The Tragedy of SuicideThe Tragedy of Suicide

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SuicideSuicide• Unfortunately many of us Unfortunately many of us

know of someone who has know of someone who has committed suicide.committed suicide.

• We are left with haunting We are left with haunting questions.questions.

• Why did they do it?Why did they do it?• What might I have done to What might I have done to

prevent it?prevent it?• Why didn’t we notice the Why didn’t we notice the

emotional distress sooner?emotional distress sooner?• Religion also causes Religion also causes

additional problems in that additional problems in that we ask ourselves how God we ask ourselves how God might look at suicide and might look at suicide and

• what will be the person’s what will be the person’s eternal destiny?eternal destiny?

• We should look upon We should look upon suicide as a disease like a suicide as a disease like a stroke or heart attack and stroke or heart attack and the person dies suddenly the person dies suddenly and unexpectedly.and unexpectedly.

• All of us have loved All of us have loved someone dearly that has someone dearly that has been suddenly taken from been suddenly taken from us because of a purely us because of a purely physical illness over which physical illness over which we had no control.we had no control.

• We shouldn’t spend a great We shouldn’t spend a great deal of time worrying about deal of time worrying about what we might have done what we might have done to prevent a suicide or to prevent a suicide or being angry with the person being angry with the person who committed the act.who committed the act.

Second GuessingSecond Guessing• You can’t second guess a You can’t second guess a

heart attack or a stroke so heart attack or a stroke so why then should we try to why then should we try to second guess a suicide?second guess a suicide?

• God loved this person just God loved this person just like we did and remained like we did and remained faithful by not interfering faithful by not interfering with the person’s free will.with the person’s free will.

• In earlier times a person In earlier times a person who committed suicide who committed suicide would often be denied would often be denied funeral rites and even burial funeral rites and even burial in a Church cemetery.in a Church cemetery.

• However, some However, some consideration has always consideration has always been taken into account of been taken into account of the person's mental state at the person's mental state at the time of the suicide.the time of the suicide.

• Canon law no longer Canon law no longer specifically mentions suicide specifically mentions suicide as a reason to deny funeral as a reason to deny funeral rites or burial in a Church rites or burial in a Church Cemetery.Cemetery.

Grave DisturbancesGrave Disturbances

• The official teachings of the The official teachings of the Catholic Church is found in Catholic Church is found in the Catechism of the the Catechism of the Catholic Church and it says: Catholic Church and it says:

• ““Grave psychological Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility diminish the responsibility of the one committing of the one committing suicide.”suicide.”

• ““We should not despair of We should not despair of the eternal salvation of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken persons who have taken their own lives. their own lives.

• By ways known to Him By ways known to Him alone, God can provide the alone, God can provide the opportunity for repentance. opportunity for repentance.

• The Church prays for The Church prays for persons who have taken persons who have taken their own lives.”their own lives.”

• We should find comfort in We should find comfort in this official teaching.this official teaching.