We buried another of my wife's Uncles today (the third sibling to pass away this year) in a Roman Catholic service. From the point of view of a Christian I'm not sure which was the sadest, burying my brother the atheist or the Roman Catholic Uncle.

My brother denied the existance of God so he was in for a shock when he died. However my Uncle believed that God existed and was told that what he was doing was the correct thing to do to get to heaven. But it wasn't. Was his shock greater?

On his coffin were placed the statue of some "saint", a statue of "Mary" that he used to hold onto, and his rosary beads which he used when praying to "Mary".

The words the priest used were very positive about Uncle's fate, how he was with his brother and sister and mother-in-law. all of whom have died this year. But then we look at the prayers said:

"O God ... mercifully grant that <uncle> may rejoice to rise again"
"Cleanse them of their sins and grant them the fullness of redemption"
"Grant that he ... may also be one with him in Ressurection"
"Have mercy on us all, we pray, that ... we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life"
"Merciful Lord ... open the gares of paradise to your servant"
"May the Angels lead you into paradise, may the martyrs come to welcome you"

Not as positive are they. But then this double standard started me on my road to salvation when I was 16.

So sad for Uncle and those who believe like he did.