Is it permissible for a catholic to attend a ceremony in which the ashes of the deceased will be scattered into the ocean?

[blaskoman]

I know that the Church is against to act of scattering of ashes into the sea. Should a catholic refrain from witnessing such a ceremony? I was thinking that a catholic’s presense at such a ceremony may elicit some acceptance of the practice by that catholic in the eyes of other non-believers in attendance, thereby promoting a false belief.

 

[Tietjen]

I know that the Church is against to act of scattering of ashes into the sea. Should a catholic refrain from witnessing such a ceremony? I was thinking that a catholic’s presense at such a ceremony may elicit some acceptance of the practice by that catholic in the eyes of other non-believers in attendance, thereby promoting a false belief.

Is the deceased Catholic? If so, I personally would not attend. If, however, the deceased were a non-Catholic friend, I wouldn’t think that this would be an issue any more than a Catholic attending the wedding of two Baptist friends in a Baptist wedding ceremony. HOWEVER, I may be wrong on the issue and would like to see what others have to say.

 

[nhamm10]

I actually had a Hawaiin friend who passed this summer and they did this as is the Hawaiin custom. He loved the ocean and dove in it almost everyday. It was absolutely a beautiful experience. We all took boats out and they said prayers then they slowly emptied his ashes into the water. Then all the girls and women followed with flowers, Then if you would like to dive in and swim in the ocean it is the custom. All I can say it was one of the most beautiful “send offs” I had ever been to and I am glad my family got to witness it. Why is the Catholic church against it? I had no idea! I do suggest you absolutely go though. Even if it is something you would never do for yourself or a family member.

 

[losnlee02]

I am not sure abut attending the ceremony, but I know it is ok for Catholics to be cremated as long as all of they’re ashes are placed in one place. I am having trouble dealing with the fact that when my father passed my mom and siblings (all Catholic, non practicing, including my father) chose to divide up his ashes for all of us to have “some”. I have thought many times of asking them to put them all back together in my mothers urn. I am not sure if they need to be buried so when Jesus does come back they are all together. Maybe I will ask them at Thanksgiving when we are all together.

 

[nhamm10]

Well don’t stress over it. I am sure “when Jesus returns” he can raise whomever he wants regardless of where their ashes are!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Well don’t stress over it. I am sure when Jesus returns he can raise whomever he wants regardless of where their ashes are!

We have no doubt that Jesus can do anything He wants to do. It is out of respect for the person and the body that we do not scatter the ashes. We can bury the urn as we would a body, or have the ashes placed in a columbarium, but Catholics should never scatter or divide a person’s remains.

 

[LaSainte]

I don’t get this teaching. I know it has something to do with the bodily resurrection, as if Jesus will have a hard time putting us all “back together” of all things. I also know it has to do with reverence and respect, but it’s not like we’re throwing the bodies in a dumpster. It’s basically, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, literally. It is a very respectful and solemn ceremony, if those are the wishes of the deceased.

I have my own problems with this because my mom gave my my Dad’s ashes to keep when she got remarried. Supposedly, I am supposed to have them buried, but I also have a brother and I just don’t feel that it’s my place to be the one to decide to just bury them somewhere. Besides, none of us live in the same place, and my husband and I are probably moving, so no-one would ever be able to even visit the grave. Add to this the massive expense of a perpetual gavesite and it’s just not really feasible for me to bury them.

 

[KostyaJMJ]

I have my own problems with this because my mom gave my my Dad’s ashes to keep when she got remarried. Supposedly, I am supposed to have them buried, but I also have a brother and I just don’t feel that it’s my place to be the one to decide to just bury them somewhere. Besides, none of us live in the same place, and my husband and I are probably moving, so no-one would ever be able to even visit the grave. Add to this the massive expense of a perpetual gavesite and it’s just not really feasible for me to bury them.

You can have the ashes buried at sea provided they aren’t scattered. It wouldn’t be more than a few hundred dollars.

seaservices.com/catholic-burial-at-sea

 

[LaSainte]

You can have the ashes buried at sea provided they aren’t scattered. It wouldn’t be more than a few hundred dollars.

seaservices.com/catholic-burial-at-sea

That is good to know. I’m still unsure about my father’s ashes though. I really don’t feel it’s my place to dispose of them unilaterally, and I don’t think my family would appreciate having them buried somewhere or put in the sea. For now I just have them at my house.