Does anyone know what a priest is trained to do if...

[Number 81]

Say a priest witness a car crash, and the person is on the verge of death. If he can't speak to identify himself as a Catholic. Does the priest give him last rights anyway?

 

[Tonks]

From what I understand, yes. Don't quote me on it though....

 

[holyfamily]

Our priest told me it's canon law for him to have "his kit" with him for this very reason. I believe they can even grant absolution even if the person is not Catholic - "in special circumstances". That's what he told me anyways.

 

[NiteClerk]

I received a donation request yesterday from a Fatima society. In it is a wallet card that says, "I'm Catholic. In case of an accident call a Priest."

 

[PolskiKrol]

And always remember, in case there is not a priest plausibly available, God offers I think its called emergency? absolution.

 

[Davidnic]

Say a priest witness a car crash, and the person is on the verge of death. If he can't speak to identify himself as a Catholic. Does the priest give him last rights anyway?

There is great felxability whan a person is in danger of death. I assisted on last rites calls when I was in the seminary and they were mostly at hospitals and such. But "danger of death"

Here a pretty good view of how it fits with Canon law (link)

The biggest problem in the type of situation you describe is the persons ability to ask for the sacrament. Since:

From the canons and the ritual it is clear that the sacrament may not be given indiscriminately. So, for example, the following may not receive, except where noted.

1. One who is not a baptized Catholic. Those who are not baptized may never receive. Baptized non-Catholics may not receive, unless the provisions of canon 844 and the norms of the local bishop and the bishops conference are met. For Orthodox Christians and other Churches with valid sacraments, canon 844, 3 provides that they:

· ask for it on their own
· be properly disposed.

For all other baptized Christians (Anglican, Lutheran and Protestant), canon 844, 4 states that the following conditions must be met:

· danger of death or other grave necessity
· inability to approach a minister of their own community
· ask for it on their own
· manifest Catholic faith in the sacraments
· be properly disposed

Proper disposition for anyone who is conscious includes the confession of all mortal sins since the last good confession, or since baptism, if the person had never made a confession.


The above is the ideal. In the situation you mention things are not ideal. In that case:

"Prudent pastoral and medical judgment must be followed."

From what I understood most priests, in the case of doubt (or in the situation you describe, or one like it) will offer the sacrament. In case of doubt the action should be taken in the best interests of the sick or dying.