For the liturgy, you should only find real candles:
From the USCCB web site.
Of course, votive candles are another thing.
First of all the bishops statement must be read in its proper context. The Conference cannot dictate to the local bishop. The statement is what the bishops agreed to at the time that it was written. Any bishop who has taken over a diocese, after the document was written, was not part of the agreement. Therefore, he is not bound to it. Any bishop who was part of the agreement and changes his mind is not bound to it. What is required is that there be an actual flame for liturgical use. The individual bishop and pastor cannot overrule that.
As to any other candles, what other people have said about fire codes, insurance companies, economics and even weather all play a factor.
Fire codes in some municipalities are very strict. You cannot leave an open flame unattended. They will usually make a concession for the sanctuary lamp used in Catholic churches and Jewish synagogues, but that’s about it. In other places it’s not the fire code, but the insurance company. Your premium sky rockets, if you have open flames that are unattended. If you don’t have smoke detectors and sprinklers it sky rockets even higher. Parishes cannot afford these high premiums. These were not in place 50 years ago. But we’re not living 50-years ago. Just as your car insurance goes up because your credit score went down, when this was not the case 50-years ago, so it happens with property insurance. The rules change and we have no control over those rules. You cannot get certain permits unless you have the proper insurance and you meet the safety codes.
Then there is cost. The manufacturers are charging a lot more money for these candles. The old $1.00 candle costs $3.00. Having worked in a parish for many years, I remember when the cost went up. I also remember the problems involved in storage. You had to store these candles at the right temperature or they melted. We were in the tropics without AC. Special closets were built for them. Then you had to store the glass until the company came to pick up the empty glass and bring you fresh candles. These services became cost prohibitive and storage was always a challenge. It always seems that no matter how big you build your church, you never have enough storage. It’s like your family home. The more closets you have, the more junk you find to store.
Those places that use wax candles use them only during liturgy. It’s less expensive. Requires less storage space and your insurance premiums go down and the Fire Marshall is not on your back. These conditions are not universal. In some countries there is no such thing as property insurance or a Fire Marshall. Or if there is, they don’t have the same rules that many of our cities and counties have.
Personally, I like the votive candles. After having been stationed in a parish and knowing the changes that have taken place over the years, I understand why they have fallen into disuse. I was stationed in Florida and in Maryland. Florida’s property insurance was three times that of Maryland. I quickly found out that if you live in Tornado Alley or the Hurricane Region, you’re going to pay a lot of money in property insurance and have many restrictions put on you by the insurance company and the local government. How people manage to insure their homes in those places is beyond me, never mind a church or chapel. Don’t even think of putting votive candles in a school or hospital chapel. The insurance company and Fire Marshall will clobber you with very expensive requirements. I ran two schools. I’m talking from first-hand experience.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
