Madison priests get directives on funerals of LGBT people

  • Thread starter Thread starter ramartensjr
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It is good for this bishop that he is standing up for the teachings of the Church and doing the right thing with regards to these difficult situations.

I wonder how long it will take Fr. Martin to speak out and criticise this bishop…
 
I think it’s interesting how people who openly go against Church teachings, flaunt their sins in public, and fight the Church bitterly on multiple issues wish to be buried by them. It seems conflicted at best perhaps even schizophrenic. Honestly, if you don’t abide by any guidelines but your own who will accept you?
 
My understanding is that a private funeral may be given in cases where a public funeral would cause public scandal?
I remember this being an issue with prominent Mafia figures.
Funeral rites for persons in conflict with Church teaching is not a new or different issue.
 
Cruciferi said:
I think it’s interesting how people who openly go against Church teachings, flaunt their sins in public, and fight the Church bitterly on multiple issues wish to be buried by them. …
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I think we have to be careful about universalising a disparate range of people simply on the basis of active orientation. That is called “demonising”.

Sure, many do flaunt.
However being unable to accept a specific Church teaching, or at least to quietly believe the sin is mitigated/tolerated by God in ones own difficult life scenario, is not the same as fighting the Church bitterly or “flaunting”.
If we concluded the same about those contracepting then the extremity of this view might be a little more obvious.

Regardless, it is poor advice to provide priests. Better to just say one is not available for the funeral than attempt to apply those Guidelines. Its a pastoral disaster.
 
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ramartensjr said:
“This document is the very antithesis of pastoral care,” [OP quoting the attached article]
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I note the funeral is not at all denied to persons for the difficulties they experience but might be denied in light of the life they chose to lead and the “witness” they chose to publically give by virtue of living in a ‘homosexual union’, and in light of other factors. In fact, the proposal is quite light on “directives” (and is in no way a directive to deny funerals to a LGBT people), but rather a list of factors to consider in responding to a request and the provisos that ought apply if proceeding to conduct the funeral.

Certainly the proposal does not…
BlackFriar said:
universalis[e] a disparate range of people simply on the basis of active orientation.
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but I do agree with Black F that far more thought is needed than the matter has apparently received.
 
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In such cases as covered by the guidelines, how does a Priest teach and defend the faith by being not available for the funeral? Also, I hear ‘pastoral’ a lot these days. Is that more important than Truth, Love, and Mercy. Just curious.
 
Declining to celebrate a funeral for a gay Catholic is pro gay?
 
…an thoroughly inconsistent with charity and the gospel message, one might argue.
 
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Canon law doesn’t give a directive which is mandatory in all cases. Should a prominent Mafia boss receive a Catholic funeral? How about a minor underling? Should a well known abortionist receive a Catholic funeral? How about a receptionist who works at the abortion clinic? Should a gay activist who proclaims the validity of same sex marriage in all possible venues receive a Catholic funeral? How about a gay person who is not known to the public?

People scoff at the concept of scandal, but the question is always, what message does the Church give to ordinary Christians?
 
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