As to the poem ...
1) I do not agree with the theology it expresses. If I did agree with it, I would be protestant, because it expressed Protestant theology. I have no doubt that protestants will come along on this thread to inform us that they're right and we're wrong ... in pre-emption: Hey Protestants! We're right and you're wrong.
2) Even if I did agree with the theology in the poem, I would still dislike it ... it's really syrupy. Bleh!
Well, I’m Protestant, and I agree with you about why the poem’s theology is wrong, I just also happen to disagree with you about praying for the dead.
That being said, pretty much my entire family is Catholic, and I’ve attended plenty of Catholic funeral services where the priest assured the assembled family that their departed loved one was in a better place. Maybe the priests didn’t really believe that theologically, but I think, in that situation, both Protestants and Catholics tend to care more about comforting the grieving than being theologically accurate.
The poem made my teeth ache.