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Bishops say Reyes may be provided with Catholic burial

February 10, 2011, 4:01am

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) -- Catholic prelates on Wednesday said former Secretary Angelo Reyes, who committed suicide in front of his mother's grave, may be provided with a Catholic burial.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Cannon chairman and Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso said the Catholic Church presumes that a person who committed suicide is not his true self.

Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francisco De Leon shares the same view, and said that while the Catholic teachings consider suicide as a mortal sin, there are circumstances that persons who commit it are not in their proper mental state.

"Well, sa Church teaching, yung suicide ay talagang kasalanan pero dahil sa development doon sa mental health, ngayon ay sinasabi ng Simbahan na mayroong mga situations na ang tao ay hindi malaya sa pagpili ng kamatayan," he said.

Reyes, 66, died of a gunshot wound to the chest early morning Tuesday at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City.

He was being accused of receiving pay-offs during his term as Armed Forces chief of staff.

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Comments

Fri, 02/11/2011 - 09:00 — jlchy

The act of killing one self is the greatest violation of the natural law of self-preservation. However, no human has the right to condemn one who commits suicide on two grounds:

1) After the commission of the crime of suicide, the suicider may sincerely regret his acts and ask for forgiveness from his creator. No less than the Bible provides in many verses that God forgives those who seek his mercy. The fact that no human will ever know what the suicider thinks and does between the act of suicide and his last breath leads to the conclusion that no human should ever condemn a suicider.

2) The culpability of the suicider maybe extinguished by his state-of-mind. If the suicider's state of mind at the time of the suicide is that which prevents him from exercising his free will or from determining which is right and which is wrong, then the suicider may not be guilty of suicide. Again, inasmuch as no human will ever know the state-of-mind of a suicider, then no human can condemn a suicider.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 23:13 — Just Reading

It is given and understood that everyone who commits suicide are not at their proper mental state. Suicide is a mortal sin no matter what way and manner it is committed . and who committed .... Catholic Church should treat this with no exemption and consideration.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 08:40 — Elmer Lavilla

Priests, by their bow of celibacy and marriage in their vocation, binded themselves to be holy and not to be immoral. People might tend to think that there might be conflict of interest in their acts. They should also reflect more about the Vatican Council (and its amendment).
This might result to massive conversion among Catholics to other religion and sects (mushroom cults). They should reflect among themselves if they really are bounded by Catholic doctrine and review them carefully. Reflect if these actions were BASED ON CATHOLIC DOCTRINE or based on PERSONAL OPINION.

The question is, will Cardinal Sin (if still living today) do the same?

By the way, the Bishops' action will win back converted catholics to become Catholics again. Its a sign of hope among the converted Catholics that: "I once was lost, now... am find; was blind, but now I see..."

Hope our religious leaders know how to keep Catholics from engaging conversion to other religion.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 08:24 — blue-green-thomas

May low-profile suicides be treated the same way. In the end, what causes one to kill one's self? Even Judas was depressed, but what does the Bible say of the consequence of his death? But then again, only the cray one will show-off with suicide. So is there indeed a sane person committing suicide?