5 Adventist Churches Offer Free Funerals After Orlando Mass Shooting

[struggle4progress]

POSTED JUNE 21, 2016
By Kimberly Luste Maran, North American Division

Less than 36 hours after the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in the nearby city of Apopka announced on Facebook that it would host, free of charge, funeral services for those killed.

The post said the church “is extending their availability for FREE funeral services for any LGBT victims of the #thePulse shooting.” The church also offered to stream the services live on the Internet for family and friends who could not attend.

A short time after the Forest Lake announcement appeared, four additional Adventist churches declared that they also would host funeral services for free: the Forest City Spanish church (Altamonte Springs), Altamonte Springs Church (Altamonte Springs), Florida Hospital Church (Orlando), and Orlando Central church (Orlando).

Several families have expressed interest in the free funerals for their loved ones, who were among the 49 people killed in the June 12 shooting, but none had accepted the offer as of June 21 ...

http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story4122-5-adventist-churches-offer-free-funerals-after-orlando-mass-shooting

[Runningdawg]

1. Is it normal

for churches to charge for funeral services? I have never heard of this before. I would bet some of the victims families need money for the mortician/crematory, it would be nice to see those fees paid. But free funerals? Hmmm....

[struggle4progress]

2. I think it's at least common to charge for services for non-members

[rug]

3. To have a gathering place for this is a good thing.

[hrmjustin]

4. In my parish it is a donation. If you want a full choir though you have to pay.

Not much but the chior is paid for all services they do.

[edhopper]

5. Good story

But so many funerals, it is heartbreaking thinking about it.