Can a Catholic be buried in unconsecrated ground?

[John_J_Higgins]

I would like to be buried on family land in ground that is not consecrated. Is that allowed?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Yes (emphasis added):

Can. 1180 §1. If a parish has its own cemetery, the deceased members of the faithful must be buried in it **unless **the deceased or those competent to take care of the burial of the deceased have chosen another cemetery legitimately.

§2. Everyone, however,** is permitted** to choose the cemetery of burial unless prohibited by law.

The first part of canon 1180 is simply requiring pastors to allow their parishioners to be buried in the parish cemetery. Elsewhere in the canon it makes clear that the deceased or those who make those decisions may choose another another cemetery.

Can. 1240 §1. Where possible, the Church is to have its own cemeteries or at least areas in civil cemeteries that are designated for the deceased members of the faithful and properly blessed.

§2. If this cannot be achieved, however, then individual graves are to be properly blessed.

In this case of a civil or non-Catholic cemetery the individual grave can be blessed.