The Church, through the centuries, has followed the practice
of burial or entombment after the manner of Christ's own burial
- out of respect for the human body as a member of Christ and
because of faith in the resurrection. It remains the express
will of the Church that this hallowed and traditional practice
be maintained. "The Church earnestly recommends that the pious
custom of burial be retained; but it does not forbid cremation,
unless this is chosen for reasons which are contrary to
Christian teaching" (canon 1176, § 3).
Recognizing particular circumstances and varying
cultures and customs in different parts of the world, the Church
does not forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons
which are contrary to Catholic teaching.
The
selection of cremation should have been the specific choice of
the individual before death, although it may also be requested
by the family if not contrary to the wishes or legal
arrangements of the deceased.
It is the
responsibility of the priest to verify the proper motivation and
to determine that those arranging for the funeral have made
satisfactory provision for the cremated remains, preferably in a
Catholic cemetery. The great respect that the Church has for the
bodies of the deceased should also be evident in the way
cremated remains are treated, transported and where they are
placed.
It is not appropriate for the cremated
remains to be scattered. Placed in a worthy container, they
should be buried in a grave or inurned in a columbarium niche,
preferably in a Catholic cemetery when one is available.
Scattering and other disposition of cremated
remains may seem emotionally satisfying at the time; however,
these lack due reverence and respect, do not provide a focal
point for remembrance and prayer by relatives and the church in
general, and obscure our belief in the resurrection of Christ,
in the resurrection of the body and in our new life with God
after death - forcefully attested to by a more permanent resting
place for a Christian's remains.
When the above
conditions are verified, the various elements of the Catholic
funeral rite are conducted in the usual way. The body of the
deceased should be present for the funeral rite and funeral Mass;
the presence of the human body better expresses the values that
the Church affirms in its rites.
Cremated remains
are not present in church during the funeral liturgy except in
particular circumstances (such as when the deceased died in a
distant place and was cremated to facilitate transportation).
The permission of the Chancery must be obtained in each case;
the congregation will be informed of the reason for the
exception.
**Cremation is a
process by which, through intense heat and flame, a dead human
body is reduced to elemental bone fragments; these bone
fragments are then generally reduced in size by mechanical
processing to facilitate placement in a receptacle or urn, and
are referred to as cremated remains (often incorrectly called
"ashes").*
