Is it always wrong to rejoice at someone's death?

[DL82]

If you were interned in a concentration camp in WW2, would it have been wrong to rejoice that Hitler was dead? Was it wrong for the people of Iraq to take to the streets to celebrate when Saddam was on the run and his two sons were killed?

In the Old Testament, there are examples of people rejoicing at the death of others, and even in Revelation there is the implication that the great celebration feast of the Lord will involve rejoicing that the corrupt kings of the world are dead.

Is it always wrong to be glad that someone whose whole life caused misery and pain to others is in a place where they can no longer cause anyone any pain?

A friend of mine recently informed me that there is a party planned in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London at 1pm on the day after ageing former prime minister Margaret Thatcher dies. It’s said that there are already 100,000 confirmed guests. As much as the woman may have damaged Britain and cost many people their jobs and homes, and as much as I profoundly disagree with everything she stood for, I think it’s very cruel to treat her that way. She’s no longer in a position to hurt anybody, so rejoicing at her death just seems cruel and inhumane.

 

[deb1]

If you were interned in a concentration camp in WW2, would it have been wrong to rejoice that Hitler was dead? Was it wrong for the people of Iraq to take to the streets to celebrate when Saddam was on the run and his two sons were killed?

In the Old Testament, there are examples of people rejoicing at the death of others, and even in Revelation there is the implication that the great celebration feast of the Lord will involve rejoicing that the corrupt kings of the world are dead.

Is it always wrong to be glad that someone whose whole life caused misery and pain to others is in a place where they can no longer cause anyone any pain?

A friend of mine recently informed me that there is a party planned in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London at 1pm on the day after ageing former prime minister Margaret Thatcher dies. It’s said that there are already 100,000 confirmed guests. As much as the woman may have damaged Britain and cost many people their jobs and homes, and as much as I profoundly disagree with everything she stood for, I think it’s very cruel to treat her that way. She’s no longer in a position to hurt anybody, so rejoicing at her death just seems cruel and inhumane.

Margret Thatcher was not guilty of any atrocities so it seems strange to compare the reaction to her death to people like Sadam Hussien.

I don’t like Hilary Clinton, yet I would feel sadness for her family if she passed away. I certainly would not party in the street, nor would I be happy.

 

[goofyjim]

We should never ever rejoice at someone’s demise. Remember “Love your enemies” and “There but for the grace of God go I.”

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Depends on the intent of “rejoice”. In Catholic tradition, it is not about mourning someone’s life, but rejoice in their new life in heaven. They have moved onto a better place than the earthly plane.

Being human, adding other intent for a enjoying loss of a person does happen, not really a good thing, but it has happened many times before and will continue to happen in the future.

 

[Newbie2]

I suppose it would depend on what one was rejoicing over. In the case of Hitler, for example, his death meant the end of his oppression…so in that aspect, it would be OK.

But to rejoice over the person of Hitler being dead, methinks that a slightly different matter.

 

[awfulthings9]

I rejoiced at my father’s death. His suffering had ended.

I would rejoice at Hitler’s death. The suffering of thousands of others had ended (and perhaps his own) and God was in charge of his soul. I don’t think that to “love one’s enemies” means that we should be pleased with the idea that they are able to spread destruction.

This isn’t an endorsement of capital punishment (nor a condemnation of it) or of vengeance … just a heartfelt gratitude that an instrument of death and destruction had moved onto his judgement, whatever it may be.

 

[system]

A friend of mine recently informed me that there is a party planned in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London at 1pm on the day after ageing former prime minister Margaret Thatcher dies. It’s said that there are already 100,000 confirmed guests. As much as the woman may have damaged Britain and cost many people their jobs and homes, and as much as I profoundly disagree with everything she stood for, I think it’s very cruel to treat her that way. She’s no longer in a position to hurt anybody, so rejoicing at her death just seems cruel and inhumane.

This has the sound of an “urban myth” to me, but I suppose it is possible. Can you find any news about it? any sources other than the one? I think if there were 100,000 confirmed guests, this would have made the news over there and also over here.

I know more than a few staunch Irish Republicans on both sides of the Atlantic and, as much as they hated Thatcher, I can’t imagine any of them celebrating her death.

I have a British friend nearby whose father and brothers lost their livings due to Thatcher, but I cannot imagine him celebrating her death.

In short - it is HARD to be that nasty. I think there is an innate human respect for death.

 

[Evan]

I know I always rejoice at the death of my relatives. They are good people and I rejoice that they have left this vale of tears and begun a journey that will lead them eventually to the beatific vision.

All the Saints days are celebration that occur each year to celebrate the day they died. For that is a real birth into a new and glorious existence.

 

[BlaineTog]

Death is always an evil, and it is never good to revoice at a death. However, it is perfectly ok to rejoice at the end of someone’s suffering, or at the end of the suffering that that person has caused, or that the person is hopefully with God now. Rejoicing over the death of Margaret Thatcher in circumstances such as that is utterly deplorable.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

A friend of mine recently informed me that there is a party planned in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London at 1pm on the day after ageing former prime minister Margaret Thatcher dies. It’s said that there are already 100,000 confirmed guests. As much as the woman may have damaged Britain and cost many people their jobs and homes, and as much as I profoundly disagree with everything she stood for, I think it’s very cruel to treat her that way. She’s no longer in a position to hurt anybody, so rejoicing at her death just seems cruel and inhumane.

That’s just sick. It’s one thing to disagree with someone’s policies, but that goes way too far. I think it goes too far to even wish for the death (or even serious illness or injury) of someone we don’t like and/or disagree with. Celebrating when she left office, now that’s fine. If you’re a democrat, and a democrat is elected president, celebrate. Be upset if you’re a republican, and vice versa, but don’t wish bad things on those you disagree with. I can’t even imagine that kind of attitude. Those people should be ashamed of themselves!

