In the case of assisted suicide, a funeral Mass might not be permitted, but other options such as a Catholic burial are still allowed, writes Msgr. Lopez-Gallo. (Agnieszka Krawczynski photo)
I continue here my reproduction of Archbishop Michael J. Miller’s
guidelines in response to the legalization of euthanasia and
physician-assisted suicide in Canada.
Question 4: “What about a Funeral Mass for those who have died by euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide?”
“Funeral rites are very important expressions of honour, affection, human relationships, and religious faith. In our secular age, traditional religious funerals are often replaced by memorial services, ‘celebrations of life’ or similar rituals. A funeral does not take away all our grief or remove our bereavement, but it marks an important step in this process. For Catholics, the Funeral Mass is the highest expression of prayer that can be offered for a deceased loved one and the greatest expression of comfort for the living. In the Funeral Mass, the life of the deceased person is lifted up to the Father in union with Christ’s loving and sacrificial death. The Funeral Mass testifies that this person was the object of Jesus’ love and is offered to implore forgiveness for his or her sins. It is also an act of evangelization for the living, teaching us the true meaning of life and death, and reminding us that we will all come to stand before the Lord, who is loving and just. We must neither take Heaven for granted nor presume that our choices are without consequences.
“Oftentimes, priests are not approached by the sick or their family members before death has occurred. Instead, a call is made to arrange a funeral after the fact, and often by a funeral home. This makes it very difficult for the bereaved to experience the healing support of the Church that would have been consoling earlier. It may also happen that wishes and plans are made without the Church’s input and without understanding her principles. The family’s expectations may not be in accordance with Catholic belief and practice, which may result in disappointment.
“In the case of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, this final action of a person’s life has been chosen in violation of the clear teachings of the Church; it is an act which expresses a serious defect in belief and in unity with the faithful. It is not a death like Christ’s. Some family members may have disagreed with their loved one’s decision and now feel morally conflicted because of it. It is the Church’s practice that a Catholic Funeral Mass is not appropriate when such a wrongful act and separation of belief has taken place (see canon 1184).
“It is true that the Church offers Funeral Masses in most cases of suicide. But there are clear differences between an individual death by suicide and euthanasia by physician-assisted suicide. When a person takes his or her own life, the response is one of sadness, sorrow and the feeling of helpless loss; the most common thought spoken is ‘He or she didn’t really know what they were doing’. Such a death is ascribed to fear or some uncontrollable psychological compulsion, usually acted on in isolation. It is because of these factors which indicate that the person’s free will is not fully involved that the Church can offer a Funeral Mass.
“Physician-assisted suicide, however, is presented as a fully reasonable, rationally chosen and competent response to terminal illness and suffering. It has its own ‘eligibility requirements’ including multiple assessments, a ‘waiting period’ after the decision has been made, and ongoing confirmation of ‘informed consent’ right up to the final moment before the fatal dosage of medication is administered. This is a completely different process meant to emphasize the dying patient’s autonomy and ‘free choice’. It is not an acceptance of death as part of God’s plan, because it fails to express hope and trust in the final and decisive choice of our life on earth: dying a holy death in Christ.
“Our faith requires us to be clear and consistent in our beliefs and practices. We do not approve or condone in any way euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide; nor do we want to give scandal to those who may be sacrificing greatly to remain faithful to Christ’s teachings and their practical demands in daily life. In ethical terms, ‘scandal’ means an action which causes someone else to stumble or to make it harder for them to act in a morally good way. We do not seek to punish the dead or the living by refusing a Funeral Mass. We simply wish to remain true to the One to whom we all belong: Christ Jesus ‘who will come to judge the living and the dead’.”
Question 5: “What else can a priest do in individual cases?”
“While excluding the Funeral Mass, other services and signs of the Church’s compassion and love can appropriately be offered to the family: the deceased person may be buried in a Catholic cemetery or a blessed family plot in a public/private cemetery; a priest or deacon may conduct a graveside service at the cemetery; and a public Mass may be offered for the deceased with family members sometime after the burial has taken place. The Church has a long and rich tradition of prayer for the dead, where family members and friends can find many sources of strength and support for their own grief and healing.
“On a very rare occasion there may even be certain circumstances in which, by way of exception, a Funeral Mass may be granted: such as the deceased suffering from a grave defect of judgement concerning the gravity of the action. In all such cases the permission of the Archbishop or Vicar General must first be obtained. If permission for such a Funeral Mass is granted, however, no eulogy must be given nor any sign that the choice of suicide has or ever could be approved. The focus of the Mass, as with any funeral, must be the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ who has gone before us to prepare for us a place in his Father’s house.”