Catholic funeral

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Catholic funeral
Question from on 07-10-2007:
My dad was Catholic and my mom Baptist. Dad has passed on. Mom is still living. They married in a civil ceremony and neither attended any church as an adult. They raised me Catholic but did not attend mass with me. My dad had a Catholic funeral. When mom passes will she be allowed a Catholic funeral?
Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 07-10-2007:
She has no right to a Catholic funeral because she is not Catholic.

However, it might be possible for the diocesan bishop to grant permission for her to be given a Catholic funeral. Canon 1183, §2 states: "In the prudent judgment of the local ordinary, ecclesiastical funerals can be granted to baptized persons who are enrolled in a non-Catholic Church or ecclesial community unless their intention is evidently to the contrary and provided that their own minister is not available." Note the two conditions necessary -- not contrary to the persons will, his or her own minister is not available.

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