Cremation Guidelines of the Catholic Church History Many Catholics today still believe that the Church forbids cremation. This was true, for a variety of reasons, prior to Vatican II. The Judaic roots of Christian tradition carried a long-standing prohibition of cremation as a reaction to equally long-standing attempts to annihilate Jewish existence and memory. Although cremation was a common practice among Greeks and Romans, Christians moved away from the practice because of their:
- Faith in the Resurrection of the body;
- Reverence for the body as a member of the Body of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit;
- A strong reaction to persecutors’ use of burning bodies as a taunt against belief in the Resurrection.
The practice of the early Church came to be crystallized in the Code of Canon Law, which strictly forbade cremation except in times of plague or natural disaster. The reforms of the Second Vatican Council changed the Church’s position in this regard. What is the Church’s policy on cremation today?In 1963 the Catholic Church modified its general prohibition of cremation as a burial option. The new directives allow cremation to be chosen provided the choice does not reflect a denial or doubt about the Church’s teaching or traditions about life, death and resurrection. The Code on Canon Law (Can.1176, No.3) states: "The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed; it does not, however, forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching." In short, cremation is allowed to those who request it in good faith. What is cremation?Cremation is the reduction of the body of a decease person to recoverable bone fragments through a process that combines intense heat and evaporation. The fragments are then pulverized and referred to as "cremated remains" or more commonly "ashes". They are not really ash as we know it, but bone particles. The cremated remains weigh from 4 to 10 pounds. What types of services are available to those choosing cremation? The Catholic Church strongly prefers that the vigil service and funeral Mass are offered according to "The Order of Christian Funerals", with the body present, as the presence of the body most clearly brings to mind the life and death of the person. After the funeral Mass, the deceased may be taken to the crematory by the funeral director; or the family may prefer the usual procession to the cemetery for the committal service and the deceased then being taken to the crematory. When circumstances prevent the presence of the body at the funeral liturgy, the cremated remains of the body may be present in the church for all services. Why does the church prefer cremation after the services?The church discourages immediate cremation because it believes that grieving in the presence of the body helps people deal with their loss. Mourners need sufficient time to remember and celebrate the life of the deceased; to begin to grow accustomed to the absence of a loved one; to unite and support each other; and for the community to express its loss. The Church wants to encourage families to take the time needed to say their good-byes and thus begin the grieving process. Nothing (not even immediate cremation) can take away the pain we feel at the loss of someone we love. What happens to the cremated remains after the services selected?The remains of the cremated body must be treated with the same respect given to the entire body. This includes the manner in which they are carried; the care and attention to appropriate placement; and transport and their final disposition. As a mark of respect for the human body, the church recommends the cremated remains be buried in an individual or family grave, or inurned in a crypt or niche in a Catholic cemetery or consecrated columbarium. The practices of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are NOT the reverent disposition that the Church requires. Finally, the deceased should be memorialized with a plaque, marker or monument that records the name of the deceased. Its value is twofold; - Memorials constitute a visible history of our faith community;
- Memorials are an important aid to survivors, providing a focal point for the expression of grief; and,
- a place of comfort as survivors go through the grieving process.
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