We have friends that are very devout Catholics. Even one of their sons is a priest.
Is it appropriate to send them a condolence card when the Pope passes away?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Ah, part of my family is very devout Catholics. I am not going to send a condolence card. I may mention in conversation that I heard about it and was sorry, but I will not send a card; I know they won't take it as mocking or anything, but they're not related to the Pope, and it just doesn't seem right.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I don't think it is considered necessary, and I was raised RC. It is good that you care about them enough to think of that , but their faith doesn't make him part of their immediate family or anything.....
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
I remember on my mission, I was visiting with a family that had had one discussion, and one of them said, "I'm so sorry that your prophet, Joseph Smith, died."
I thanked him but told him it was a long time ago and we were mostly over it.
It took him three minutes to finally get me to understand that he meant the current - or I guess very recent - prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith, who really had died just that day and this was the first I'd heard of it.
But I guess you don't have to worry about the possibility that your card will be the first they heard of it.
My feeling is that even though I'm NOT Catholic, I really loved John Paul II and thought he was good for Christianity in general. I admired his courage and strength, his real love for people, his transformation of the papacy. I'll miss him. And NOBODY will send me a condolence card because I'm not even Catholic.
This great Pope belonged to all of us, and the world will be poorer without him. If you just say that to your Catholic friends, you won't have to send a card.
But don't say it if you know they're of the branch of American Catholics who think the Pope meddled way too much in their religion. You have to know your friends.
[ April 02, 2005, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: Orson Scott Card ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Dan, it certainly isn't necessary, but I am sure they would be touched. You could also call them and ask to hear their thoughts on the matter.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
quote: My feeling is that even though I'm NOT Catholic, I really loved John Paul II and thought he was good for Christianity in general.
My feeling is that even though I'm not CHRISTIAN (and if I were, I'd probably be a protestant), I really loved John Paul II and thought he was good for humanity in general.
Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
I am a Catholic, though not a very good one. And I disagree with some of the decisions the Pope has made over the years. But I will be sad to see him pass, and he is definitely a man I respect and admire.
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Speaking as an agnostic--who would probably become a Mormon if I ever "found Jesus"--I have to say that I'll be sad to see John Paul II go. I don't agree with every decision he's made (obviously--if I agreed with the pope on everything, I'd probably be Catholic), but all in all I think he's a genuinely good man who loves and cares for all humanity. I think many people who are not Catholic will mourn his loss.
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
*Is with Javert on the matter*
I'm a Melkite Catholic, though not a very good one.
I like the idea of contacting them and asking their thoughts on the matter, it seems most appropriate.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
quote: I remember on my mission, I was visiting with a family that had had one discussion, and one of them said, "I'm so sorry that your prophet, Joseph Smith, died."
I thanked him but told him it was a long time ago and we were mostly over it.
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)