In May 2024, this blog examined ecclesiastical funerals and non-clearance of debts. First, it argued that non-clearance-based denial of ecclesiastical funeral infringes on the deceased’s ecclesial right as a baptised. Nevertheless, it concluded that before proceeding with such funerals, the parish priest should consider and adopt a pastoral approach that balances the implications of the funeral on the unity of the Christian community and his own welfare. A possible way out is burying the deceased without the involvement of the parish community.
Second, it emphasised that current canonical penal law does not include the denial of ecclesiastical funerals among any penal sanctions category. Censures such as excommunication and interdict only deprive one of receiving the sacraments, but never the sacramentals, as well as an ecclesiastical funeral, which is neither a sacrament nor a sacramental (cf. Can. 1331 §1, 2°; CCC, 1684). Moreover, in no case does non-payment constitute an offence to be punished with deprivation of sacraments, sacramentals, or ecclesiastical funerals. Third, it argued that an ecclesiastical funeral should be granted to a deceased in an irregular marriage situation as long as the person showed signs of repentance before death.
Today’s post considers granting ecclesiastical funerals to the faithful who belong to groups antithetical to Christianity. The 1983 Code of Canon Law does not specifically say that ecclesiastical funerals should be denied to those belonging to specific groups. However, the 1917 Code of Canon Law gives an insight into the Church’s view towards granting ecclesiastical funerals to Catholics who belong to specific groups. Canon 1240 CIC 17, which is a direct antecedent of canon 1184 CIC 83, provides that the following are deprived of ecclesiastical funerals unless they showed a sign of repentance before their death: notorious apostates from the Christian faith, those who notoriously enrol in heretical sects or schismatic or masonic sects, or other societies of this sort, those who died in a duel or from its wounds, those who choose cremation, and other public and manifest sinners (cf. Can. 1240 §1, 1° CIC 17).
The same 1917 Code considers enrolling in masonic sects or similar associations that fight against the Church or legitimate civil powers as a delict punishable with excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See (cf. Can. 2335 CIC 17). On 17 February 1981, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified that the private letter it wrote on 19 July 1974 to some Episcopal Conferences forbidding enrolment into masonic sects in line with canon 2335 CIC 17 remains a delict punishable with excommunication. Following the promulgation of the 1983 Code, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, on 26 November 1983, clarified that the absence of the express mention of masonic associations and other similar associations in the new 1983 Code of Canon Law was “due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.”
On 11 March 1985, the same congregation expounded the irreconcilability between the Christian faith and Freemasonry. On 13 November 2023, the Dicastery responded to a letter from a Philippine bishop about the membership of Catholics to Freemasonry, reemphasising the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry. The document proposes that the Philippine Bishops Conference conduct catechesis in all parishes to inform the people of the reasons for this irreconcilability.
Canon 1184 CIC 83 states: “§1 Church funeral rites are to be denied to the following, unless they gave some signs of repentance before death: 1° notorious apostates, heretics and schismatics; 2° those who for anti-Christian motives chose that their bodies be cremated; 3° other manifest sinners to whom a Church funeral could not be granted without public scandal to the faithful. §2 If any doubt occurs, the local Ordinary is to be consulted and his judgement followed.” Canon 1374 CIC 83 states: “A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; one who promotes or takes office in such an association is to punished with an interdict.”
Two things are worth examining here regarding denying ecclesiastical funerals to Catholics who belong to certain groups in Nigeria. The first is the type of group, while the second is the requirement of the law.
Following the provisions of the 1917 Code and the declarations from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith, Freemasonry is irreconcilable to Christian doctrine. Hence, those who enrol in them are to be denied funerals. The denial of an ecclesiastical funeral is not a punishment for belonging to the group but because of the irreconcilability of the group’s beliefs with the Christian faith. Praying for the spiritual support of the dead is the primary purpose of an ecclesiastical funeral. Therefore, since an ecclesiastical funeral is a liturgical celebration, and “liturgical services are not private functions but are celebrations of the Church which is the sacrament of unity” (Can. 837 §1; CCC, 1140), it is fitting that those who, by their conduct, deliberately and irrevocably chose to secede from the unity and community of the Church by joining a group whose beliefs are irreconcilable to Christian doctrine should be denied an ecclesiastical funeral. Second, the Church intends to respect the will of the person who became detached from the Church by joining a group antithetical to Christianity.
While members of masonic associations and similar groups are to be denied ecclesiastical funerals, there are many groups in Nigeria, especially those calling for secession or a return to our traditional roots, which are not necessarily antithetical to Christianity. They do not necessarily plot against the Church.
One must distinguish some members’ beliefs and actions from an organisation’s doctrine and practice. In other words, some anti-Christian activities attributed to certain groups may not necessarily represent the practice of the group. Members could exaggerate things, completely misrepresent the tenets of such groups, or pursue personal interests under the guise of promoting the group’s interests. Here, one also notes that many of those calling for the return to traditional roots are not against Christian sentiments but are simply reacting to the excesses of the missionaries. They remain Catholics due to their baptism, and many still practice their faith while massively advocating for inculturation.
The second is the requirement of the law. Belonging to certain groups is considered a delict. Following the provisions of the 1917 Code, the declarations from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith and the 1983 Code, belonging to the Freemasonry and similar groups, constitute a delict to be punished with a just penalty. Another category is the delict of belonging to a group that plots against the Church. However, the 1917 and 1983 Codes do not include deprivation of ecclesiastical funeral as a penalty (cf. Cann. 2260 §2, 1240 §1, 1° CIC 17; Can. 1331 CIC 83). The reason is that penalties such as censures (excommunication, interdict, and suspension) deprive people of the sacraments but never the sacramentals and ecclesiastical funerals (cf. Can. 1331 §1, 2°).
Since each case is different, one must examine the tenets of the group, not only what people do, to ascertain if one can be denied an ecclesiastical funeral for belonging to a particular group. In doubt, the priest should consult the local Ordinary.
May God continue to help us🙏🏾
K’ọdị🙋🏾♂️
