U.S. bishop doubles-down on refusing funerals to non-repentant gays

Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino is defending his diocese's recent guidelines to priests about denying funerals for non-repentant homosexuals, saying it’s the "straightforward teaching of the Church." He clarified in the face of an ugly campaign to have him removed as bishop that such guidelines in no way indicate that "we don’t care about homosexual people"

Morlino, the bishop of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, has come under fire because his priests received a guidance reminding them of what the Code of Canon Law says about Catholic funerals for unrepentant “manifest public sinners,” such as people who publicly entered a same-sex “marriage.”

Media in his state that are sympathetic to the homosexual cause have attacked him, as have dissenting “Catholic” groups that reject Church teaching on sexual morality.

“The context” of the diocesan guidelines is “important,” Morlino told EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo on The World Over.

“We have regular questions coming to us from individual pastors or from the priest counsel about these matters,” he explained. “And we have a regular way of communicating with priests – the Saturday mailing to priests from the vicar general – which addresses simply the answer to their questions in shorthand.”

“I did not out of a clear blue sky decide to speak out about this,” said Morlino. He noted that the guidance to priests from his vicar general “is the straightforward teaching of the Church of which I approve and very much want to promote.”

“The problem is that when people are tuned in three-quarters of the way through a conversation, which has been going on, and they get shorthand bottom lines,” said Morlino. “Then we got a problem.”

“A misinterpretation is created that we don’t care about homosexual people, that we want to have nothing to do with them,” he explained. This isn’t true at all, Morlino said.

Morlino said that those with same-sex attraction “who want to follow Christ” have a “particularly heavy cross to carry.”

Morlino reiterated this in a Nov. 02 column for the Diocese of Madison’s newspaper, writing:

It is our duty, as Christians, to approach such individuals and to act as Simon of Cyrene to them, helping to carry their cross, and never kicking them while they struggle under its weight. So much of what has been misinterpreted in this whole affair is a sense that we desire to have nothing to do with those who face this road of discipleship.

…

By all means, as the saying goes, “come as you are.” But, be aware that Jesus Christ loves each of us far too much to leave us as we are. He wants far more for you and for me. Be aware that he says to us all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Lk 9:23).” Following Jesus involves a decision to take up a cross and to follow in His footsteps toward Calvary. But we do not do so alone. Jesus, by His grace and through His living body, the Church, will make that burden light — insofar as we (every individual disciple) allow.

If a “manifest public sinner” shows even the slightest sign of repentance, he is eligible for a Catholic funeral, Morlino said.

He noted that when pro-abortion Sen. Ted Kennedy received a Catholic funeral, many faithful in his diocese were scandalized. Kennedy definitely was a manifest public sinner. But Morlino said he assumes the churchmen involved with the funeral knew something he didn’t about Kennedy showing signs of repentance.

The Code of Canon Law says that three conditions must be met for someone to be denied a Catholic funeral: he must be a manifest public sinner, he must have shown no signs of repentance, and giving him a Catholic funeral would cause scandal to the faithful.

“The slightest sign of repentance means they get a Catholic funeral,” said Morlino. He noted repentance is the end goal for everyone.

Morlino also lamented that people wrongly think he doesn’t care about those with same-sex attraction.

“I feel terrible about that,” he said.

Morlino also clarified why if a person who entered a public same-sex union is given a Catholic funeral, his partner is not allowed to do a reading at the service or be mentioned as surviving him.

It would lead Catholics into sin, he said, by giving them the impression same-sex unions are okay or would at the very least lead to them “getting them all confused.” Catholics have a right “not to be confused,” he added.

Morlino also briefly weighed in on the unfolding drama surrounding the U.S. Catholic bishops’ sacking of Father Thomas Weinandy as a consultant after he published a letter he wrote to Pope Francis raising concerns about the “confusion” that is a hallmark of his papacy.

