Madam, - John T Kavanagh (April 12th) writes that I have "decided that certain people should not be given a church funeral service". On the contrary, neither I nor any priest will take such a stand.
The question I was trying to raise is whether people should ask the church for a funeral if by their own choice they have no connection with Catholicism during their lives. The Church will continue to be a place of welcome to all, but should it be taken advantage of and used for convenience?
Is that respecting other people's religion, which is surely one of the pillars of a mature secular society?
Mr Kavanagh asks: "How will people, like myself, who attend Church only for weddings and funerals fare?" He must decide for himself: Does attending a wedding in a Church once upon a time justify the expectation that the people of that religion have a duty towards him to spend two full days of their time and energy visiting the home of the deceased, sympathising with the bereaved, planning the liturgy, composing the homily, receiving the remains in the evening, celebrating the Requiem Mass the next morning and finally going to the cemetery? Is that a reasonable expectation of people he doesn't know and has decided to have nothing to do with?
The mission of the Catholic Church is to the living. Through the proclamation of the Gospel and the celebration of the sacraments the church offers those alive the salvation of Christ. Is it fair to rob the mission of the church of its time, energy and resources in celebrating the funerals of people who decided in life not to be part of it but who expect the church to sacrifice its mission for their convenience?
So, Mr Kavanagh, the church will not refuse you a funeral, but should you ask for one?
- Yours, etc,
Fr GREGORY O'BRIEN PP, New Cabra Road, Dublin 7.