unthinkable…

Are we planning to recreate the old " killeens" for the unbaptised and others deemed beyond the pale?

 

[Isca]

The suffering and alienation that this would inflict on families who may well not have agreed with the person;s decision but been unable to change their minds is unthinkable…

Are we planning to recreate the old " killeens" for the unbaptised and others deemed beyond the pale?

I agree with you, it would be very upsetting. It’s wrong to imagine that every close family member would agree with a person’s decision to seek assisted dying. Some might be anguished about it.

 

[Rosebud77]

I agree with you, it would be very upsetting. It’s wrong to imagine that every close family member would agree with a person’s decision to seek assisted dying. Some might be anguished about it.

Thank you. So very much.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

The suffering and alienation that this would inflict on families who may well not have agreed with the person;s decision but been unable to change their minds is unthinkable…

Are we planning to recreate the old " killeens" for the unbaptised and others deemed beyond the pale?

I agree. Plus there may be situations where the person who has requested the drugs to end life changes his or her mind at the very last moment. I have heard that people often regret taking action. If, in that moment, there is repentance, does the Church acknowledge that?

This is a very grey area. It’s not black and white at all.

 

[ARSpade]

I agree with you, it would be very upsetting. It’s wrong to imagine that every close family member would agree with a person’s decision to seek assisted dying. Some might be anguished about it.

Funerals aren’t about the living though.

 

[J_Peterson]

Because the Catholic canons had NOT done away with prohibitions on Catholic funerals for public sinners and assisted suicides are not done without informed consent.

This means that unlike a suicide due to depression for example, an assisted suicide is presumably done with clarity of mind.

Therefore, canon 1184, s.3, which says

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:
s.3…other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.

Key being “manifest” and “public scandal.”

Clarity of mind has to be more that a presumption. I believe in most cases you legally have to show that you are of sound mind. A deranged person wouldn’t be allowed to kill themselves legally.

I think it’s a free choice, not an act of desperation. We don’t get to choose when we die, it shows a severe lack of faith.

 

[bilop]

The suffering and alienation that this would inflict on families who may well not have agreed with the person;s decision but been unable to change their minds is unthinkable…

Are we planning to recreate the old " killeens" for the unbaptised and others deemed beyond the pale?

The goal is to prevent Catholics from committing “suicide by Dr.” and going to hell.

The old stigmatization of suicide had a very definitie purpose; to keep people from damning themselves to hell. 1000 upset family members is better than 1 soul in hell.

God Bless

 

[porthos11]

The goal is to prevent Catholics from committing “suicide by Dr.” and going to hell.

The old stigmatization of suicide had a very definitie purpose; to keep people from damning themselves to hell. 1000 upset family members is better than 1 soul in hell.

God Bless

Correct. Comments like the one you quoted show a sore misunderstanding of what Catholic funerals are about.

See how they worry more about the “feelings” of the survivors than the soul of the dead.

 

[bilop]

Correct. Comments like the one you quoted show a sore misunderstanding of what Catholic funerals are about.

See how they worry more about the “feelings” of the survivors than the soul of the dead.

Agree. But it is also a disservice to the living.

If the deceased lived their life in a way that may well have sent them to hell, telling the family and friends that the deceased is in heaven is just going to encourage them to proceed down the same wide path to destruction.

God Bless