Not that I'm planning his death, but if we both died together, could we be funeralised together in my church? Would we have to have separate services at separate churches? If he died now, would I be able to give him a Catholic service as the rest of the family is Catholic and practicing? Does he need to convert officially?
2007-07-02 00:49:25 · 17 answers · asked by K38 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why?
Are you planning to kill him?
2007-07-02 00:51:47 · answer #1 · answered by billystinkfinger 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
*Is Catholic*
The above poster Abel is wrong in his interpretation.
The norm is refusal. The individual desiring a Catholic funeral for a non-Catholic must show cause and the Bishop must agree. A non-Catholic non-Christian cannot be given a Catholic funeral, unless there is very very specific and narrow circumstances (typically receiving Last Rites would allow for this).
Let us walk through the Canon:
Can. 1183 §3. allows for a Catholic funeral of a non-Catholic but baptized Christian only if
1. It is not contrary to the wishes of the dead person.
2. The minister of the dead person is unavailable.
3. Can 1184 the person is not a unrepentant notorious apostate, heretic, or schismatics; has not chosen cremation of their body for reasons contrary to Christian faith; such a funeral would not cause public scandal of the Catholic faithful.
4. If the local ordinary (typically the Bishop) chooses to permit such a funeral. The non-Catholic has no right to a Catholic funeral.
IN SUCH A SITUATION AS YOURS:
If your husband is a practicing member of another Church or ecclesial community it would be unfair to given him a Catholic funeral as obviously his beliefs are different. You should respect his beliefs. He should be buried according to his beliefs not yours.
Primarily this Canon is for those Christians/catechumens who are more Catholic than they are anything else. It is not for convenience.
Again, what I want to stress, is that this is about your husband's beliefs. What does he believe in? If he believes differently, should he not be buried according to his beliefs? If he believes as a Catholic, why doesn't he join in the rest of Catholic liturgical life and become a Catholic?
That is the discussion that you should be having with your husband. What are his beliefs?
PS I would like to add that Daver is right: A non-Catholic who recieves Last Rites and requestes a Catholic burial from the priest who administered the Sacrament while he is dying is VERY likely to be granted a Catholic funeral. The key is that at death, the individual was more Catholic than not and it was the individuals will be believe according to the Catholic faith.
2007-07-02 11:18:23 · answer #2 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is an issue you and your husband should talk to a priest about. I have seen non-Catholics given a Catholic funeral, mostly due to the rest of the family being Catholic.
One of my uncles wasn't really an active religious man - until he was very sick. He asked to receive the Sacrament of the Annoiting of the Sick and requested a Catholic burial from the priest who administered the Sacrament. The Church granted it to him.
The bottom line is, talk to a priest about this issue, and resolve the issue now. That way, having resolved the issue, you and your husband are better apt to enjoy your time together on earth.
Will an official conversion help? Put it this way - it won't hurt.
2007-07-02 04:11:46 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's just like JP II issued the bull stipulating only the Faithful in Grace could accept the Eucharist. I'm a Protestant. If the service was boring enough, I'd get my cookie and duck out the door so I didn't have to listen to all the church announcements. Converting is JUST NOT WORTH the time and effort. Whomever makes the final arrangements in your behalf should just convince the padre everything is politically RC.
2007-07-02 00:58:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats a good question!
If your husband is a baptised Christian, he is entitled to a Christian funeral. Catholicism is a part of the Christian "family" so therefore, I couldn't see a reason why he shouldn't have a Christian funeral in the Roman Catholic tradition, in light of the fact that he attend Church with you and the rest of the family. With God's help it will never happen, but it might not be any harm to let members of your family know your wishes, in csr both of you die together.
I'm a Catholic Priest, myself, so hopefully you might find this answer in someway helpful!
2007-07-02 12:12:46 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry so much about what the official rules of the church are, because I think it has more to do with the practices of the bishop (or archbishop) in the individual diocese, and then with the pastor of the individual parish. Depending on who you are working with, they may make an exception to any rule that might exist about who can be buried from the church.
Call the information office of your archdiocese to ask this question, then talk to your pastor about what his feelings are. My guess is that if you are a practicing Catholic and a member of the parish, they would probably allow an immediate family member of yours to be buried from your parish. (I hate to say it, but it probably wouldn't hurt if they check your giving for the past year and find that you've been donating regularly.)
2007-07-02 00:57:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anne M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but unless your husband is confirmed into the Catholic church and taken the Host, he cannot be interred in a Catholic cemetery, neither can he receive the Catholic Mass. You would need to speak to your local priest to arrange this. Remember though that your husband must want to go through the process himself and for the right reasons. Religion is about the practice of one's faith, now a social club for the righteously inclined.
2007-07-02 01:40:24 · answer #7 · answered by Norman W 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
my husband was raise Catholic and his father was Catholic and his mother was Protestant and she was given a catholic funeral on the concession that that one parent was Catholic and the children where raised Catholic, so you might just want to ask the priest of the church you are at to make sure as that is still up to each church.
2007-07-02 01:00:49 · answer #8 · answered by Noble Angel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
The Church offers the funeral rites to anyone who seeks them.
Christians of other denominations may be afforded the rites of the Church.
Catechumens and other non-baptized persons may be buried from the Church.
Some circumstances may preclude the celebration of the Eucharist but not the other rites.
With love in Christ.
2007-07-05 16:50:38 · answer #9 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your husband can have a Catholic funeral according to Canon Law. That's how I understand the pertinent provisions concerning your husbands case. Go to this link for the said provisions.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4C.HTM
Peace and blessings!
2007-07-02 01:16:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No he will not be able to have a Catholic funeral unless he converts to Catholicism.
2007-07-02 03:22:20 · answer #11 · answered by BigG 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