The Catholic attitude towards cremation

Many Catholics are still unaware that the attitude of the Church to cremation has changed in recent years.

Burial remains the recommended practice. But if cremation is chosen, this is permissible. The only prohibition is that cremation must not be chosen as a way of denying Christian teaching, particularly belief in the resurrection of the body.

The present law of the Catholic Church, promulgated in 1983, says:
“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."

Why the change?

The church has never absolutely prohibited cremation. In times of plague and for other specific emergency situations, the need to cremate was acknowledged. Until comparatively recent times, it has never been the general practice even in society in general.

Specific Church prohibitions in the past have always been for religious reasons. Burial was the original Christian practice, as part of the Christian's imitation of Jesus, whose body, according to the custom of the time, was buried.

And, in the early years of the Christian church there were also other religions which, as part of their belief cremated the bodies of those who had died. To prevent Christian funerals being identified with those beliefs of other religions, the practice of cremation was forbidden to Christians.

The law has changed now, not only because the practice of cremation is more socially acceptable, but also because there no longer seems to be any great danger that Christian cremation will be associated with non-Christian belief nor with widespread denial of such integral doctrines as the resurrection of the body, the immortality of the soul, and the existence of eternal life, which are always the background to, and the reasons for, a Christian funeral.

Christian ceremonies

Today if a Catholic opts for cremation, or this decision is legally made by others, the deceased is entitled to all the reverence the Catholic church traditionally accords to members who have died.

There can be a funeral service which may or may not include a Requiem Mass. This will be celebrated at the church as Mass is never celebrated at the Crematorium chapel.

Afterwards, the Priest conducts a brief ceremony at the crematorium chapel. This will be the service, suitably adapted, which is described in the liturgical book of services as "At the Grave or Tomb". If there has not been already a funeral service at a church, the Priest will combine, for the service at the crematorium, the services entitled "At the Cemetery Chapel" and "At the Grave or Tomb". This can be adapted to the time that crematorium authorities allow for the assembly of the mourners, and the conduct of the religious ceremonies.

It should not be forgotten that a Catholic funeral is not only a time when the Church honors the body of the deceased as at one time the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is also a time of prayer for the deceased, offering to those who grieve the confident hope that all who follow Jesus will share in his resurrection.

In the understanding we have of the resurrection of the body, the Church does not see any conflict between this doctrine, and the fact that cremation reduces the body to ashes.

Similarly, dispersal of the ashes does not contradict belief in the resurrection of the body, and there is no Church taw about how to dispose of the ashes. However, the ashes should be disposed in a way that indicates respect for the body of the deceased person. Customs in Australia include placement in a grave, memorial garden or niche wall. A memorial in a public place is favored so that even in death the deceased person's commitment to Christianity is still proclaimed.

A little about cremation

The cremation of the body takes place after the religious service. Each cremation is individually processed and the remains are clearly identified and placed in an urn pending instruction on placement.

Most cremation authorities have available for public information a brochure regarding cremation procedures.