My neighbor, who was a catholic and mow a protestant, told me that his father died before the priest had the chance to visit him at the hospital to recieve last rights. When he died, the church would not allow him to be buried in a catholic cemetary because he didn't recieve last rights before he died. That, according to him, was why he left the church. He was mad that his father was a devoute catholic for 53 yrs. and he wasn't allowed to be buried in a catholic cemetary because the priest didn't make it to the hospital in time. Can you shed some light on this subject for me? Thanks!!!

-- Shawn G. (www.sharvin@acsworld.com), November 20, 2003

Answers

There has to be more to it than that. There is no requirement to receive the "Last Rites" (now known as the Sacrament of the Sick), and neither a Catholic funeral Mass nor burial in a Catholic Cemetery is contingent upon having received the sacrament. Had your friend's father perhaps formally renounced the Catholic Faith, and was unable to achieve reunion with the Church before he died? Those who are "devout Catholics" have a right to be buried in a Catholic cemetery.

As far as your friend leaving the Church over such a matter, that is simply an indication that he never really was Catholic, since he obviously had no comprehension of what the Holy Catholic Church is.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 20, 2003.

I agree with Paul, there must be more to the situation that what has been shared.

I think it's interesting to note that even the members of the Catechuminate, those individuals who are in the process of joining the church, but not yet in full communion to the church, are a part of the chruch as evidenced by the fact that if they would die, they would be buried in a Catholic cemetary.

-- Leon (vol@weblink2000.net), November 24, 2003.