How does the Roman Catholic Church decide if a person is mentally responsible for suicide?
I was reading Ernest Hemingway’s biography and in explaining his suicide it read that he recieved a Roman Catholic Burial Service becaue they ruled him not "mentally responsible for it. How do they decide?
My little brother killed himself and he was given a Roman Catholic funeral too. My brother had a history of mental illness so the priest didn’t even need to ask any questions. He just ok’d the funeral. But from what I understand today, they leave it to G*d to decide and go ahead with the funeral (as long as the person is Catholic). This way, they don’t risk refusing a funeral to someone who was genuinely mentally ill. As for the odd person who slips through, G*d knows everything, and that is all that is important.
Pax Christi!
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August 07 2009 01:48 pm | Catholic
Jim on 07 Aug 2009 at 7:24 pm #
Ask a Roman Catholic Bishop or priest. They are the ones who know the answer to your question.
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Sam on 07 Aug 2009 at 8:07 pm #
They probably just weigh how much the person was liked so they receive the least backlash.
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Pittsburgher -Glen Coco- on 07 Aug 2009 at 8:20 pm #
I assume they have some kind of psychiatrist or something that deals with it…idk.
I mean he was an epic drunk, he wasn’t sober when he did it…so maybe that’s why they said he wasn’t responsible. Because the liquor impaired his judgment.
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Jesus, I trust in You! on 07 Aug 2009 at 9:06 pm #
Most sane people do not take their own lives. Normally when someone resorts to such a horrible act they are not thinking responsibly.
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Halfstarved Wombat on 07 Aug 2009 at 9:48 pm #
they spin the "Wheel of Insanity". it has Heaven, Hell and Limbo marked on it
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westlakewizard on 07 Aug 2009 at 10:28 pm #
as you have obviously been aware, in the past the Church did not permit those who committed suicide to be buried in a blessed/consecrated cemetery, nor to receive a public Mass. at this time, the thinking has changed and all persons who commit suicide are considered to have been not of right mind at that time…so all Catholic suicides are permitted a Catholic burial/funeral service.
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Jeff D on 07 Aug 2009 at 11:03 pm #
He’s famous, there was money to be had. In all honestly I don’t know, with most things like that the church just convenes a little panel of higher ups to make the call. But I still think my first answer was at least part of the equation.
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zena e on 07 Aug 2009 at 11:37 pm #
The RC church can decide anything. They don’t follow the Bible but their own Tradition.. It is wrong. though.
Ernest Hemingway knew exactly what he was doing when he committed suicide. Ernest Hemingway’s father committed suicide too , when both were ill. Ernest Hemingway suffered from cancer and would not stand the pain anylonger and thus the only way out for him was suicide.
The RC church does not have traditinal values anyway. They annul marriage and then reverse them.
Robert Kenney Marriage. ( Shattered Faith)
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1634956,00.html
RCs believe Have a Pope as St. Peter on Earth Vicar of Christ ..etc etc.
Do you believe they rule? by Biblical Principles? NEVER Ernest
Hemingway was a great American Author . It was advantages to
have him ( listed as RC even though he had been married numerous times, which is against the law in RCs and be known as an RC.follower which he wasn’t ..( as you see from his life)
They rule by who’s who.
Mrs Kennedy married Ari Onnassis.. In a Greek Orthodox ceromony and it was OK. and it is ok to be buried by President Kennedy.( in an RC ceromony, . after she lived with Templeton moved in with Ms. Kennedy Onassis in 1982, and lived with her until .she died…
http://www.jewishtribalreview.org/27govt1.htm
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pragmatism_rules on 08 Aug 2009 at 12:03 am #
My little brother killed himself and he was given a Roman Catholic funeral too. My brother had a history of mental illness so the priest didn’t even need to ask any questions. He just ok’d the funeral. But from what I understand today, they leave it to G*d to decide and go ahead with the funeral (as long as the person is Catholic). This way, they don’t risk refusing a funeral to someone who was genuinely mentally ill. As for the odd person who slips through, G*d knows everything, and that is all that is important.
Pax Christi!
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Daver on 08 Aug 2009 at 12:10 am #
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.
2282 If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law.
Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.
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PhiL on 08 Aug 2009 at 12:39 am #
Nowadays everyone, even people who commit suicide, receive a funeral. God will decide who goes to Heaven.
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