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Bishop of Meath bans eulogies at funeral masses

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Comments

  • #2
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,307 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    A good argument for having a humanist funeral.


  • #3
    Penn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 37,416 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    The personal eulogy is one of a number of things mentioned in the directive that the Bishop feels have no place at funerals.

    Hehehehe

    hehehehehehehehehehehehee

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


  • #4
    BrianBoru00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,035 ✭✭✭BrianBoru00


    to be fair, I don't see it as necessarily backward. If people want a Catholic mass, then they should follow the rules. Otherwise there are other options available.
    In any case, the eulogy can still be given after the burial.

    I know it has been banned in other diocese as well as pop music and certain "gifts" - came to a head a few years ago when one of the "gifts" brought to the alter was a bra to symbolise the deceased love of good times.....

    I've witnessed some eulogies which were similarly inappropriate so I don't think its a big deal...


  • #5
    Joe prim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Joe prim


    There goes my dream of having Smack my Bitch Up played as my coffin is carried out, but , just as a matter of curiosity, is Stairway to Heaven still included in the official Catholic liturgy.?i mean, it's a hymn, innit ?


  • #6
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 28,713 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    Joe prim wrote: »
    There goes my dream of having Smack my Bitch Up played as my coffin is carried out, but , just as a matter of curiosity, is Stairway to Heaven still included in the official Catholic liturgy.?i mean, it's a hymn, innit ?

    My sister always wanted Bat Out of Hell,
    Surely its a hymm about leaving hell?

    Anyway, on a serious note,

    Whilst I won't obviously be having a catholic funeral I know for a fact my family will as they just do the run of the mill stuff like pretty much all of Ireland who are none practicing.

    Anyway, I know from experience that the PA system in the local graveyard is ****e and you can't even hear the priest on it so it isn't a suitable place for a eulogy.

    I've been to a number of funerals recently where the priest talked about how such and such was a lovely man and all that nonsense, I know for a fact the priest never talked to them before they died. So the priest was talking nonsense.

    So I suppose when it comes to my family, I'd rather not hear a priest lie about knowing either of my parents I'd much rather do a eulogy in the church due to the crap PA system.

    If the priest wants to be brave or stupid enough to pull me off the alter during a funeral of a family member then nobody is going to like him afterwards.


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  • #7
    Obliq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,371 ✭✭✭Obliq


    "The personal eulogy is one of a number of things mentioned in the directive that the Bishop feels have no place at funerals."

    I also think that's hilarious. Why, it would be much more appropriate to have some stranger in a fancy dress speak about the life of the deceased than some of the people who actually knew them.....:confused:


  • #8
    kylith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,745 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    I wish they'd stop priests talking at funerals; of the last two I was at one was, imo, insulting to the deceased (kept going on about what a good servant the deceased was), the other was bizarre (he kept going on about aliens spying on the funeral through cameras in the statues. It may have been a remark on funereal rites, but someone's family member had died tragically young and it most certainly was not the time for insane speculation).


  • #9
    Corkfeen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,940 ✭✭✭Corkfeen


    Alienating their followers, they're so good at it at this point. Eulogies are one of the few personable moments during a funeral, bleak cannibalism and hymns are what's left after that.


  • #10
    Akrasia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,889 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    I hate the catholic funeral ceremomy. It is ridiculously impersonal.

    At my fathers funeral the priest lied about how he used to take his children to mass every week, the priest called my father by the wrong name twice and he got my name and my brothers name wrong (gerry and daniel instead of gary and david)

    The only positive part of the funeral was an extremely moving eulogy delivered by my uncle.
    Other than that, the funeral mass was a completely pointless and unwelcome intrusion into the grieving process.

    That said, I never go to mass except for weddings and funerals so I only get to hear the gospels and readings on these occasions. I'll never understand how anyone can listen to the gibberish that passes for 'gospel' every week.

    Is there anyone at mass who actually listens to the readings and if so, how can they stay a catholic afterwards?

    Ban billionaires



  • #11
    Sarky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,967 ✭✭✭✭Sarky


    Banning the one part of a funeral where people actually celebrate the deceased's life. Unless the pub after the boring dreary rituals counts. Genius! This will have the prodigal flock just SWARMING back to the churches!


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  • #12
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,473 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Why stop at the euology?

    Perhaps Mr Smith would enjoy his funerals much more if he could ban the corpse and all those dreadful people weeping up front.


  • #13
    eviltwin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,495 ✭✭✭✭eviltwin


    The more the church do to make themselves redundant the better however taking the feelings of the grieving family into account it seems a bit heavy handed.

    I can appreciate the point of view that secular and modern additions to religious ceremonies isn't strictly in the rules but given that the people involved are going through one of the hardest times in their lives saying goodbye to a loved one you would think the priests would just accept it and let it pass.

    Its not doing any harm so why make a grieving family feel worse?


  • #14
    Sarky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,967 ✭✭✭✭Sarky


    eviltwin wrote: »
    Its not doing any harm so why make a grieving family feel worse?

    I'd like to see a response to this bit from anyone who thinks "what's the harm?" to any of the religious interference in what's supposed to be a secular country.


  • #15
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    Another 'Catholics want to suit themselves and complain when the rules of their club are enforced' story. I personally cringe at 'gifts' being brought to the alter such as hurls and Liverpool jerseys. Not because of religious objection but because its beyond tacky.


  • #16
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    Cabaal wrote: »
    More backward stuff like this that annoys people and maybe people will start leaving the church more?

    http://www.thejournal.ie/eulogy-funeral-banned-1032769-Aug2013


    Man's a prick.


