I’d wonder if there are more details than shown in the story, that this is more than a long-ago thing with him and they really don’t want the scandal, or to be played by it as though they had suddenly affirmed the lifestyle. Ave Maria is a classic Catholic devotional (as crazy evangelical I don’t believe its theology, but understand its religious significance in the Catholic context).
Basically, the church is refusing to be used against its own conscience, if I sense this right. And that is the church’s right. If the family wanted to have a separate non-church memorial, then they could have this fellow and do whatever else they wanted.
Smart thinking.
“Basically, the church is refusing to be used against its own conscience, if I sense this right.”
Thanks for understanding this so well.
As a Catholic, I am happy to see a priest who will stand on this principle.
If he had caved, no one would have said “boo” to him, so this is an act of courage.
Exactly, HiTech. Thank you.