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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Luis Andres Henao

First suicide memorial by a US archdiocese signals a compassionate shift by the Catholic Church

Catholic Suicide Memorial - (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

The Rev. Charles Rubey recalls the moment when he realized Catholic priests needed to do a better job supporting families of those who died by suicide.

Two women told Rubey they had asked their parish priest to pray for family members who had killed themselves. At that time, the Catholic Church banned funeral rites and burial on consecrated grounds for those who died by suicide. Rubey says the women told him: “the first thing out of the priest’s mouth was: 'Well, you know, your loved one is in hell.'”

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