New guidelines sent to the diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, say that a Catholic funeral may be denied to LGBT people to avoid "public scandal of the faithful," the National Catholic Reporter noted.
The communication, from vicar general Fr. James Bartylla, is entitled "Consideration of Funeral Rites for a Person in a Homosexual Civil or Notorious Union." The Pray Tell blog publicized it Oct. 22.
Early reporting on the directives attributed the communication to Madison Bishop Robert Morlino, although it has been revealed that this was not official, although it was in line with diocesan policy.
In a statement, Marianne Duddy-Burkeexecutive director of DignityUSA, a pro-LGBTQ Catholic organizationcalled the directives "outrageous and shameful," adding, "This document is the very antithesis of pastoral care.
"It shows that this bishop believes that lesbian and gay people who have lived a deep commitment to a spouse or partner should be demeaned even in death. Our families could be refused the sacraments of our faith at the moment of their greatest grief. This is heartless. It is cruel. It is unchristian in the extreme."
The Reporter article is at www.ncronline.org/news/parish/madison-priests-get-directives-funerals-lgbt-people .