Family Suing Over Hell Prediction at Funeral

Yahoo ^ | July 17, 2003 | Zelie Pollon

[NYer]

SANTA FE, N.M (Reuters) - A New Mexico family is suing their local Catholic church over a funeral Mass in which they claim a priest said their relative was only a middling Catholic and going straight to hell.

Lawyers for the family of Ben Martinez said on Tuesday they had filed a lawsuit in June against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe and one of its priests.

Court papers filed last month say that Rev. Scott Mansfield said at Martinez's funeral last year that the deceased was "living in sin," "lukewarm in his faith" and that "the Lord vomited people like Ben out of his mouth to hell."

Martinez, 80, died June 17, 2002. Roughly 200 people attended the funeral at St. Patrick's Parish in Chama, New Mexico, a small town north of Santa Fe. Family members say he was a practicing Catholic all his life, but was too ill to attend church in the last year of his life.

Nine members of the Martinez family are seeking punitive and compensatory damages for severe emotional and physical suffering. Lawyers did not say how much the family was seeking in damages.

One of the plaintiffs said the townspeople "are staring at her, thinking her father is in hell," their lawyers said.

The complaint also said that as Mansfield walked to the grave, he laced his comments about Martinez -- a former town councilman -- with profanities.

"These people are profoundly hurt," said attorney Kathleen Kentish-Lucero, representing the Martinez family. "If you are Catholic and a representative of your church says your father is going to hell, that's perhaps the most devastating thing someone can say to you."

But church officials deny the family's claims.

"We deny the allegations and Father Mansfield denies the plaintiff's allegations," said Celine Baca Radigan, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Radigan said that Mansfield has been moved to a parish outside of Albuquerque on a routine transfer.

[NYer]

"If you are Catholic and a representative of your church says your father is going to hell, that's perhaps the most devastating thing someone can say to you."

Hey, in pre-Vatican II days, the nuns used to say that to us all the time! ;-D

Seriously though, while I disagree with the priest for making stupid comments, these "victims" appear to be more interested in making a quick buck! Nine members of the Martinez family are seeking punitive and compensatory damages ... puhlease!

[Support Free Republic]

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[.45MAN]

I agree with you Pahlease!!! But in Santa Fe and their last name is Martinez. You and I would know better maybe they don't but their lawyer does and he see's dollar signs..
Actually the priest will have an extra couple of years of hot feet for that one....

[ThomasMore]

Lawyers = Pharisees

Anybody goin' to hell it just might be a lawyer! :^D

Lawyers and lawsuits have become synonymous. I have a few lawyer friends and we've discussed the issue of frivolous law suits as being a liberal invention and very sinful. What say you?

[ThomasMore]

PS: Just like the clergy need to clean up their vocation, good lawyers need to pursue the cleanup of its profession.

[NYer]

I have a few lawyer friends and we've discussed the issue of frivolous law suits as being a liberal invention and very sinful. What say you?

I agree! Not long ago, I read somewhere that one of the factors leading to the collapse of the Greek Empire was the burgeoning number of laws and lawyers. Wish I could find that document again ... it was most interesting.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Just like the clergy need to clean up their vocation, good lawyers need to pursue the cleanup of its profession"

But you might note that the clergy did little about stopping their banging of altar boys until the lawyers showed them that it was unattractive, financially speaking.

[Onelifetogive]

The word "Prediction" appears in the title, but nowhere in the article. The Catholic Church and it's leaders don't "predict" where people will go. They hold the "keys to the kingdom" and send people where they want them to go. Catholic priests have the "authority" to forgive or retain someone's sins.

This poor sap trusted the Catholic Church, probably gave it lots of money over the years, and what did it get him...an express elevator to Hell. What a deal!!!

[sinkspur]

The Catholic Church and it's leaders don't "predict" where people will go. They hold the "keys to the kingdom" and send people where they want them to go.

This is laughably ignorant.

[Onelifetogive]

This is laughably ignorant.

Right...no pope has ever declared anyone anathema, or excommunicated anyone from the "one true church."

[sinkspur]

Right...no pope has ever declared anyone anathema, or excommunicated anyone from the "one true church."

People who are excommunicated, excommunicate themselves with their actions.

[As you well know...]

"Anathema" is yet another example of CBB (Catholics Being Biblical). See Galatians 1:9

[drstevej]

***"the Lord vomited people like Ben out of his mouth to hell."***

I think they buried him in this cap....

[TradicalRC]

Maybe he can use the libel defense: if it's true....