If this “inquirer” is in RCIA, and has completed the Rite of Acceptance, they may have a Catholic funeral, and burial in a Catholic cemetery.Can a non-Catholic have a Catholic funeral?
What if they were baptized for the forgiveness of sins in another church but accept Catholic teaching?
What if they were just starting the inquiry process, but had not come to a decision yet?
THOSE TO WHOM ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS MUST BE GRANTED OR DENIEDCan a non-Catholic have a Catholic funeral?
What if they were baptized for the forgiveness of sins in another church but accept Catholic teaching?
What if they were just starting the inquiry process, but had not come to a decision yet?
Like I said, talk to the parish priest; the canon is full of may and can, those are not binding.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.
There are options to be able to give a Christian Funeral. In my practice, if it is a family member of a parisher, who is baptized Christian and not in the churh, I will do a service of the liturgy of the word, but not a mass. The same often for baptized Catholics who have fallen from the faith.Can a non-Catholic have a Catholic funeral?
What if they were baptized for the forgiveness of sins in another church but accept Catholic teaching?
What if they were just starting the inquiry process, but had not come to a decision yet?
I guess this reflects my questions about one situation in particular. Sorry to be morbid. But…There are options to be able to give a Christian Funeral. In my practice, if it is a family member of a parisher, who is baptized Christian and not in the churh, I will do a service of the liturgy of the word, but not a mass. The same often for baptized Catholics who have fallen from the faith.
It would be unusual to asked to do a funeral for a non Christian, the exception is a child who had not yet been baptized.
Those who are in RCIA, particularly after the Rite of Acceptance are considered to be part of the Church and in the event of death before coming fully ionto the Church could recieve a funeral with the mass. Depending on the stage of the third, since it seems they are moving in the direcrion of the Church, would have to be a decision at that time. If it were my decision, based on the process of the restof the family and their faith in process, I would lean toward a funeral witha mass.I guess this reflects my questions about one situation in particular. Sorry to be morbid. But…
The situation would be parents who reverted wholeheartedly to Catholicism after many years as Protestants and raised their children to near adulthood in the other church.
One child was baptized as an “adult”, repenting fully and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins, and now accepts Catholic doctrine as true but is in the sloowww stage of consideration of what in the world have their parents done. (guess that is one RCIA stage?). Another accepts the doctrine, has not been been baptized, and is striving to grow their own relationship with God (guess that is the RCIA stage?). Another acquiesces to the doctrine, recognizes need, but hesitates due to fear and is not at the stage of inquiry (probably not).
Thoughts…
When my grandfather passed away, he was a baptised Lutheran, but had not been part of the Lutheran church for many years. Shortly before his death he had wanted to go through the RCIA process to become a Catholic. Because my grandmother’s pastor knew of this, he allowed a Catholic funeral for him.THOSE TO WHOM ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS MUST BE GRANTED OR DENIED
§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.
Just sharing a bit of personal experience…Can a non-Catholic have a Catholic funeral?
Can you please explain how law is not binding?Like I said, talk to the parish priest; the canon is full of may and can, those are not binding.
The canon allows for the clergy to make a pastoral desicion that may not fully follow the canon for the spirtual good of the individuals involed.Can you please explain how law is not binding?
Can you please show where the canon allows for the clergy to not follow the canon?The canon allows for the clergy to make a pastoral desicion that may not fully follow the canon for the spirtual good of the individuals involed.
I have found it before, it is at the begining of the canon. It was also in my canon law class one of the first things the canon law layer taught us. Dispinsation can be given to any part of the canon for pastoral reasons.Can you please show where the canon allows for the clergy to not follow the canon?