JOHNYJ:
Re; Hagia Sophia # 37
The Guardian Newspaper of July 23 1999 and the Washington post of July 24th both state that the ashes were scattered at sea ! The washingon post is very specific about it.
There is also reported to exist a film of it.
Its past and done.Its only use is as an example of the diference in treatment that the rich often get in the church.
In my professional capacity I worked on numerous occasions with a priest who was one of the main “point” Catholic spokespersons at the times of the Kennedy funerals. He provided interviews locally, nationally and internationally to media about Catholic funeral questions during that time and he was adamant that they were buried according to the proper protocols of the church. I believed then as I do now, that he was in a position to KNOW not speculate, and would not have answered as he did without having his facts checked and confirmed.
I suspect that the Guardian and the Washington Post being secular media find no difference between a container with ashes and scattering ashes at sea and probably did not realize that in so stating they were indicating that Catholic rituals had not been properly followed. Media were kept so far from the site of the burial that I don’t believe any “film” which would indicate much of anything exists taken from a “close view”. In cases such as this reporters have a tendency to quote each other rather than fact find.
I submit for your further reflection an excerpt from a Chicago Catholic newspaper which is only one of many who covered this question in the days that followed that particular funeral.
Quarterly News from SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Parish
February 2000
Catholics & Cremation
Reprinted, January 2000, Archdiocese of Chicago: Catholic Cemeteries and
Liturgy Training Publications
Having such a place is an important part of
the mourning and grieving process that
makes us human beings.
Then why were the ashes of John F.
Kennedy, Jr., and Carolyn Bessette
Kennedy and Lauren Bessette
scattered at sea?
They weren’t. They were buried at sea, in
urns, according to Catholic custom. The
press in some instances was unfamiliar with
Catholic ritual requirements and used the
poetic, and in this case imprecise, term of
scattering the ashes.
Can Catholics be buried at sea?
The Rite of Committal provides prayers to
be used at the grave, tomb or crematorium,
and also some for use in a burial at sea.
stcyril.org/newpews/FebNews2000.pdf