Today, suicide is presumed to be the result of clinical depression, which is an illness, and therefore not ths sin of despair. Therefore, the Church does not deny a Christian burial. I would also point out that when the great Azorean 19th century poet Antero de Quental publicly shot himself in the head (ironically sitting on a bench in front of the Esperança Convent, beneath an ornamental anchor, a symbol of hope) he was buried in the S. Joaquim Cemetery in Ponta delgada. When you go into the mail gate, it is the 2nd grave on the left. Even then his death was attributed to his chronic depression, not to the sin of despair.
________________________________ From: Richard Francis Pimentel <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 9:32 PM Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] MA death after 1917 Not to get into a deep theological discussion. If you can believe that Judas asked for forgiveness, as he was hanging by the rope before he lost conscience, then anything is possible. Worse than suicide, is a public denunciation and rejection of the church and its teachings. In many cases where there is a question or a scandal there is not a public funeral. In recent years many in the church felt that Ted Kennedy should not have had a public funeral in the church because of his public stand on abortion. I know the common word when I was growing up was that if you committed suicide then you could not be buried in the church but then again some nuns exaggerated to put the fear of God in us. That is not true today. Rick Richard Francis Pimentel Spring, TX Formerly of Epping, New Hampshire Researching, Riberia Grande, Riberinha Ponta Delgada, and Achada Grande, Sao Miguel, Acores From:[email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cheri Mello Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 7:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] MA death after 1917 Family Search only goes up to 1915:( http://goo.gl/38YVl Yeah, I thought the same thing about suicides not being allowed to be buried in Catholic cemeteries (at least back in the day), yet I've run across a few in my genealogy searches. I'm not sure how they succeeded in getting that person buried. Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
