Cremation

[maklavan]

The problem with cremation is that not all of the body is gathered. Bone fragments are left out and discarded of. Also, I can imagine a few ashes from others being in the mix along with a few of yours missing. I don’t see how this process is respectful in any way to the person or their body. If the Church does not allow for spreading the ashes, then cremation, as it is performed, violates this discipline since all ashes are not retained and some go elsewhere.

I think this is just another area in which we are being influenced by the secular and atheistic world view.

This short statement is full of errors. I would recommend that you go on a visit to a crematorium,or at least look up the procedure online. The bones are pulverised in a special machine and no bits are left out. Nor do any ashes go elsewhere.An average cremation in the UK costs £ 2000, but a burial costs a minimum of £6000.Hence, up to 80% of Catholics or their relatives,are opting for cremation. Consider also that many local authorities worldwide exhume older corpses and incinerate them, before burying the ashes. Cremation services are conducted with dignity and respect by priests or deacons, and there is no lack of devotion.

 

[shocktrooper]

Skin cells flake off the uncremated corpse, but this does not constitute a scattering. If we are going to be really legalistic about things, we would have to bury people alive to ensure that no particles of their body were “scattered” after they died. Why does it matter so much? All corpses suffer corruption, and God is going to put us all back together again anyway. As long as the body is treated with respect, then what is the problem?

I see a natural decomposition as natural and burning a corpse as not. I just don’t think the reasons for cremation outweigh the reasons for burial. Below is the only Canon Law sections I could fine on this topic. Do you know of any others? The last paragraph seems to state clearly that burying the body is preferred and recommended but makes cremation available as an exception to the norm. This means that cremation is tolerated, not recommended under certain circumstances. It seems as usual in today’s time that the exceptions become the norm.

ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS (Cann. 1176 - 1185)

Can. 1176 §1. Deceased members of the Christian faithful must be given ecclesiastical funerals according to the norm of law.

§2. Ecclesiastical funerals, by which the Church seeks spiritual support for the deceased, honors their bodies, and at the same time brings the solace of hope to the living, must be celebrated according to the norm of the liturgical laws.

§3. The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.

 

[shocktrooper]

This short statement is full of errors. I would recommend that you go on a visit to a crematorium,or at least look up the procedure online. The bones are pulverised in a special machine and no bits are left out. Nor do any ashes go elsewhere.An average cremation in the UK costs £ 2000, but a burial costs a minimum of £6000.Hence, up to 80% of Catholics or their relatives,are opting for cremation. Consider also that many local authorities worldwide exhume older corpses and incinerate them, before burying the ashes. Cremation services are conducted with dignity and respect by priests or deacons, and there is no lack of devotion.

Thank you for informing me of how cremation should be performed. I have not looked at the procedures but was going off information provided to me. I will have to look into it.

I think the money issue is a poor excuse for cremation. I can’t name one person that was cremated because of real money issues. We see the way their lives are lived prior to dying and can see they had no problem spending more money on less important things. It is also interesting how the desire for cremation increases as Christianity decreases. I think this link needs to be more fully studied and realized.

Also, see my previous response about the exception not becoming the norm and how the Church clearly recommends the body being buried in a traditional way, yet tolerates cremation under certain circumstances.

God bless.

 

[maryjk]

I see a natural decomposition as natural and burning a corpse as not. ** I just don’t think the reasons for cremation outweigh the reasons for burial. ** Below is the only Canon Law sections I could fine on this topic. Do you know of any others? The last paragraph seems to state clearly that burying the body is preferred and recommended but makes cremation available as an exception to the norm. This means that cremation is tolerated, not recommended under certain circumstances. It seems as usual in today’s time that the exceptions become the norm.

ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS (Cann. 1176 - 1185)

Can. 1176 §1. Deceased members of the Christian faithful must be given ecclesiastical funerals according to the norm of law.

§2. Ecclesiastical funerals, by which the Church seeks spiritual support for the deceased, honors their bodies, and at the same time brings the solace of hope to the living, must be celebrated according to the norm of the liturgical laws.

§3. The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.

Cost of cremation for my mother $3,000.
Cost of burial for my father $7,300.

**Neither included the cost of the headstone, grave site or opening or closing of the grave. ** Neither included viewings or limos. Both included transportation of my parent to the funeral home. Dad’s included transportation to the grave site.

In our area, a grave site, opening and closing is about $2,000.

 

[thistle]

Thank you for informing me of how cremation should be performed. I have not looked at the procedures but was going off information provided to me. I will have to look into it.

I think the money issue is a poor excuse for cremation. ** I can’t name one person that was cremated because of real money issues.** We see the way their lives are lived prior to dying and can see they had no problem spending more money on less important things. It is also interesting how the desire for cremation increases as Christianity decreases. I think this link needs to be more fully studied and realized.

Also, see my previous response about the exception not becoming the norm and how the Church clearly recommends the body being buried in a traditional way, yet tolerates cremation under certain circumstances.

God bless.

How many of those who had a loved one cremated have you discussed their reasons with?

 

[kathmandu]

Cost of cremation for my mother $3,000.
Cost of burial for my father $7,300.

