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Question about Catholicism

Benjamin Grimm Dec 01 2020 02:08 PM

In my recent genealogical adventures, I've uncovered a murder-suicide where the perpetrator was buried in a Catholic cemetery. (Holy Cross in Brooklyn.) This was in 1934. Holy Cross was listed on the death certificate, so he wasn't relocated later. I did some digging, and it seems that suicides were banned from Catholic services and burials until the 1960s. This guy shot himself but didn't die immediately; he expired a few hours later in a hospital. I assume that there was a priest on duty to administer Last Rites. I don't know if he was conscious, so he may or may not have had the chance to confess. I expect that he wasn't, since he had a gunshot would to the head. To anyone who knows more about this stuff than I do, does it seem unusual that he was buried in a Catholic cemetery, given the circumstances? Or would the Last Rites have somehow absolved him of the sin of taking his life?

whippoorwill Dec 01 2020 02:37 PM Re: Question about Catholicism

I'm not catholic but I think Last Rites are a sacrament that absolves all sin if the dying person cannot speak Someone else might be better informed than I am tjough

Edgy MD Dec 01 2020 04:05 PM Re: Question about Catholicism

There has always been and always will be intellectual room between judgment and mercy, and for much of Church history, that is where most authorities would tend to operate, if at all possible. "Well, the rule is _______, but it seems to me in this case _________." I would think a suicide victim who survived long enough to receive the sacrament of last rites would totally fall in this gap. But every bishop's diocese can be a world unto itself when it comes to Church law. That's some kind of case, though. I have a friend, a nurse whose mother was struggling with crippling back pain, and the morphine and oxy she was receiving wasn't touching it. A month ago, her father said not to worry, and then he went and visited the mom in the hospital, shot her dead, and then turned the gun around and killed himself. Correspondence found later indicated that this choice was agreed upon between the two beforehand, but if you ever think 2020 has been shitty for you (and it sure has been for me), think of my friend Melissa. Divorced, trying to keep her shit together for her two boys, working as a nurse and watching COVID patients die, and this.

whippoorwill Dec 01 2020 04:30 PM Re: Question about Catholicism

Wow just wow Yes I will keep her in my heart

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2020 06:35 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Thanks, Edgy. What you said makes sense and confirmed my hunch.

ashie62 Dec 02 2020 06:58 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Is it last rites or Extreme Unction?

smg58 Dec 02 2020 08:04 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Edgy probably knows more than I do, but I think that technically it is "anointing of the sick"; meaning you do not have to be on the brink of death to receive it, but that is what it is usually associated with. (A priest came to administer the sacrament to my mother the day before she passed. It was the first time I had ever witnessed it.)

Edgy MD Dec 02 2020 09:08 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Extreme Unction and Anointing of the Sick are pretty much synonymous. ashie is using the archaic (and bad-ass) name for it, which has gone out of usage since the early seventies, as the sacrament no longer is understood to be applicable only as a final (extreme) rite, but also to others who are seriously ill, but still have every reason to hope for recovery. ASK ME ABOUT SIN, SUCKERS!

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2020 09:24 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Okay! https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eelui2jHmjc/maxresdefault.jpg>

Frayed Knot Dec 02 2020 09:35 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Didn't Extreme Unction open for Mettalica a couple of tours ago?

MFS62 Dec 03 2020 05:53 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Frayed Knot wrote: Didn't Extreme Unction open for Mettalica a couple of tours ago? They only played together once, on a Black Sabbath. Later

smg58 Dec 03 2020 07:13 AM Re: Question about Catholicism

Actually both Extreme and Unction opened for Metallica. Unction have a loyal cult following and they totally blew away Extreme, who are much better known but really kind of lame.

whippoorwill Dec 11 2020 06:30 PM Re: Question about Catholicism

I have another question I've noticed that nearly every single thing I do for the past few years makes me feel guilty Read in bed Eat a snack Read in the daytime Have a drink Cuddle with a cat Eat lunch past 1 pm Not feed the birds These are not exactly deadly sins. What is wrong with me?

batmagadanleadoff Dec 11 2020 06:59 PM Re: Question about Catholicism

=whippoorwill post_id=52055 time=1607736614 user_id=79] I've noticed that nearly every single thing I do for the past few years makes me feel guilty Read in bed Eat a snack Read in the daytime Have a drink Cuddle with a cat Eat lunch past 1 pm Not feed the birds These are not exactly deadly sins. What is wrong with me?

That's all you've been doing the past few years?



And what's that got to do with catholicism?

whippoorwill Dec 11 2020 07:00 PM Re: Question about Catholicism

Nothing. Just wanted to wondering if it's a guilt complex

Edgy MD Dec 11 2020 09:04 PM Re: Question about Catholicism

It never occurred to me to feel guilty about reading in the daytime. Until now. Damn.