Father,
I keep hearing that the Church does not believe in cremation. Is this true? I have been to Catholic funerals that the person was cremated. This is something that I do not want, but was wondering what the Church says.
Kathy
Kathy,
The Catholic Church used to be completely opposed to the practice of cremation. However, this is not entirely true today. The reason for the Church's initial stance against cremation was that in the past some persons cremated bodies as a denial of our physical bodily resurrection. Behind this was the thought that if the body is destroyed then how can it be physically resurrected. Yet as the Church has discerned we believe that despite the fact that bodies decay and can be destroyed by other means we have faith that an all powerful God can still raise our bodies physically. Also, the Church recognizes that many people choose to cremate for practical rather than ideological reasons. Foremost among these reasons would be cost and space. What matters is the intention. As long as cremation is not intended as a denial of the resurrection the Church is not opposed to the practice. Even though the Church does allow cremation it is preferable that the funeral be done before cremation. Cremains should also be treated as you would a body. Therefore, it is not permitted to scatter ashes or keep them on your mantle. They should be buried or interred as you would with the body of the deceased.
Fr.