**Neither included the cost of the headstone, grave site or opening or closing of the grave. ** Neither included viewings or limos. Both included transportation of my parent to the funeral home. Dad’s included transportation to the grave site.

In our area, a grave site, opening and closing is about $2,000.

Now there is a very good argument. That four thousand dollars could be put to better use than supporting the funeral industry. Donating it to a soup kitchen is the first thing that comes to mind.

 

[shocktrooper]

How many of those who had a loved one cremated have you discussed their reasons with?

thistle,

I have never discussed with them their reason for the cremation. It really is not my business to ask. Obviously, cremation is licit but it should not be preferred or desired over a traditional burial. I find the money reason to be a little odd coming from those that are still alive and planning. If you plan correctly, then the money will be there for the traditional burial. The Church clearly wants this over cremation. Now if someone died suddenly and had no plans, then I can understand having them cremated if money was an issue. However, those here on the forum who desire cremation do so against the better judgment of the Church. At this point, planning is still possible and money can be allocated. Also, you never know what tomorrow will bring, so money may not be an issue at death, though some may see it as one now. This is a discipline issue and I am not saying one that does desire cremation commits a sin but I do think cremation does a great job of acting as a sign of no afterlife.

I still think the link between our post Christian world and cremation are linked at the hip. What do you think about that link?

God bless.

 

[shocktrooper]

Now there is a very good argument. That four thousand dollars could be put to better use than supporting the funeral industry. Donating it to a soup kitchen is the first thing that comes to mind.

I think the cost of burying the dead, regardless of the method, is too high. However, I think donating the money to a soup kitchen instead of planning properly for a traditional burial proves that material or earthly food is more desired by us than the spiritual well being of others or ourselves. This seems to be more about not wanting to spend the money, rather then not having it to begin with.

Does anyone know if there are charities that are designed to help Christians bury their dead loved ones according to the preferred method of Mother Church?

God bless.

 

[shocktrooper]

We are told that our bodies belong to God, regardless of whether they are corpses or not. We are not supposed to desecrate our bodies while alive so why do we think it is ok to do so when we are dead. I understand that the body is going to decay regardless but this is an effect of sin and should not be hastened by man. Cremation of the dead body is similar to what euthanasia is to natural death. It is an act of man interfering with the natural law of God. It is seen by me as the final act of man, attempting to prove to God that he can do what he wants with his own body. I just don’t like it. I would rather spend the money and have it done according to the Church’s preference.

Think of the Incorruptibles here in this debate also. If we are cremated, then how can one stand as a sign of holiness, a sign of God’s grace and awesome power?

God bless.

 

[Cristiano]

How do you feel about creamation of large quantities lf bodies that died of infectious diseases as a way to limit the spreading of infections, is that interfering with the natural law?

 

[Dorothy]

I see a natural decomposition as natural and burning a corpse as not. I just don’t think the reasons for cremation outweigh the reasons for burial. Below is the only Canon Law sections I could fine on this topic. Do you know of any others? The last paragraph seems to state clearly that burying the body is preferred and recommended but makes cremation available as an exception to the norm. This means that cremation is tolerated, not recommended under certain circumstances. It seems as usual in today’s time that the exceptions become the norm.

ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS (Cann. 1176 - 1185)

Can. 1176 §1. Deceased members of the Christian faithful must be given ecclesiastical funerals according to the norm of law.

§2. Ecclesiastical funerals, by which the Church seeks spiritual support for the deceased, honors their bodies, and at the same time brings the solace of hope to the living, must be celebrated according to the norm of the liturgical laws.

§3. The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.

The Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen to defy the Resurrection. (The bodies would rise by the power of God anyway.)

Since the Church does not prohibit cremation, then it can be done. Many choose to do so for financial reasons.

 

[StephaniG13]

In the Bible, people when they died their body will be buried and covered with stones. And when they offer animals to God, they will burn them with fire. Animals without spots and clean. So, we are not animals right? We are humans and I believe we should be buried beneath the stones and not be burned.

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Cremation Sydney

 

[manualman]

We do have an absurd and exploitive funeral industry. And I do have to wonder how long civilization could sustain designating a perpetual 3x7 plot of land for every person on earth for burial when we’ve got over 7 billion on the planet just right now alone! In a burst of math, that’s 3.4 million acres of land to set aside forever just for the people alive RIGHT NOW (not counting room for headstones and circulation aisles!).

It seems to me we could do better and more efficiently while honoring the dignity of the dead. If every parish with an almost full cemetery set aside a plot 20’x20’ and installed a vault 20 feet deep on that plot you’d have a volume of 8,000CF. A 200# person is about 85% water so 30# or less of that would be in ashes, right? Assume around 50#/CF then that parish would suddenly have room to intern the cremated remains of another 13,300 decedents! You could set up a dignified memorial with a computer and display that would allow you to call up the names and photograph of those interred there. And it would cost almost nothing at that efficiency.

Would it be disrespectful to comingle ashes of many people in a communal grave at a catholic cemetery? Seems like just an early start to the Church Triumphant to me. Interred for all time at the parish that was your faith community. Just like the old days.
That honestly seems BETTER to me than the massive, remote and impersonal cemeteries many dioceses maintain these days. Utterly divorced from parishes and everyday life of people. Wouldn’t it be better to return this to the parish level?