Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Questions from the Gallery
Frequent commenter John Heavrin asks some relevant questions about the previous post:
Doesn't this bishop have a duty to point out to his flock how wrong this man's lifestyle was?
The bishop, the man's pastor, and the man's Christian friends and family share the obligation to correct sin. If the man is dead, the lifestyle's a moot point from the standpoint of personal morality, isn't it?
How does he prevent the holding of a funeral from giving the impression that his lifestyle was just fine by the church?
The bishop catechizes the faithful that the funeral Mass is about the worship of God and the sanctification of the faithful. It conveys no statement about the virtue, wealth, or any other secular status of the individual. The funeral Mass is about hope; it is not an imprimatur on a person's life.
Baptism is not about the infant?
No. Baptism is about Christ and the Church. The parents have already committed to rearing the infant in the faith. At a later time, the child will affirm this baptismal commitment.
