Father Moras

Father Edward Moras 1953-1997, R.I.P.

The Sooner Catholic, July 13, 1997

By John Mallon

This article received a Certificate of Commendation from the American Psychiatric Association’s Robert T. Morse Writer's Award for this Sooner Catholic Editorial of July 13, 1997, “Father Edward Moras, 1953-1997, R.I.P." on the suicide of a visiting priest suffering from depression.

As the Sooner Catholic was going to press, we were shocked by the terrible news that Father Edward Moras, 44, a visiting priest from India, had taken his own life. Father Moras had been in the United States since September and was serving as associate pastor at Saint James Parish in Oklahoma City. Father Larry Gatlin, pastor of Saint James spoke at the memorial service explaining that Father Moras suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder and severe anxiety disorder. Father Moras also suffered from depression most of his life. Father Gatlin explained how Father Moras would sometimes ask him about the tormenting and snowballing thoughts that would generate in his mind: “Will this ever stop?” Father Moras poignantly asked.

In his homily at the funeral Mass, Archbishop Beltran said that depression in recent months had interfered with Father Moras’ ability to get the proper sleep he needed, and made even the most simple of everyday responsibilities overwhelming.

Bishop P.C. Balaswamy of Father Moras’ home diocese of Nellore, India, spoke of how he had met with Father last week, and how Father Moras had expressed the desire to return home, believing he would feel better there. Bishop Balaswamy said he agreed to take him with him when he returned to India from his current visit to the United States.

He spoke of how he had known Father as a 14-year-old minor seminarian and of how well loved Father Moras was as a parish priest and how he had held important assignments, including working in the Bishop’s Residence as financial officer for the diocese. Bishop Balaswamy, himself very sad, expressed gratitude to those gathered for the love and sorrow they had expressed for Father Moras. Father Moras body is being flown home to India.

The bishop reminded the congregation how Jesus said from the cross, “Forgive them Father, they know not what they do,” and continued that how in Father’s death “he did not know what he was doing. He had a mental illness.”

The death of Father Moras is both a tragedy and a mystery. There is no one to blame, he was receiving treatment for his illness. It is one of those tragedies that leaves everyone wondering if they missed something or if they could have done more, but illness and suffering are mysteries and sometimes they simply kill.

God only knows the torments he suffered before he felt driven to stop them himself so tragically. I think we are on safe ground to say that Father Moras in fact died of a severe and life-threatening illness, no less than if he had died of cancer.

Despite great strides in the field, mental illness remains widely misunderstood. Most insurance companies will only pay half the price of a visit to a psychiatrist, despite the fact that these kinds of disorders, which are not uncommon, can be just as incapacitating and deadly as any other sickness. They can insidiously rob people of the ability to work, carry on a normal life and sap their will to live.

The financial aspect is no small matter because depression and anxiety can be triggered by financial difficulties and can themselves often be the cause of financial difficulties. To have the added burden of financial strain with this suffering, even while carrying and paying for insurance, is simply inhumane in the society ours strives to be. This is something our society and the insurance industry must address.

Besides misunderstanding, much ignorance surrounds these ailments as well. For example, “mental illness” does not equal “insanity.” To suffer from a mental illness does not mean that one is “crazy.” One may suffer with a mental illness and with proper treatment carry out a normal life. Depression, in the mental health field, is sometimes called the “common cold of mental illnesses.” Like physical ailments, mental illnesses can range from mild to severe and psychic pain is no less serious than physical pain. And it can kill.

Let us pray for Father Moras, his family, friends, parishioners, the children of Saint James School who loved him, and for ourselves. And let us be attentive to one another and yes, ourselves, in our sufferings.

May Father Edward Moras and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

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