Maison Hullibarger, an 18-year-old athlete and honors student from Temperance, Michigan died on 4 December.
Speaking to Detriot Free Press, his grieving parents said that Reverend Don LaCuesta would not stop referring to his cause of death and "called him a sinner" during the service held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Temperance on 8 December.
Maison's father Jeff Hullibarger said it was as if Mr LaCuesta had decided it was the perfect opportunity to make his stance on suicide known.
"We couldn't believe what he was saying," Mr Hullibarger said. "He was up there condemning our son, pretty much calling him a sinner. He wondered if he had repented enough to make it to heaven. He said 'suicide' upwards of six times.
Mr Hullibarger said that even when he asked the priest to stop he continued to deliver his critical sermon which caused some mourners to leave the church in tears.
"There were actually a couple of younger boys who were Maison's age who left the church sobbing," he said of the incident.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit says it regrets that an "unbearable situation was made even more difficult."
"We share the family's grief at such a profound loss. Our hope is always to bring comfort into situations of great pain, through funeral services centered on the love and healing power of Christ," the church said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, that did not happen in this case. We understand that an unbearable situation was made even more difficult, and we are sorry.
The church added that Reverend Don LaCuesta would not be preaching at any funerals or the "foreseeable future"
"He will have his other homilies reviewed by a priest mentor. In addition, he has agreed to pursue the assistance he needs in order to become a more effective minister in these difficult situations," the missive added.
"We have been in contact with the family since learning of this situation, and we will continue to offer our support going forward."
Reader Comments
2. I see your quick 'bab'tist correction, and, smirkingly wonder if 'We, of the self-appointed and self-annointed**, Grammar Gestapopo, might have swooped down on you like Col. Klink's nemesis. (All in fun, chuckling stilll.)
3. I learned from one of my bestest friends that I was 'mispronouncing' your name, vis a vis, the Bush*t II original.
I've been thinking it was Strata-Jerry; and he pointed out that , no, what the fool said (as if it was a word) was 'Stra TEE gery.' I got an even GREATER laugh out of your name then.
I then told him, (maybe my injured pride at being corrected by a friend who I long ago 'awokened' - nay, helped kick start HIS awakening - was doing th talking - but I don't think so) "Have you ever looked closely at his avatar?"
He was unaware that the telephone was upside down. If the Pulitzer Prizes were not rigged (as are all such 'awards' these days),THAT Picture deserved it! I LMAO when I first noticed it.
Do you know anythng of its origin?
R.C
* Which, as I recall, separated from the (Main? First? Northern?) Baptist church over slavery issues in the Antebellum South.
** Feels better when some hooker like M. Magdalene is doing it, I'd imagine.
RC
I truly believe this to be the false religion system in the latter days that is run by the antichrist, globalist, new world order the skull, and bones luciferian HW Bush was fond of referring to. This is no conspiracy, but naked truth unfolding before our eyes in real time, if you care to investigate. The elites have realized that the only way to control the masses in a world government is with a centralized religion that conglomerates all beliefs into one.
Meanwhile, WHY is it that I, (a Spiritual Agnostic) has mostly dated 'lapsed' Catholic ladies? I'm not all that picky, but the best return smiles I've ever received have over eighty percent been from Catholic chicks.
R.C.
R.C.