[Vigilanteman]

Gee, would that be like the thief on the cross?

Or maybe Ted Kennedy or Chavez who get Catholics funerals . . . ?

Pretty clever analogy. Except that in the former case it was Jesus Christ himself offering salvation, not some self-appointed spokesman.

And in the later case, it is a funeral, not a pronouncement of salvation or lack thereof. Not so different from that great old Protestant tradition of singing hymns to the condemned on the gallows before the trap door was sprung.

A tradition which, by the way, I find both admirable and commendable. The condemned get their justice but the hymn singers put them in a proper frame of mind to ask for the mercy of the final judge, who is God, not some self-appointed expert.

[metmom]

Except that in the former case it was Jesus Christ himself offering salvation, not some self-appointed spokesman.

Jesus is ever the only one who offers salvation.

We go to Him and He won't turn anyone who asks away.