Fr. Z's Blog

We have written about H.E. Most Rev. Robert Morlino, Bishop of Madison on several occasions.  Bp. Morlino is one of the true stand-up men in the USCCB.

Now comes this from Channel 3000 which seems to have something to do with CNN.

My emphases and comments.

Some Catholics Upset Over Bishop’s Mandate Ending Eulogies
Bishop Says Eulogies Shouldn’t Be Made During Funeral Mass  [You can see from the beginning that the writer/publication/site aims at making Bp. Morlino into the bad guy.  Will they in fairness go beyond this and say that Bp. Morlino did not just make this up?  The Church’s liturgical law, which the bishop cannot change or disobey or ignore, says that eulogies at funerals are not permitted.  Right? Yes?  No?]

MADISON, Wis. — Some in the Catholic Diocese of Madison are upset over a recent mandate ending family remembrances and eulogies at funeral Masses.   [The “recent” mandate was already made in 2000, GIRM 382: “At the Funeral Mass there should, as a rule, be a short homily, but never a eulogy of any kind.”  Is that the law?  Yes? No?]

It happened to Dane County Supervisor Dianne Hesselbein on Monday. [Soooo… she is a prominent person in the area and gets access to the CNN outlet.  I am prompted to wonder, given that she is an elected official in one of the most liberal counties in the USA, and a Catholic, what her positions are on matters about which the Church has clear teachings.] She spent hours over the weekend to come up with a few short words to remember her father.

“It was about my dad — this was about my kids’ grandfather,” Hesselbein said.  [And?  The Church’s law does not say “No eulogy unless it is about your kids’ grandfather.”]

And she said she couldn’t believe her ears when she was told just minutes before her father’s funeral on Monday that she would not be allowed to speak. [First, it may be that violation of the Church’s law for years in this area has given people the false notion that they can give eulogies.  It may be that it could have been made clearer in the pre-funeral arrangements.  Thus, correction seems new, harsh, capricious, especially to those who think the Church’s laws mean nothing.  But this has been exacerbated by the antinomian self-centeredness of priests (and former bishops?) who thought they could do as they please with the Church’s worship and, therefore, to God’s people.]

“This is a tribute to my father that we all agreed that I would be the only one to speak on,” Hesselbein said. [Who is “we”?  Her close relatives?  I suspect “we” didn’t include the pastor of the parish.] “And they said I couldn’t do it, because the bishop made this recent decision.” [“They” must be the priest and bishop.]

That decision came from Madison Bishop Robert Morlino last month. [No.  The decision came from Rome long ago. ] By phone, he told WISC-TV these “family remembrances” during a funeral Mass are a major distraction from what the Mass should be about.  [Think of the innumerable absurdities burbled in churches during these illicit and ill-advised eulogies.  Horror stories could abound, but they won’t here.]

In a letter to diocese churches, the bishop said, “I am asking that such words of remembrance not be spoken at any time during the funeral liturgy in the Diocese of Madison.”

He goes on to say family would have the opportunity to share words of remembrance “In some other setting outside of the sacred liturgy, such as during the visitation … at the cemetery … or at the funeral banquet.”

“I don’t want to be kind of piling up too many other concerns at the Mass,” Morlino told WISC-TV. [That’s because a funeral Mass is primarily for praying for the deceased, asking God’s mercy.  It is not for telling off-color stories or tales of getting drunk together or watching some poor person burst into tears.]

In fact, Morlino said such remembrances — or eulogies — have never been allowed during Catholic Mass. But he said rules have been bent over the years, so it’s been happening more often than not. [Therein lies a problem.  Correcting an abuse is very hard.]

But for those like Hesselbein who want to remember their loved ones with their words — it’s news that’s hard to take.

“There’s a way to have a compromise,” Hesselbein said. “Because I was not granted closure. I was not granted the opportunity to celebrate my dad.”  [Look at that carefully.  Her “compromise” means “Let me do what I want even though we all know it is against the Church’s law.”  Which isn’t a compromise at all.  Note also “celebrate”.  No.  Not at Mass.  That is not what the funeral Mass is for.  Folks, we need a return to black vestments, I’m afraid.  The funeral Mass, as offered in so many places for so long, has been damaging to the faith of the people, I’m afraid.]

Madison’s Call to Action group, an organization that’s been very critical of Morlino’s decisions over the years, said it is outraged over the move. [When are these heretical whiners not outraged about something.  The live to gripe.] The group is encouraging others if they’re not happy with their church, to move to another one. [Don’t let the door hit you.]

Hesselbein said she’s worried if more decisions like this are made, the Catholic Church will lose more members. [This is just a guess: could Ms. Hesselbein be involved with Call to Action?]

(This video is no longer available.)