While this isn’t something most Catholics are discussing at the dinner table or theology on tap it isn’t news that cremation is on the rise, at least in the American Church, due its significant drop in cost compared to a “typical” funeral; however, it has been my experience that most Catholics don’t really know what the Church teaches about cremation and non-Catholic funeral directors aren’t much help to their Catholic clients. Unfortunately, I’ve seen many family run funeral homes get bought out by a larger corporation and their business turns from one of care, compassion, and respect to a typical business of turning larger profits.

In response to this increase in cremation and corporate funeral services I’d like to offer the Church’s official teaching on cremation and the burying of the dead. To be clear, cremation is the burning of a deceased human body into ashes. Hopefully, we are on the same page. For many years the Church was not in favor of cremation because it was seen as a mutilation of our body’s, which are a gift from God, and was viewed as something sinful. Why would we destroy the gift that God has given us? A more practical (although unreasonable) objection is how can the body resurrect if it burned and pulverized into ashes? As cremation started to become popular in the USA these were the objections Church leaders put forth.

Luckily in the 1960's, during the Second Vatican Council, Church leaders began to re-examine their objections to cremation and in 1997 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) petitioned Rome for special permission to burry cremated remains. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the Body.” (CCC no.2301) If our all-powerful God can be raised from the dead and promise to raise all of us from the dead then why couldn’t he put back together our cremated bodies at the resurrection as well? And for the argument that cremation destroys God’s creation, our bodies will rot and decay underground and we don’t do anything to perpetually preserve the bodies until the resurrection (whenever that will happen). Couldn’t that too be seen as not caring for God’s creation?

So, cremation is allowed by the Catholic Church. There is nothing wrong with anyone being cremated or asking to be cremated. But now other questions arise, and maybe even things we don’t typically think of, when we consider the option of cremation. Below I offer points of consideration for those planning to be cremated:

1) Cremated remains, or cremains, are still the body of the person who is deceased.

The person in the earn is still THE PERSON in the earn. Just because they are cremated does not make their body less real nor does it take away the dignity owed to that body. