[tob2]

I thought that only the sacrament of communion could be denied to sinners, not a Christian burial. As we are all sinners in some way, none of us should have Christian burials.

[Desdemona]

I thought that only the sacrament of communion could be denied to sinners, not a Christian burial. As we are all sinners in some way, none of us should have Christian burials.

UNREPENTANT sinners. In other words, people who haven't received the Sacrament of Penance lately and are living openly in sin with no remorse and no attempt to change.

And any sacrament can be refused on those grounds. Penance is refused to people married outside the church. Marriage can be refused with sufficient reason. I've heard of Holy Orders being refused for various reasons - all unrepentant individuals who took actions against church teaching.

This is not an isolated event.

[pbear8]

I thought that only the sacrament of communion could be denied to sinners, not a Christian burial. As we are all sinners in some way, none of us should have Christian burials.

The difference is that we have an "unrepentant" sinner, someone who had no intention of "going away and sinning no more".

If she had sought reconcilation she would have been advised that she would have to change her lifestyle before any absolution could be given.

We are all sinners but sacraments may be denied to those who think that Jesus didn't really mean what he said and persist in offending Him.

[smpb]

Had Hitler died after the War and his relatives asked for a Catholic funeral, should he have been given one? For someone who has lived scandalously and never repented, a public funeral is somewhat of a mockery. Should a mafioso who was an active and unrepentant criminal until hs death be given a Catholic funeral? No.