Columbarium at the Altar

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Frankie_G

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The parish priest and many members of the parish
have requested a Columbarium to be built at the church’s
altar, where the cremated remains of Catholics and non-Catholics
will be placed. The Columbarium strikes me as very bizarre ,
which will encourage many members of the parish to be cremated.
Is this dangerous?
 
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It doesn’t make sense to build one inside a church let alone at an altar, an then you have to ask how many urns is it going to hold ?

Though the world is a crazy place now, and if the bishop of that diocese permits it, then oh well.
 
Cremation isn’t sinful in-and-of-itself. Only scattering ashes.

Apart from that, yes it is bizarre to put human remains under the alter. That would be reason enough for me to start going to a different parish.
 
There are a number of mixed marriages at this church.
Many of the non-Catholics would be encouraged to join
their spouses at the Columbarium.
 
It seems a bit odd to me, but maybe it is a way of making money for the church if the spaces are sold or rented. If the non- Catholics are spouses of Catholics then I can see the two persons being interred together.

As for encouraging cremation, many are already choosing this because it’s substantially less expensive. As long as you don’t scatter the ashes and still believe in the resurrection of the body, it’s permitted.

I can see some people finding it creepy, but there are entire churches in Europe built from human bones, and many others where people are buried within the church, such as in side chapels or under the floor.
 
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Ours is along ghe back wall OUTSIDE the Nave. There are about 100 storage slots for cremains. There are stained glass windows opposite the storage slots, making it a very contemplative area. It’s quite touching to see an elderly woman after mass go down the hallway and brush her fingers across her husbands slot! (I’m sure there is a more appropriate term than slot - I just don’t know it!
 
Outside n a garden is the norm. Nitat the Altar. There are relics in your altar (hopefully). The church wants the remains of canonized saints in the altars.

Our parish has a cemetery and columbarium outside on a huge grassy hill. It’s lovely.
 
St Peter is buried under the altar of St Peter’s.
My point is that he was buried and not cremated.
 
The problem is cremation. Yes, the Church allows cremation, but she
encourages the faithful to be buried. Cremation is to used in extreme
cases. Having a Columbarium at the altar will encourage members of
the parish to be cremated rather than buried. Soon burials will be a thing
of the past and everyone will be cremated.
 
Also–the remains have to be property placed in a grave or something like the columbarium. You can’t keep old Aunt Agatha on the fireplace mantle.
 
Frankie_G said:
the Church allows cremation, but she encourages the faithful to be buried.
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If the (intact) remains of a person are interred in a mausoleum, doesn’t that count as “buried”?

If so, then what’s the practical difference between “interred in a mausoleum” and “cremated and interred in a columbarium”?
 
Yeah, I have to agree. So long as no one is scattering the ashes, and they are properly “buried” I don’t think it makes a difference. For myself, I DO NOT want to be cremated.
Don’t want to get extra crispy, IYKWIM!

🔥
 
It is true that burial is encouraged, but it’s not true that cremation is only allowed in extreme cases. The Church allows cremation of those who chose to do it, and cremains must be interred in accordance with the Church.
 
Cremation for all is a recent novelty , which I reject. However,
I do understand that for some who are facing financial
difficulties, cremation is their only option.
 
The point is that the body remains unaltered, whether it is in the ground or a mausoleum.
Also how can a priest perform a burial Mass when the body is gone by cremation?
 
Novelty? Well, that’s highly insensitive to those of us who have relatives who have chosen cremation.
 
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