To 'Bury the Dead' is a Corporal Act of Mercy

Therefore some people are confused by a funeral policy reiterated by the Diocese of Madison.

The policy issued is simply an affirmation of Catholic teaching.  There must be a pastoral concern which the diocese is addressing.  It is the responsibility of the Bishop to make clear Catholic teaching on faith and morals.  Just as in the case of Bishop Paprocki, the diocese felt it necessary to clarify polices concerning Christian burial.  Nothing wrong with that.

Same-sex marriage obviously is presenting a new difficulty these days.  Dr. Peters summarizes it on his blog.

[P]ersons who enter “same-sex marriage” plainly manifest their opposition to crucial and infallible Church teaching that restricts marriage to one man and one woman. The positions taken bySpringfield IL Bp. Paprocki and by the Diocese of Madison restricting funerals in such cases and outlining possible exceptions to those restrictions are thoroughly consistent with the canon law of the Catholic Church. - Dr. Peters

I'm surprised that gay Catholics take offense to that.  It seems cold, but Catholics should understand these things if they are catechized properly.  The sacraments are never refused to the dying, even manifest sinners - those living in 'public' sin.  Civil marriage is public - as is sacramental marriage, which is why the Church announces Banns of Marriage - the public announcement of a couple's intent to marry in the Church.  Catholics know very well same-sex marriage is not, nor cannot be recognized by the Church, and homosexual acts can in no way be approved.  If you are in such a situation and do not renounce it - or have the intention to repent, or hopefully confess before death, you are pretty much in opposition to Catholic doctrine.  If and when this situation is 'publicly manifest'  the Rite of Christian Burial can be denied.

It doesn't mean the deceased can't have a funeral or have prayers said, or even have Masses said.  But a funeral Mass can be denied.  That said, in many 'private' situations I'm sure a funeral Mass and a priest at the graveside occurs.  Not all bishops and priests enforce the rules, so to speak.  Which is why I say the Diocese of Madison may have been informed of an abuse and therefore found it necessary to reiterate and specify Catholic teaching in this regard.  In these cases, a Catholic priest-chaplain at the hospital, or the local parish is usually available to personally advise and help the dying person and family.

No priest or bishop, no matter how traditional or 'by the rubrics' would ever refuse the sacraments to the dying, or seek to 'punish' the person, his/her partner or family, by denying a public funeral on a whim.  One needs to take into consideration there may be a genuine problem of scandal - and I'm not talking 'pearl-clutching'.  Grave scandal and its effects upon the people of God must be taken into serious consideration.  In some cases, a denial of burial to a public figure is avoided because that situation can also scandalize many - it is the duty and office of the local ordinary to make that call. 

Bishop Paprocki and now Bishop Morlino are strongly criticized for simply reiterating Catholic teaching.  That is wrong.  They are being painted as homophobic and uncharitable.  That is not what this is about.

Gay Catholics, no matter how you identify, you need to know that same sex marriage is in no way equal to sacramental marriage between a man and a woman.  We all need to repent and believe in the Gospel - we are told that at the beginning of Lent, when ashes are imposed upon our foreheads - it's not decorative, much less a cosmetic enhancement.  It's about death and eternal life.  We need to prepare ourselves for that.  Just saying.

Rather than bitch and complain, or carry on some sort of online war, both sides should maybe worry more about how to make Catholic teaching more palatable, help people understand the truth - in actual charity, kindly, sensitively and patiently.  To 'bury the dead' is a corporate act of mercy, therefore console the grieving, offer suffrages, do what Catholics have always done.

This is perennial Roman Catholic teaching.  When Catholic teaching is challenged and or publicly opposed, it needs clarification from the Church.  Bishop Morlino and the Diocese of Madison has done that, and he needs Catholics to support him in that.

If this stuff hurts, pray.  Pray some more.  Go to Confession.  Pray.  Let yourself be taught.  Love correction.  As the Psalmist said, "If a good man reproves me, it is kindness."  Pray deeply.  Stay a long time after Communion and pray.  God loves us indiscriminately, especially when we are too little to understand.