AMessagefromFr.RobertoCremation

Inthelastfewyears,Ihavenoticedthatcremation(burningofadeadhumanbody)isbecomingamorecommonpracticeforCatholics.WhiletheCatholicChurchhasallowedcremationsince1963,peoplestillhavemanyquestionsaboutthepractice.Iamalsoawareofsomefamilieswhohavekepttheirlovedonescrematedremains(alsocalled“cremains”)intheirhomesordividedtheminjewelryinsteadofplacingtheminacemetery.TheChurchdoesnotallowthesepractices.Belowissomeinformationaboutcremationingeneralandwhattodowithcrematedremainsinparticular.Itisreprintedfromanarticleinthe“CatholicVoice,”ourDiocesannewspaper,fromOctober18,2010(fortheentirearticle,see:http://www.catholicvoiceoakland.org/2010/10-18/commentary.htm).

WhatdoestheCatholicChurchteachaboutcremation?Isn’ttheChurchopposedtothepractice?

The1983revisionoftheCodeofCanonLawstatesthattheChurch“earnestlyrecommends”traditionalburialbutacceptscremationaslongasthechoiceisnotmade“forreasonswhicharecontrarytoChristianteaching”(canon1176).TheCatechismoftheCatholicChurchechoesthisteaching(no.2301).Thecremationoptionisafairlyrecentdevelopment.

WhentheChurchwasstillinitsinfancy,cremationwasassociatedwithpaganreligionsthatdeniedtheresurrectionofthebody.TheearlyChristians,outofbeliefintheresurrectionandtheunderstandingthatthebodyisa“templeoftheHolySpirit”(1Cor6:19),werecarefultotreatthehumanbodywithgreatreverenceevenafterdeath.TheywouldanointandburyorentombthebodyjustastheJewsdid.

Thattraditionstoodfirmuntil1963,whentheVatican’sdoctrinalofficeissuedaninstructionallowingcremationunderconditionsthatwouldbeenshrinedtwodecadeslaterinthecanoncitedabove.SupposeIhavealovedonecremated.WhatamItodowiththecrematedremains?

Itisimportanttonotethatthecrematedremainsofthedeceasedmustalwaysbetreatedwiththesamereverenceandrespectasthebody.Crematedremainsmustbeproperlyplacedinadignifiedcontainerthatiseitherburiedinacemeteryorinterredinamausoleum,columbarium,cryptorfamilyburialplot.FormembersoftheCatholicfaithful,itismostappropriatetochooseaCatholiccemeteryormausoleumforburialorinterment.Manycemeterieshavedesignatedchapelsorwallswithsmallnichesforplacingurnswithcremainswherephotosandmementoscanbeplaced.Itisnotinkeepingwiththedignityofthepersontostoreordisplaythecrematedremainsinthehome,nortodividetheremainsforburialorintermentinmultiplelocations.Burialatseaisacceptableifanurncontainingthe

completesetofremainsissubmergedinthewater.ForU.S.Catholics,scatteringofashes—whetheratsea,onlandorintheair—isnotpermitted.HowdoIarrangeforthecremationofalovedonewhohasdied?

IntheOaklandDiocese,youcancontacttheofficeofCatholicFuneralandCemeteryServices(CFCS)at1-800-498-4989orwww.cfcslivingourmission.org.CFCSoperatesitsownmortuaryandcrematoriumandcanhelpCatholicsplanforallthedetailsinvolvedwiththedignifiedcareofthedeceased,whichmayincludeembalming,visitation,onlinememorial,vigil,funeralserviceorMass,committalrite,andburialorintermentatanyoftheCatholiccemeteriesorcolumbariainthediocese.CFCSoffersachurch-ownedoakcasketthatcanberentedsothatthebodymaybepresentatthefuneralpriortocremation,whichsavesthefamilyfromhavingtopurchaseacasket.Forfamilieswhohavecrematedremainsintheirpossessionanddonotknowwhattodowiththem,CFCSwillinterthemfreeofchargeinaCatholiccemeterythroughitsHolyAngelsRemembranceProgram.Thisserviceisavailabletoeveryoneregardlessofreligiousfaith.