Suicide
by Russell Pollitt SJ
In the past few months I have been faced, in my pastoral ministry, with three suicides. Just this week I did the funeral of a woman who took her own life after a long struggle with depression. Suicide is a terrible way to die and it leaves a residue of pain, unanswered questions, anger and guilt for those who remain behind. It is still something we do not speak about but, rather, whisper privately amongst ourselves. It is something that will not go away despite our best efforts to hide it. We are told that suicide is on the increase worldwide. It is important that we, God’s people, are not afraid to ask “Where is God in the tragic and painful aftermath of suicide?”