Atheist Funeral?

[drewkazoo]

I would like to know of any circumstance that an Atheist would be granted a funeral in a Catholic church?

 

[Maximilian75]

If they were a minor and their parents were Catholics, I could see this occuring…

 

[mkoopman]

Deathbed conversion stories abound. The largest question the church may consider is if the funeral would constitute scandal. You would want to consult a canon lawyer. The offices of your Diocese may be able to offer advice on any particular situation.
Why do you ask, if I may be so bold?

 

[1ke]

I would like to know of any circumstance that an Atheist would be granted a funeral in a Catholic church?

THOSE TO WHOM ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS MUST BE GRANTED OR DENIED

Can. 1183 §1. When it concerns funerals, catechumens must be counted among the Christian faithful.

§2. The local ordinary can permit children whom the parents intended to baptize but who died before baptism to be given ecclesiastical funerals.

§3. In the prudent judgment of the local ordinary, ecclesiastical funerals can be granted to baptized persons who are enrolled in a non-Catholic Church or ecclesial community unless their intention is evidently to the contrary and provided that their own minister is not available.

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:

1/ notorious apostates, heretics, and schismatics;

2/ those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith;

3/ other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.

§2. If any doubt occurs, the local ordinary is to be consulted, and his judgment must be followed.

Can. 1185 Any funeral Mass must also be denied a person who is excluded from ecclesiastical funerals.

 

[Horton]

2/ those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith;

What reasons would be contrary to the Christian faith?

 

[Maximilian75]

Cremation in order to deny the resurrection of the body has always been against Church doctrine

 

[Horton]

I plan to be cremated after death for a couple of reasons, mainly the cost. I don’t want to spend several thousand dollars I could leave to my kids on a cemetery plot, a cement box, and a fancy box, plus a headstone. I want to be cremated and put in a small container. My second reason is, if cremated, I could be interred at a local monastery.

 

[Maximilian75]

then thats fine.

The Church only has a problem with it if it’s done in order to thumb one’s nose at the Church.

 

[Seeksadvice]

I have seen it go the other way too where ministers/priests have refused to bury or do funerals for dead people. Back in my hometown, the most memorable case of that was a woman who was shot execution style with a .44Mag. Finally, the Southern Baptist minister (of all people) stepped forward and did the funeral.

 

[Isca]

Why was the victim of murder refused a funeral? I’m assuming there was some controversy around the woman when she was alive.

In the UK, a notorious child-killer called Ian Brady died last year. He’d been imprisoned since he was convicted in the 1960s. His body remained in the hospital mortuary until eventually, he was cremated late at night (with no music or flowers allowed). His ashes were immediately taken away and submerged at sea in a weighted urn made of salt, to ensure his remains would quickly disperse.

He was so reviled in this country that it took 5 months for this funeral to be organised and take place. We have mostly local government-run crematoria here, and the crematorium that performed the cremation was eventually ordered to do so by the High Court - no-one volunteered to do it.

 

[BridgetN]

What reasons would be contrary to the Christian faith?

Cremation is a pagan practice, and the Church has always spoken against it. It is only allowed in cases of extreme necessity (e.g. war)

 

[1ke]

It is only allowed in cases of extreme necessity (e.g. war)

This is patently false.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
2301 The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body.

The Church does not state it must be “extreme” circumstances or “in war”.

And, here is a Church document that goes into detail on cremation. Note again, it does not say it must be in “extreme” circumstances. It can be chosen for economic reasons, sanitary reasons, space limitations, and other reasons.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...c_20160815_ad-resurgendum-cum-christo_en.html

 

[BridgetN]

1ke, that document tells the Church law on cremation as of after Vatican II. I was speaking Traditionally, pre-Vatican II, but you made a good point in saying that there can be some other circumstances than just war to allow cremation. But I still stick to the word “extreme”

 

[1ke]

But I still stick to the word “extreme”

You can stick to whatever you want. But don’t go around citing it to other people as if it is true. Because it isn’t true.

 

[BridgetN]

I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t mean to.

 

[Magart]

That is no longer the case.
Many Catholic cemeteries have a columbarium which holds the cremation remains.

 

[BridgetN]

Many Catholic cemeteries have a columbarium which holds the cremation remains.

That doesn’t mean cremation is ok. It could be a Novus Ordo cemetary

 

[1ke]

That doesn’t mean cremation is ok.

Yes, it does. The Church itself says that cremation is OK. It was a disciplinary measure and the Church can change disciplines. This is not a doctrinal matter.

It could be a Novus Ordo cemetary

There is no such thing as a “novus ordo cemetery”.

 

[Maximilian75]

See post 7.
I never said ‘cremation in general’, I said ‘cremation in order to deny the resurrection of the body’

 

[BridgetN]

The Church itself says that cremation is OK

That must have been an after Vatican II teaching. Personally, I support only Traditional teachings.