Catholic conservatism on the rise as priest refuses funeral for 'sinner'

The Times ^ | 7/22/05 | Richard Owen

[Campion]

Thank you, Campion, for your obviously knowledgeable posts. :o)

You're most welcome. Glad to be of assistance.

I guess I shouldn't let the Feeneyists (?) fool me into thinking what they believe about salvation is what most Catholics believe.

No, but even more -- this is a hard concept to grasp -- you shouldn't exactly care much about "what most Catholics believe". What defines Catholicism is what the Church's magisterium (big Latin word, means "teaching authority", comes from the Latin magister, which is the usual word for "teacher") teaches, not what most Catholics believe. The magisterium is the bishops teaching in union with the Pope, not just this current Pope and these bishops, but all of the Popes and bishops, and before them the Apostles, and before them the prophets and patriarchs, back throughout salvation history.

Notice also (the following is contrary to the de facto M.O. w/in Protestantism) that the magisterium does not include "Catholic theologians," whose function is more like that of observers or explainers than teachers.

To put it more succinctly, "what most Catholics believe" may, or may not, be rank heresy, not Catholicism. (cf my tagline) "What Catholicism is" is identical to "what the magisterium teaches". The starting point for what the magisterium teaches is of course what the Scriptures teach.

Oh, and the Protestants who claim anyone who is a Catholic is not a Christian--they're just plain wrong.

Thanks! God bless!

[Campion]

Campion's better than I am on doctrine.

Here's where I'm going to complain about your excessive modesty -- you do just great on your own. :-)

[fabrizio]

I gave some references (and so did others) to Catholic laws and teachings on the subject. Scroll up to the first comments. It is approved, in SOME circumstances of practical origin (e.g. infectious diseases, lack of space, local regulations) and ONLY IF there is NO intention of denying the doctrine of the resurrection of the bodies.

It was absolutely forbidden since the beginning of the Church to fight the pagan misconceptions about death. Obviously, God can resurrect bodies whatever their fate after death, but is important to preserve the due respect for the flesh we share with Christ that will rise back to life one day.

[XEHRpa]

> Technically, in the Catholic Church, the prayers offered at a Funeral Mass or a Requiem Mass are for the dead - that their time being purified be lessened.

Good point. My bad.