“Father Weinandy is an extremely reputable scholar and in fact, a friend of mine,” Morlino told Arroyo. “A very good theologian and a friend of mine, truth be told. I cannot make judgments about Father Weinandy and his relationship to the USCCB because I am far away from all of that.”

Morlino chuckled at the assertion from dissenting Catholics that he’s not “welcoming” and should be removed by Pope Francis.

“I wake up every morning convinced that 'God’s will' will be done for the world and my life that day,” he said. “And knowing that. I just proceed with serenity and a good smile.”

It matters what you mean by "deny."

We in the church pray for ALL the dead, ALL the time. Anyone who is dead is prayed for, period.

However a funeral is not a private prayer but a public Liturgy which is an act of the Church, and it is strongly predicated on the confession of sin and repentance on the apart of each and every one of us.

Repentance is a constitutive part of the Liturgy of the Mass. "Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault."

A manifest grave sinner who shows no sign of repentance has already stated, loud and clear, that he wants no part of it.

A Catholic Cemetery is considered an extension of the Parish Church. Burying a queer in a Parish Church would desecrate the Church and burying a queer or other person who openly violates the Dogma of the Church desecrates the cemetery.

And before you ask, yes, those openly non-Catholic scum who should have been excommunicated but who were buried as Catholic in a Catholic Cemetery have desecrated the cemetery they're buried in. Something those who permitted the burial will pay dearly for having permitted.

“The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops.”
St. Athanasius, Council of Nicaea, AD 325 attributed

IMO to openly accept the act of homosexuality in the church teaches members that the practice is acceptable. This validates to everyone that homosexuality is good. Realistically, homosexuality in practice involves married men cheating on their wives, and the practice of multiple partners of a range of age groups. This validation has lead to many marriages being hurt and the spread of disease. Validation by the church multiplies this effect. So wrong to everyone involved. The church should serve as a guide to behaviour and be helpful to living a life of peace.

The Pope cannot change the moral teachings of the Church.

No Pope has that power. In our debased age, some people assume truth is relative.

Christianity teaches its absolute and eternal.

There is no reason for religion if people do not accept transcendent truths.

One must have compassion for gays and treat them with love and respect.

That does not extend to approve their sin. You can love the sinner but hate the sin.

This is doctrine and right and wrong is inherent in it.

>One must have compassion for gays and treat them with love and respect.

Why? Jesus never commands that. He treated evil people as evil people unless they repented.

>That does not extend to approve their sin. You can love the sinner but hate the sin.

Why should you love a sinner? Jesus taught to love those who repented not those who continue to sin after hearing the good news.

Every human being is made in God’s image. We love them as they are and nevertheless hope they will walk in the path of God.

Jesus worked among people of ill repute in the hope of gaining their repentance. He did not approve of what they did but wanted to bring them to finding the door to eternal life open before them.

That is what the Church has always strived to do and its not new teaching but the continuation of established practice.

>Jesus worked among people of ill repute in the hope of gaining their repentance. He did not approve of what they did but wanted to bring them to finding the door to eternal life open before them.

Jesus preached to the people of ill repute. He’d didn’t invite them into his home or express love for them unless they repented. He in fact refused to help nonjews who didn’t express faith in him. You’re spreading liberal new age hippy Jesus crap.

>That is what the Church has always strived to do and its not new teaching but the continuation of established practice.

Bullcrap.

Romans 1:26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Not a lot of compassion from Paul. The modern church is a joke. They’ve stopped creating fellowship and edifying the righteous in favor of coddling sinners.

I agree in hate the sin, love the sinner. It is compassionate to teach right and wrong while showing love to the person. There is a much better chance they will “wake up” from their sin with this approach. Most people want peace and to be loved. The consequences of doing wrong never bring peace. This is why the church is held to a higher standard. People look to the church for guidance. We live in a very lost world.Trump gives me hope. Every word out of his mouth is right versus wrong. WE NEED THAT! It’like watching him poor water on a witch! Every time he speaks, the MSM shrieks!

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