Leaked Madison Diocese directive advises priests on funerals for people in same-sex relationships

MADISON, Wis. - Officials with the Catholic Diocese of Madison say Bishop Robert Morlino stands by a directive sent to priests to consider whether or not to perform funerals for a person in a same-sex relationship.

A weekly newsletter including the considerations was sent Saturday to priests by Vicar General James Bartylla in an email marked "private and confidential." The section entitled "consideration of funeral rites for a person in a homosexual civil or notorious union" was first reported by the Pray Tell blog, and a copy of the correspondence was independently obtained by News 3.

Bartylla tells priests in the email that they may encounter same-sex couples or their families asking for a Catholic funeral for their loved one, and directs them to "think through the issue thoroughly and prudently."

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I did not see a canonist consulted in the article, but I'd be curious to hear some input from one.  What is absurd is the reaction by the non-Catholics; this is about as permissive and lenient a stance a diocese could take, clearly falling on the side of sensitivity and mercy.  One can only presume that the priest who has been leaking documents is hoping that it prompts celebrity priests to condemn it and get Bp. Morlino pushed out, but the reality is anyone reading the document who has any basic understanding of Catholicism would find it to be completely reasonable and if anything error on the side of being too permissive.

Update: FatherZ has got it spot on.  
Our new ‘catholic Cultural Revolution’s Red Guard. Their cadres and their tactics.
Also:
Fishwrap (@NCRonline) commits another error in their work to smear Bp. Morlino (@MadisonDiocese)