The parents of a Michigan teenager will ask the local archdiocese to remove the priest who questioned whether their son would get to heaven following his suicide.
Eighteen-year-old Maison Hullibarger's parents told the Detroit Free Press that they plan to meet with Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron on Saturday.
The couple says the Rev. Don LaCuesta condemned their son while officiating his Dec. 8 funeral. The teen's mother said the priest wondered aloud whether the teen had repented enough to reach heaven.
Maison Hullibarger's father told the publication that he asked the priest to stop talking during the funeral Mass. But Jeff Hullibarger said Rev. LaCuesta continued giving a critical sermon at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Temperance.
"He was up there condemning our son, pretty much calling him a sinner," said Linda Hullibarger, Maison's mother. "He wondered if he had repented enough to make it to heaven. He said 'suicide' upwards of six times."
Hullibarger said some mourners left the church crying.
The couple wants LaCuesta to be removed as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Temperance, which is about 50 miles south of Detroit.
They said they have letters from other people sharing complaints about LaCuesta.
Local
The Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit has apologized to the family.
The archdiocese released a statement saying it's sorry that an "unbearable situation was made even more difficult." The archdiocese says LaCuesta will not preach at funerals "for the foreseeable future."
Eighteen-year-old Maison died on Dec. 4. He was an athlete and honors student.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day at 800-273-8255.
