Religion: Checking Up on Dutch

On a cloudy morning last January, the grieving couple arrived at St. Michael's Church in Olympia, Wash., to bury their only son. He had died at 37, leaving a wife and two young children. The parents' first anxiety developed even before the funeral Mass began: many of the worshipers entered the nave with cries of joy, and the celebrant, Father Paul Dalton, was clad in festive mod vestments. The rite began like a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, as worshipers were urged to introduce themselves. In his homily, Dalton reported that as the husband lay...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!