Do the children of non-practicing Catholics exist?

[kathryn_hodson]

I was told by a friend that her aunt, who is a Catholic but not married in the Catholic Church, wanted to have a Catholic Mass when she died but was told by the bishop that this is not possible and that her children are non-existent according to the Catholic Church. I did not continue the discussion further as I wanted to research first. Help.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I very much doubt that a bishop would tell someone that she cannot have a Catholic funeral because she married outside the Church, and I even more strongly doubt that a bishop would say that the children of a non-practicing Catholic married outside the Church are “non-existent.” You should ask your friend some questions:

• When and where did this occur?
• Who was the bishop?
• What exactly did he say?
  If you get specifics, then you can write to the bishop and ask for clarification from him. If not, then you can tell your friend, as gently and politely as possible, “I’m sorry, but without verifiable specifics, this story is too incredible to believe.”