Chicago archdiocese dedicates memorial for people lost to suicide and their families

The Archdiocese of Chicago has dedicated the “At Peace” memorial at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery to people who died by suicide and their surviving families. The memorial honours the Rev. Charles Rubey's work supporting those families, according to reports carried by The Seattle Times and The Boston Globe on October 9. The archdiocese says it is the first memorial of its kind established by any US archdiocese. [ 2 , 3 ]

Rubey, now 86, founded the LOSS Program in 1979. Its name stands for Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide, and it operates as a counselling and support service through Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The reports describe the ministry as continuing to be an important part of his life. The archdiocese recognised that work by dedicating the memorial in his honour this year. [ 2 , 3 ]

Rubey recalled two women telling him that a parish priest had responded to requests for prayers by saying their relatives who died by suicide were in hell. The reports say the church at that time barred funeral rites and burial on consecrated ground for people who died by suicide. Rubey rejected the priest's judgement and reassured the women that their loved ones were with God. He described the encounter as a turning point in his approach to supporting bereaved families. [ 2 , 3 ]

Rubey sees the memorial as evidence of a shift toward a more compassionate understanding of suicide. He said the church now embraces families who have lost loved ones to suicide rather than condemning those who died. The reports say Catholic teaching continues to regard suicide as a grave sin, while acknowledging that mental health problems can lead people to take their lives and that salvation remains possible. [ 2 , 3 ]