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Article_From life to death to life

Feature News | Tuesday, March 03, 2015

From life to death to life

Little Flower hosts symposium on death and dying

Father Earl Fernandes, dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, speaks on "The Dignity and End of Human Life" during the day-long symposium on death, dying and Catholic funeral rites hosted by Little Flower in Coral Gables.

Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC

Father Earl Fernandes, dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, speaks on "The Dignity and End of Human Life" during the day-long symposium on death, dying and Catholic funeral rites hosted by Little Flower in Coral Gables.

CORAL GABLES | Father Michael Davis' mother knows what will be sung and said at her funeral — because she's written out the program, right down to the hymns and readings.

"Michael, honey, I want to make sure this is good," she said, as he retold it to listeners at the Church of the Little Flower. "Because this will be my last chance to evangelize."

That's the kind of foresight, and serenity, that Father Davis hoped to instill in the 100 listeners who attended a recent symposium on end-of-life issues.

"We're not trying to focus on death per se, but on passing to the next life," Father Davis said. "And on the Catholic teachings that help us understand that mystery. All these things are so significant in every Catholic life, whether they realize it or not."

Father Earl Fernandes, dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, answers questions from some of those who attended the day-long symposium on death, dying and Catholic funeral rites hosted by Little Flower in Coral Gables.

Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC

Father Earl Fernandes, dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, answers questions from some of those who attended the day-long symposium on death, dying and Catholic funeral rites hosted by Little Flower in Coral Gables.

The six-hour event on Feb. 21 fell coincidentally during Lent, a time to remember the death and resurrection of Christ. The symposium fielded six speakers on a huge range of issues including ethics of proper treatment, living wills, health insurance, Catholic funeral and burial customs, and the spirituality of death.

First up was Father Earl Fernandes, dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, speaking on "The Dignity and End of Human Life." He stressed that even before people meet their own death, they will confront it in those they care for.

Catholic and secular attitudes on care for the dying have basic differences, he said. First, the Church teaches that all people have "inherent dignity" because they were made in the image of God, not because of their usefulness to society.

"There will never be another person just like us, no matter what we do," Father Fernandes said. "And a person is always worthwhile ... from the tiniest embryo to a little child to a working adult to an elderly adult."

Second, he said, the Church teaches the "unity" of body and soul. "The body is not an instrument to be used; it is part and parcel of who we are. And we believe at the last day they will be reunited, and the body will be raised glorious."

Third, humans are given free will, leading to a kind of stewardship. "We are responsible for the good gift of human life," Father Fernandes said.

The secular view, in contrast, sees people with "attributed dignity," based on conditions like prosperity, physical health and contributions to society. "When those are lost, when there is pain and suffering and especially loss of bodily functions, they feel they have lost great dignity."

In that view, death may seem a valid option through various forms of euthanasia or simply withholding basic nutrients like food and water, Father Fernandes said. But in the Catholic view, any treatment should be given solely to benefit the patient.

Even in the so-called "persistent vegetative state" — a term he considered derogatory — a patient should get basic care like nourishment and cleaning, Father Fernandes said.

"A person in a persistent vegetative state is a person; therefore, he deserves care. Here we see Church teaching rooted in the dignity of the human person, not in attributed dignity."

Catholic teachings do allow a patient to refuse treatment for several reasons, he added. One is if a treatment is "repugnant, painful or experimental." Another is if it has serious side effects. Financial cost, too, can be a legitimate question.

"One is not morally obligated to bankrupt himself," Father Fernandes said.

He emphasized, though, that a patient and his family — not a doctor — are the ones to decide treatment. "A doctor's rights are only granted by the patient."

Father Earl Fernandes, dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, poses with Father Michael Davis, pastor of Little Flower Parish in Coral Gables, who came up with the idea for the symposium on death, dying and Catholic funeral rites.

Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC

Father Earl Fernandes, dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, poses with Father Michael Davis, pastor of Little Flower Parish in Coral Gables, who came up with the idea for the symposium on death, dying and Catholic funeral rites.

Father Fernandes scanned various forms of instructions that anyone can draw up in case he becomes incompetent to decide appropriate treatment.

He mentioned Advanced Directives, Living Wills, Durable Power of Health Care Attorney and Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. He mentioned risks of each measure, such as inflexibility when medical conditions change and vagaries in the difference between optional and required treatments.

But when death is imminent, discontinuing treatment may be a reasonable choice, Father Fernandes said. "While life is a great good, the higher good is communion with God and the journey to God."

During a break, two listeners said the talk was reassuring. The brother of one has been near-catatonic with a brain tumor for more than two years, she said.

"People say he's lost his dignity, but that's not true — he is alive," said the woman, who would only give her name as Susana.

Chris Garcia-Casals said her father died two years ago after a massive stroke left him brain dead. After praying and talking with doctors, she and her family decided to let him die rather than keep him on life support.

"He never wanted to talk about these things, and they're important," she said. "(But) much of what Father Fernandes said gave me peace. We did the right thing."

Father Davis' talk centered on Catholic funeral and burial customs — a topic that helped launch the idea for the whole symposium. Over the years, he saw that people weren’t preparing in accordance with Catholic customs.

"A lot of Catholics are choosing not to do anything," he said in an interview. "They don’t even bring the body to church, so we can't do the full rituals to show the Church's great care for the dignity of the body."

Although the Church allows cremation, the urn should be brought to church and be treated "with great dignity and graciousness," Father Davis said.

The cremated remains should then be placed in a grave or mausoleum or columbarium. "It's a place where the person is memorialized, and where loved ones can pay a reverential visit," he said.

Olga Casillas said Father Davis' talk helped her. "One of my brothers wanted cremation. Now I know that you can't put the remains just anywhere. You have to have a place for them to rest, like a burial."

Van Orsdel Funeral Chapel showed a sample of a cremation urn.

Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC

Van Orsdel Funeral Chapel showed a sample of a cremation urn.

In contrast to Father Fernandes's precise legal and intellectual terms, Jose Redondo's talk was emotional and devotional.

"We face death the same way we face life — by following the one who said 'I am the truth, the way and the life,'" said Redondo, a clinical psychologist in Miami. "If he's right about how to face unemployment and illness and death, he is right about eternal life."

He showed a self-deprecating humor in telling of his own move to Miami.

"I said to my wife, 'I'm going to get a house and a pool and a Volvo' — check, check, check," he said, drawing chuckles. "But they didn't make me happy. We are always disappointed until we follow the one our hearts were meant to follow."

He even ended his talk by leading a Hail Mary. He noted that the prayer asks Mary to "pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."

"We are asking Mary to accompany us as she accompanied Christ at the foot of the cross," Dr. Redondo said.

The listeners also heard three other speakers:

  • Attorney John Strickroot on wills, trusts and bequeaths.
  • "The Final Steps," by Maylen Montoto, director of community development for the archdiocese's Catholic Hospice.
  • Mary Jo Frick, executive director of the archdiocesan cemeteries, on how Catholic cemeteries are different.

Many Catholics are unaware that a priest won't celebrate Mass at a non-Catholic cemetery, Frick said in an interview before her talk. "A Catholic cemetery is sacred ground. Other cemeteries have a Catholic section, but a priest won't go there to celebrate a Mass."

Each talk was followed by a break, during which each speaker answered individual questions. Listeners also visited tables of several organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus and Van Orsdel Funeral Chapel, to pick up brochures and talk to representatives.

Dr. Jose Redondo, a clinical psychologist, speaks about placing one's trust in Christ and his promises about eternal life.

Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC

Dr. Jose Redondo, a clinical psychologist, speaks about placing one's trust in Christ and his promises about eternal life.


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