EWTN Catholic Q&A

Catholic burial
Question from Padraigh O Ceallaigh on 03-17-2012:

Given a person who has lapsed from the Catholic Religion and dies in that state yet while alive professed to believe in a superior being responsible for creation, if they are not buried according to the Catholic rite does the Church regard them as "lost"?

Answer by Richard Geraghty on 04-12-2012:

Dear Padraigh,

The Church does not regard them as necessarily lost if they are not buried in the Catholic way. Only God is the judge of that. But nevertheless the Church encourages that practice as a sign we will all find ourselves before the judgment seat of God.