Protestant burial in Catholic Cemetary

PaddyJules

Just have a query about a family member. He is Protestant and is married to a Catholic woman. Can he have a Catholic funeral and more so - can he be buried in the Catholic Cemetary? Need to get the answer to this before I speak to the priest and maybe embarrass myself.

moonshinerocks

Not sure if this helps but my dad was a Catholic and he was buried in a Protestant cemetery (after a Catholic burial). If you don't want to be embarrassed in front of the priest most churches have a parish office staffed by lay people so you could phone anonymously and ask the question. If you look up the church online you will probably get the phone number and opening hours.

MagicMarker

And you ask this in the A&A because...?

You'd probably get your/an answer over in the christianity forum.

Dades

MagicMarker wrote: »

You'd probably get your/an answer over in the christianity forum.

Good point.

Yoink -->

georgieporgy

PaddyJules wrote: »

Just have a query about a family member. He is Protestant and is married to a Catholic woman. Can he have a Catholic funeral and more so - can he be buried in the Catholic Cemetary? Need to get the answer to this before I speak to the priest and maybe embarrass myself.

Speak to the priest Paddy. It's a reasonable question. No need for embarrassment at all. I think he will be impressed that you think it matters.
My guess is that it is not allowed and that he should be buried in the church he attends. But if he attends his wife's church but has not joined it, maybe exceptions are made. I dunno, would need to check it out. Google Canon Law.

Festus

Does not appear to be a problem

The Code of Canon Law states:

"Canon 1184 §1 Church funeral rites are to be denied to the following, unless they gave some signs of repentance before death:

1° notorious apostates, heretics and schismatics;

2° those who for anti-christian motives chose that their bodies be cremated;

3° other manifest sinners to whom a Church funeral could not be granted without public scandal to the faithful. §2 If any doubt occurs, the local Ordinary is to be consulted and his judgement followed."

georgieporgy

Festus, I think our Protestant friend would be included under point 1 (heretic). RCC would consider Protestants to be heretics (just as Protestants consider Catholics as heretics... or worse perhaps ).

Protestants don't believe in praying for the dead (as in the Catholic buriel rite) so it would be unjust to the Protestant to bury him in the Catholic Rite.
Unless of course he requested it which is the same as saying he converted.

However in the case of mixed marriages where both spouses live in harmony I just don't know. Maybe exceptions are made to allow use of the same graveyard, without the Catholic ceremony, for family reasons.

Festus

georgieporgy wrote: »

Festus, I think our Protestant friend would be included under point 1 (heretic). RCC would consider Protestants to be heretics (just as Protestants consider Catholics as heretics... or worse perhaps ).

Protestants don't believe in praying for the dead (as in the Catholic buriel rite) so it would be unjust to the Protestant to bury him in the Catholic Rite.
Unless of course he requested it which is the same as saying he converted.

However in the case of mixed marriages where both spouses live in harmony I just don't know. Maybe exceptions are made to allow use of the same graveyard, without the Catholic ceremony, for family reasons.

Heretical?, possibly but also sanctified by the non-heretical faithful Catholic spouse. Notoriusly heretical is the key here and I suspect the person in question is just a Protestant and not a notorious heretic.

Requested?, more likely. I don,t wish to second guess the OP but when this question comes up it is usually because they want to be in the same plot. Most Protestants who marry Catholics accept that if their spouse is a practising Catholic then there are certain rules to be followed. Most Catholics who marry Protestents expect that when they die they will be buried together.

further on Canon law:

Canon 1183.3

"In the prudent judgment of the local ordinary, ecclesiastical funerals can be granted to baptized persons who are enrolled in a non-Catholic Church or ecclesial community unless their intention is evidently to the contrary and provided that their own minister is not available"

To put the OPs mind at rest, I doubt very much if any priest would be embarrassed by such a question. Mixed marriages are allowed, why not mixed funerals. Canon law does not appear to have much of an issue with it per se.

georgieporgy

thanks for that clarification, Festus. I was just too lazy to do the homework. Of course the family unity consideration is paramount. I agree entirely with your comments.

ISAW

PaddyJules wrote: »

J- can he be buried in the Catholic Cemetary? .

Hmmm. Today the cemetery is probably a council cemetery. All church grounds are filled so you go and buy a plot from the local council. Nothing to do with the church.

PaddyJules

Thanks everyone for your views. Dont want to go into the details as to why I am asking this question - lets just say that there are 'family' problems going on and this issue could add fuel to the fire which is brewing!!

So I am right to conclude that a Protestant CAN be buried in a catholic cemetary provided that the priest is OK with it and that the funeral service is either performed in a protestant church or the service in the catholic church is adapted appropriately.

SonOfAdam

those who for anti-christian motives chose that their bodies be cremated[/B]]

this may be off topic - but what does this mean? are catholics against cremation in other than the above case ?

Festus

SonOfAdam wrote: »

those who for anti-christian motives chose that their bodies be cremated[/B]]

this may be off topic - but what does this mean? are catholics against cremation in other than the above case ?

Catechism of the Catholic Church: "The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body" (no. 2301).

Code of Canon Law: "The Church earnestly recommends the pious custom of burial be retained; but it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching" (no. 1176).

In short - you may be cremated but your ashes in an urn must be buried, or interred in a mausoleum, on consecrated ground.