Posted on 03/28/2011 3:56:31 AM PDT by jacknhoo
A commenter raised the issue, citing the former congresswoman’s support for abortion rights, and declared: “Geraldine Ferraro should be denied a Catholic Mass with Catholic sacraments and yes, may God have mercy upon her soul.”
Details about Ferraro’s funeral haven’t yet been released. I presume it will be Catholic. (To those who have asked: no, I don’t think it will be held at my parish. As of Sunday afternoon, no one had contacted the rectory about it.)
But this sort of controversy is not without precedent. Two years ago, when Ted Kennedy’s Catholic funeral (shown above, featuring the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston) caused such an uproar, I posted a link to an article from Zenit on who may or may not have a Catholic funeral:
A funeral Mass can be celebrated for most Catholics, but there are some specific cases in which canon law requires the denial of a funeral Mass.
Canons 1184-1185 say:
“Canon 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals: 1/ notorious apostates, heretics, and schismatics; 2/ those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith; 3/ other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.“§2. If any doubt occurs, the local ordinary is to be consulted, and his judgment must be followed.
“Canon 1185. Any funeral Mass must also be denied a person who is excluded from ecclesiastical funerals.”
In fact, these strictures are rarely applied. In part, this is because many sinners do show signs of repentance before death.
The consensus at the time was that it was appropriate for Ted Kennedy to have a Catholic funeral. Canon lawyer Ed Peters weighed in on the topic, too — and agreed that the Kennedy funeral was canonically acceptable.
What a bundle of crap. First of all, we have no idea what she has done in regards to accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior. First of all, she could have went to confession to confess her sins. This is the biggest bunch of crap I have heard. It is a very disgusting piece of garbage. Only God knows what is in her heart. We have absolutely NO say in this matter.
I don’t understand just why Formal Heretics receive Catholic funeral. Indeed, Ferraro is a Formal Heretic.
Wow. I definitely need to speak with you because apparently you are Jesus Christ and God all rolled up in one. Dang it must be good to be perfect and accusatory and arrogant and judgmental.
I'm assuming they did. I'm assuming she will.
As to her position and politics on abortion, I’d say there’s some solid ground to question her dedication to her “religion”.
I agree the only thing I am saying is that we don’t know what she said to God, Jesus, Priest before she died. If we are going to say that anyone who believed anything negative doesn’t go to Heaven, it is an awful empty place. I am Catholic and 100 percent pro life but I refuse to “guess” someones eternal life especially when they have not put her in the ground yet. There is plenty of time for this analysis after her funeral. Right now it should be prayers to her and her family.
Actually we are commanded to deny heretics.
Church or no church... she will not like what she has reaped for hers years of sowing.
LLS
Then let God bury her.
Our God is a God of the living, not a God of the dead. The dead bury their own. The question is if the event should merit a Mass.
One might argue any event may merit a Mass. Even so, if her life was devoted to things opposing Christ, then celebrating something that is good for nothingness tends to promote good for nothingness amongst those not so familiar with Christ.
I agree that the focus of those involved with the funeral, should be in handling the grief of the family, and loved ones, while also remaining in fellowship with God through faith in Christ.
Actually we are commanded to deny heretics.
We don’t know if she is or not. Anyway what you and I say doesn’t matter. She will get the Catholic funeral so it really is not worth discussing.
“We don’t know if she is or not. Anyway what you and I say doesn’t matter. She will get the Catholic funeral so it really is not worth discussing.”
Then why did you post on the thread? Giving her the funeral will reinforce the behavior that it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you have money.
I certainly won’t be the guy who decides to give her a Catholic funeral.
The socialists leading the Catholic church will give her a Catholic funeral, of this I have no doubt.
If they don’t throw them out while alive surely they’ll do nothing now.
It means the Catholic Church SUPPORTS the abortion movement.
Look at what they do not what they say.
One cannot partake in the murder of unborn children 6 days a week then repent on the seventh day, only to start anew on the first day of the new week.
And this is what your post basically says, you can sin every day of your life and while you are sick and dying repent and all is well.
Did she announce she opposed abortion before she passed, no.
By your belief Hitler could have repented the same hour he died and he’s forgiven.
I agree with you. I hope she is buried from a Catholic funeral Mass if that is what her family wishes. However, what I don't want to see is a public spectacle like Ted Kennedy's funeral. I don't want the Cardinal there, etc. It should be a private family Mass. A large public show, is, in my opinion, a scandal - unless of course some deathbed confession and recanting of her pro-abortion ways were to be made public by her family.
I'm no theologian, but it seems to me that if I sin in my private life, but honestly repent as my end draws near, then Jesus may forgive my sins -- but if I have labored diligently to lead others into sin over the course of decades, I am not so sure that a quiet little "Sorry, 'bout that" on my deathbed is going to be sufficient.
But I guess we won't know until we stand before the Lord for judgement.
Ferraro has always been a smug, leftist, pro-abortion politician. She deserves no Church sanctioned funeral and burial.
She will, nevertheless, get one.
Thank God Catholic funerals are meaningless when it comes to eternal life...If the lady was a true Christian, she's already standing at the side of our Saviour, Jesus Christ...And if not, she'll be on her knees and on her own without an advocate at the final Judgment...
And I am grateful that I do not get “what I deserve”. Funerals are for the family and I embrace them as an opportunity to focus on the prospect of eternal life. Live for eternity. If you disagree with the rules of a church, find another church, and yes, I understand that individual congregations of a particular religion practice different beliefs, there are Catholics for choice, Priests for choice etc. Satan is intent on confusing and ensnaring all of us.
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