Found Deceased France - Émile Soleil, 2, outside grandparent’s house, Le Vernet, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 8 July 2023 #2

[seasideForest]

The Catholic Church has a much more compassionate and loving view of those who commit suicide than it once did. I wouldn't presume to know why the priest ended his life.

Good to know the Catholic Church has a more compassionate view on those who suicide, as I hope other Churches do too. Members of the Anglican Church of England who suicided used not to be allowed to be buried on the consecrated ground of the graveyard at least according to my grandfather's Book of Common Prayer from the 30's and now in my possession. From which I deduce that suiciding was a sin in all Christian churches.

It would be terribly sad if a confession made by someone in Émile's family to this priest was so awful he couldn't bear it and ended his own life. Priests are human and fallible. Imvho there are worse sins to have been committed by priests or other clergy. If that is what happened, I have a lot of compassion for that priest. It's between him and God now anyway.
JMO

 

[Rikissa]

Good to know the Catholic Church has a more compassionate view on those who suicide, as I hope other Churches do too. Members of the Anglican Church of England who suicided used not to be allowed to be buried on the consecrated ground of the graveyard at least according to my grandfather's Book of Common Prayer from the 30's and now in my possession. From which I deduce that suiciding was a sin in all Christian churches.

It would be terribly sad if a confession made by someone in Émile's family to this priest was so awful he couldn't bear it and ended his own life. Priests are human and fallible. Imvho there are worse sins to have been committed by priests or other clergy. If that is what happened, I have a lot of compassion for that priest. It's between him and God now anyway.
JMO

The Catholic Church may have a more compassionate view today on those who chose suicide, but it was only in 1983 that suicide was taken off the list of Mortal Sins. The Catholic Church view on life:

everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of (2280).

There is more than this to the evil of suicide. Suicide, as St. John Paul II would say, encourages a “culture of death” that affects everyone.

(St. John Paul II , pope 16 October 1978 - 2 April 2005)
Article from 31 January 2023:

What the Church Really Teaches About Suicide

Catholics don't hold contempt for those who kill themselves. But we also don't pretend there aren't real eternal consequences for suicide.

www.catholic.com

 

[GracefulD1an]

Thanks for the explanation. My paternal grandma (technically stepgrandma) was Catholic so I heard bits and pieces of Catholicism growing up in an interfaith family. I didn’t realize suicide was taken off the list only over 40 years ago. Anyway I wish the priest did confide in someone. They might be the only ones outside the family who knows the truth.

 

[Dreamcherry]

I was raised Catholic, and I couldn't have told you any of this, LOL! I should have paid more attention!

 

[Rikissa]

I've taken some university courses in Religious Studies in Sweden, it's comparative studies about all religions, not just about their religious beliefs and practices, but also a sociologocal and anthropological viewpoint, to understand their role and importance for people and societies. It's a very interesting subject, and gives insights about people, and why opinions about, and 'discussions' about religion can cause strife.

 

[Lusitana]

The Catholic Church has a much more compassionate and loving view of those who commit suicide than it once did. I wouldn't presume to know why the priest ended his life.

Well, sins are just that. Forgiveness and salvation is what Catholics believe in, meaning, yeah we are humans and yeah we do sin, but if we repent, God will forgive. BUT, we are talking about a Priest, it's vastly different than a "regular" person.