Catholic leader clamps down on eulogies

by Gopher 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Gopher

  http://www.startribune.com/stories/614/3607050.html N.J. archbishop bans eulogies at funeral Mass

  Associated Press
  Published Jan. 22, 2003

  NEWARK, N.J. -- Roman Catholic Archbishop John J. Myers has barred friends and relatives from delivering funeral eulogies, saying the tributes ``are getting out of hand'' and can distract from the purpose of the funeral Mass.

  In a directive sent to Newark Archdiocese priests last week, Myers said clerics could still talk about the deceased during the funeral Mass homily.

  But any tributes from families and friends should be read before or after the Mass, preferably in a side chapel or at graveside, and should be delivered by one person.

  ``We have been getting more and more requests for eulogies, and this is not something that has been traditionally a part of Catholic funeral rites,'' Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the archdiocese, told The Record of Bergen County for today's editions.

  The decision, which affects 1.3 million Catholics in New Jersey suburbs of New York City, angered many families.

  ``We felt it really wasn't asking a lot for family members to speak,'' said Mary Jo Dervos, whose family was not allowed to deliver eulogies during her grandmother's funeral Mass on Monday. ``My grandmother was so devoted to the church. She was in the rosary society for 50 years. We believed the Mass was the most appropriate place.''

  Dervos said the priest suggested the eulogies be read at the wake but the family rejected the idea. Instead, they were given at a luncheon after the funeral.
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  Gopher

  So what is the "real purpose" of the funeral mass? Is it to deliver a Catholic sermon?

  I guess the JW's are not the only ones trying to take the humanity out of funeral ceremonies. If the Catholics in the New Jersey area won't listen to their parishioners, maybe people will just skip them and have their own private memorial services.
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  Stephanus

  You'll probably find that the funeral mass is a very serious part of reducing the deceased's time in Purgatory, therefore it is understandable to see how an Archbishop would see too much non clerical involvement as trivialising and even interfering with the sacrament. However, it is a PR disaster!
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  heathen

  Gopher- This is just another classic example of religion tying to take freedom away from people . I think the family of the deceased should have the right to run the funeral in a way they wish to remember the loved one . Of course I don't believe in purgatory but from what I understand it is defined as a place where you are held in a state of suspended animation for a time period that is determined by God anyway .I guess that's some of the faulty reasoning that people are prone to submit themselves to in the name of religion .

  If the Catholics in the New Jersey area won't listen to their parishioners, maybe people will just skip them and have their own private memorial services. Now this is something that they should seriously consider.
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  Stephanus

  If the Catholics in the New Jersey area won't listen to their parishioners, maybe people will just skip them and have their own private memorial services. Now this is something that they should seriously consider.

  You don't understand, Heathen. To a Catholic, the Sacraments are your ticket to Heaven. If you don't have a church-sanctioned funeral, you may well go to Hell!
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  heathen

  Stephanus- Catholisism is the first religion of which my family was involved with but after reading the bible for ourselves and doing a little research the truth about their kind of mind control became apparent . There is no way a church can guarantee anyone a ticket to the after life . I don't even know where that belief came from but it certainly has nothing to do with the bible . I would say that the more people educate them selves on these issues the less control these cult leaders can assume.
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  Yerusalyim

  Stephanus and Heathen,

  A funeral mass is in no way necessary for one to go to heaven. The Catholic CHurch garauntees NO ONE a "ticket to heaven"

  The church has a real good reason for not doing this...IT's NOT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE OR TIME!

  and LAY PEOPLE AREN'T allowed to give sermons.

  This isn't something new, it's been this way forever. However, some priests were ignoring the "rubrics" of the liturgy and doing whatever they wanted. A eulogy by a friend or family member can be given at the funeral home, before or after mass, at the grave side BEFORE or AFTER the ritual, but the mass has no place set up in it for a lay person to give a sermon or eulogy.

  Further, another aspect is what is said. Is the individual doing the eulogy going to praise the deceased for unseemly conduct?

  THis is simply a case of the media reporting what it doesn't understand. There are no restrictions on Eulogies perse, just the Liturgy of the mass has no place in it designed for a eulogy.
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  Seven

  :This is simply a case of the media reporting what it doesn't understand.

  I agree. I attended a funeral service at a Catholic church and was very nervous about it(first time in a Catholic church). It was beautiful. After their mass the priest led everyone to the chapel and the family had a chance to do their eulogy. There was music too. The priest was very respectful of the family's need to do this. It was a child's funeral. I was really moved. The priest hugged the mother and father and showed a lot of compassion for what they were going through. It really took me by surprise.

  seven
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  heathen

  What you deem to be innocent and something to accept without question I deem to be another act of church politics designed to maintain control over people they don't consider are worthy of putting themselves in a pulpit , so to speak . There is a method to the madness and alot of it is based on convincing people they need their clergy and that they should not consider themselves as equal to the point of restricting access to the area they deem only preists are holy enough to occupy . That's the way I see it .
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  A Paduan

  This is just another classic example of religion tying to take freedom away from people .

  Or perhaps another classic example of people tying to take freedom away from religion.

  Doesn't sound like the issue was well discussed - it's like an us and them thing.