  • #17
    Sarky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,967 ✭✭✭✭Sarky


    lazygal wrote: »
    Another 'Catholics want to suit themselves and complain when the rules of their club are enforced' story. I personally cringe at 'gifts' being brought to the alter such as hurls and Liverpool jerseys. Not because of religious objection but because its beyond tacky.

    I can picture what people would bring up if it was my funeral. A bottle of single malt scotch, a stack of Dungeons & Dragons books and a Batman figurine, probably.


  • #18
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    Sarky wrote: »
    I can picture what people would bring up if it was my funeral. A bottle of single malt scotch, a stack of Dungeons & Dragons books and a Batman figurine, probably.


    And biscuits. Me, it'd have to be a Hawaiian pizza.


  • #19
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,204 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    Akrasia wrote: »
    I hate the catholic funeral ceremomy. It is ridiculously impersonal.

    At my fathers funeral the priest lied about how he used to take his children to mass every week, the priest called my father by the wrong name twice and he got my name and my brothers name wrong (gerry and daniel instead of gary and david)

    The only positive part of the funeral was an extremely moving eulogy delivered by my uncle.
    Other than that, the funeral mass was a completely pointless and unwelcome intrusion into the grieving process.

    That said, I never go to mass except for weddings and funerals so I only get to hear the gospels and readings on these occasions. I'll never understand how anyone can listen to the gibberish that passes for 'gospel' every week.

    Is there anyone at mass who actually listens to the readings and if so, how can they stay a catholic afterwards?

    'Our' Parish priest at my (went to Mass every single morning -including the morning after washing the body of her dead aged 55 husband) grandmother's funeral Mass gave a touching address all about how wonderful Mrs O'Brien was and how she would be missed - I'm sure Mrs O'Brien was a lovely woman - whoever she may have been - but it was small comfort to the family of Mrs O'Connell whose funeral we were at...


  • #20
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,204 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    lazygal wrote: »
    Another 'Catholics want to suit themselves and complain when the rules of their club are enforced' story. I personally cringe at 'gifts' being brought to the alter such as hurls and Liverpool jerseys. Not because of religious objection but because its beyond tacky.

    That's the bit I like best - it's soooo pagany grave goods which Christianity has been trying to ban since before the Sutton Hoo burial.

    My favourite so far were the bottle of Gordon's and Schweps Tonic plus tumbler and a lime on a silver tray, a copy of the Racing Post with a magnifying glass, a packet of Silk Cut, a lighter and a travel ashtray plus some binoculars for a wonderful old woman from Dunmanway who loved the gee-gee racing something fierce.

    I wanted to bring up knitting needles and 3 ply wool at my grandmother's funeral on the grounds that if her hands weren't fully occupied she reverted to an 8 year old brat whose idea of funny was to torment the nearest person (usually me) by pinching/poking/prodding and other irritating invasions of personal space. I was overruled. :mad:


  • #21
    PopePalpatine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,214 ✭✭✭✭PopePalpatine


    Well, this is awkward. That's the diocese I live in, and my granddad's been diagnosed with terminal cancer with <1.5 years to live.


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  • #22
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,204 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    PopePalpatine wrote: »
    Well, this is awkward. That's the diocese I live in, and my granddad's been diagnosed with terminal cancer with <1.5 years to live.

    :(


  • #23
    kylith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,745 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    PopePalpatine wrote: »
    Well, this is awkward. That's the diocese I live in, and my granddad's been diagnosed with terminal cancer with <1.5 years to live.

    I'm sorry to hear that.


  • #24
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 55,566 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    a friend of mine went to his uncle's funeral, at which 'hotel california' was played, at his uncle's dying request. he wanted to make sure the congregation found his funeral an unpleasant experience.


  • #25
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,204 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    a friend of mine went to his uncle's funeral, at which 'hotel california' was played, at his uncle's dying request. he wanted to make sure the congregation found his funeral an unpleasant experience.

    evilest.gif


  • #26
    PopePalpatine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,214 ✭✭✭✭PopePalpatine


    kylith wrote: »
    I'm sorry to hear that.

    Thanks for the condolences, I haven't brought it up before because I didn't want to be the centre of attention in this case.


  • #27
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    .....the most personalised one I was at was a protestant one - Elim Pentacostals. Fair enough yer man tore the arse out of "the saving blood of Christ" but the overall thing was dedicated to the memory of the deceased, complete with funny songs, items to evoke the memory and so on. I've been at a few catholic ones which were a good bit 'we now remember <insert name here>, a great fan of <something the relatives told me>.


  • #28
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,173 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Thankfully I haven't been to many funerals, but the ones which came across as the warmest and a celebration of the deceased are those which included a personal eulogy from a family member.

    The ones which were formulaic, were emotionless, pointless, meaningless affairs that many people were just sleeping through. That's not a celebration.


  • #29
    marketty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭marketty


    Good news.
    The more the church pushes on keeping things traditional (which they should do to be honest, if they are to be true to their faith) then more average Irish lapsed Catholics will start to give serious consideration to abandoning the charade of celebrating births/marriages/deaths in an institution they don't believe in.
    Catholic Mass should be left to Catholics, and not just be the de facto venue for funerals etc


  • #30
    Bannasidhe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,204 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    PopePalpatine wrote: »
    Thanks for the condolences, I haven't brought it up before because I didn't want to be the centre of attention in this case.

    Don't be silly - he's your granddad so you deserve some attention too.

    I hope your grandfather's passing is peaceful and pain free and he is not afraid of whatever does or does not happen next.

    I also hope that your grief will be tempered by happy memories.


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  • #31
    Cork boy 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,323 ✭✭✭Cork boy 55


    Alternative funeral type for atheists

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=83132003


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