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jim_mcneill

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I am a convert to Catholisism. My wife son and I are the only Catholics in our family. My Parents and In-laws are nearing the life expectancy available to us now. I will be asked to participate in their protestant funerals in some capacity. What is the churches postion on my involvement?
 
Hey Jim,

The Ten Commandments say to Honor your father and mother.

You would not have a funeral mass for them, but you would take part in respect for your family. Funerals are to show respect and love for the present and past.

The common bond is that of love. Love of God and love of each other. To do less for your parents would leave your heart in pain and frustration for the rest of your family.

It may be more difficult if they are JW or such, but even there it is more just a gathering and some reading.

But, to be there is to evangelize and share your faith, just by your being present.

God bless you!

By the way, my dad is Southern Baptist and is 82, I know I will be facing his time to go home also before too many years have passed.
 
jim_mcneill said:
I am a convert to Catholisism. My wife son and I are the only Catholics in our family. My Parents and In-laws are nearing the life expectancy available to us now. I will be asked to participate in their protestant funerals in some capacity. What is the churches postion on my involvement?
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you go to the funeral. It is not likely that a communion service would be involved, so you would not be receiving in any case, of course. But there is no reason at all no to attend any kind of funeral service at all, no matter what faith (or lack of it) for a friend or relative. If you are responsible for planning the funeral, do it in accord with their wishes and faith, not your own. It would be wise to discuss those plans now, if they are amenable to discussion and pre-planning.
 
As has already been stated, of course you can attend a Protestant funeral service as long as you don’t receive Communion if it is offered.

Nothing prevents you having a Mass said for the souls of your beloved relatives as well. This can be done at any stage after their death.
 
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