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[awfulthings9]

Death is always an evil, and it is never good to revoice at a death.

Can you qualify this? Where has it been revealed that death is, itself, evil? Sure, it is the consequence of the first evil act, but the act itself was evil, not the effect.

 

[BlaineTog]

Can you qualify this? Where has it been revealed that death is, itself, evil? Sure, it is the consequence of the first evil act, but the act itself was evil, not the effect.

The human being was not made for death but for eternal life. Death is contrary to God’s design and will, but we chose it in spite of this. All that is contrary to God is ipso facto bad.

 

[awfulthings9]

The human being was not made for death but for eternal life. Death is contrary to God’s design and will, but we chose it in spite of this. All that is contrary to God is ipso facto bad.

Respectfully, I think there is something of a difference between something being “evil” and “bad”.

That aside, if the comparison is between our original design, which is now forever lost to us, and death, I would agree. This seems to be what you are implying by saying that we “chose it in spite of this”. However, we no longer actively chose death. After Adam and Eve, it is the default end to every human life, save a couple of Biblical examples (where God intervened, not human choice).

However, under salvation through Christ, death is a necessary step to our reunion with God in its fullest sense. None of us can achieve that in this temporal state. In fact, as what happens with much of the temporal things around us (even those that were, at one point, “contrary to God’s plan”) is that Christ incorporated them into God’s plan. This is why we call the day of His death “Good” Friday. This is why baptism is a “death” and rebirth. If death were inherently evil (or even bad, for that matter), the Holy Spirit would not have chosen it as the imagery to explain the salvific power of baptism.

So, to sum up, death was once a “bad” consequence of original sin. Now, thanks to Christ becoming flesh and uplifting the fallen human condition, it is the stepping stone to eternal life. That is a good thing.

 

[ora_pro_nobis]

I’m pretty sure the party is either a wind-up or an urban myth (if it’s true my invite has been lost in the post).
For those of us who had our lives turned upside down by her years in power, who lived with the damage she caused, she can still be a figure of fear and loathing.
I’ve definitely mellowed over the years - when she resigned in 1990 (she didn’t want to face a second ballot and lose it) I was one of those celebrating, but when the day of her death comes I pray that I will be able to pray for the repose of her soul.

People who have been directly affected by someone else’s bad deeds may well rejoice at that person’s death e.g. Hitler, Stalin, Mengele; it is not for us to judge if we’ve never been in that position.

 

[goofyjim]

I’m pretty sure the party is either a wind-up or an urban myth (if it’s true my invite has been lost in the post).
For those of us who had our lives turned upside down by her years in power, who lived with the damage she caused, she can still be a figure of fear and loathing.
I’ve definitely mellowed over the years - when she resigned in 1990 (she didn’t want to face a second ballot and lose it) I was one of those celebrating, but when the day of her death comes I pray that I will be able to pray for the repose of her soul.

People who have been directly affected by someone else’s bad deeds may well rejoice at that person’s death e.g. Hitler, Stalin, Mengele; it is not for us to judge if we’ve never been in that position.

I don’t judge anyone including Hitler, Stalin or Mengele. I pray for them all. Therefore I don’t rejoice in anyone’s demise. Although death may well be a route to heaven so there would be cause for rejoicing. But if they are saints we could continue to use them here on earth. So again I don’t rejoice at the loss of a loved one either.

 

[puzzleannie]

in our funeral liturgy we rejoice that a person has been released from earthly sin, pain and suffering, and is now free for eventual union with God, to fulfill God’s plan for them fully and completely.

 

[whatevergirl]

in our funeral liturgy we rejoice that a person has been released from earthly sin, pain and suffering, and is now free for eventual union with God, to fulfill God’s plan for them fully and completely.

That’s beautifully stated.

 

[Steadfast_love]

So, to sum up, death was once a “bad” consequence of original sin. Now, thanks to Christ becoming flesh and uplifting the fallen human condition, it is the stepping stone to eternal life. That is a good thing.

Scripture addresses death as God’s enemy:
1Cor 15:26 :bible1:
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
and had he not been victorious over death…
1Cor 15:16-19 :bible1:
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.
So sure death is “bad” just like Satan is “bad” – they are the enemies of God.

 

[awfulthings9]

Scripture addresses death as God’s enemy:1Cor 15:26 :bible1:

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. and had he not been victorious over death…1Cor 15:16-19 :bible1:

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. So sure death is “bad” just like Satan is “bad” – they are the enemies of God.

You are taking the metaphor too far. After all, Peter is not really Satan, though he is called that. To explore this, explain how that last “enemy” is detroyed … after all, we still die, right? I’ll comment further after I see your answer to this.

 

[Steadfast_love]

I can have it both ways. Death is contrary to God’s plan *and *death in Christ is good. CCC 1008
Death is a consequence of sin. the Church’s Magisterium, as authentic interpreter of the affirmations of Scripture and Tradition, teaches that death entered the world on account of man’s sin.569 Even though man’s nature is mortal God had destined him not to die. Death was therefore contrary to the plans of God the Creator and entered the world as a consequence of sin.570 “Bodily death, from which man would have been immune had he not sinned” is thus “the last enemy” of man left to be conquered.571
This next quote shows that there is more than one kind of death:
CCC 1010 Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."574 "The saying is sure: if we have died with him, we will also live with him.575 What is essentially new about Christian death is this: through Baptism, the Christian has already “died with Christ” sacramentally, in order to live a new life; and if we die in Christ’s grace, physical death completes this “dying with Christ” and so completes our incorporation into him in his redeeming act…
But that’s not the kind of death celebration they were planning to celebrate was it?