What does it mean to be a "notorious sinner?" Here was a person who did bad things, but in his later hears regularly went to confession to a Catholic priest and recieved absolution. Now he is being denied a Catholic burial. Why did the Catholic priest give him absolution and then later on deny him a Catholic funeral?
"The Rome Vicariate, which overseas churches in the city and province, promptly announced in a statement soon after his death that no public funeral would be granted to him in the city or outskirts of Rome. Officials cited canon law which states that a funeral may be denied to "manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful."
Priebke's lawyer released statements saying that "a large part of the Italian people are concerned that religious rites be refused to a dead person" and said he would hold the funeral in the street if no church would allow the funeral.
"Priebke", he said "received confession regularly and was absolved by the clergy."
http://gma.yahoo.com/notorious-nαzι-...opstories.html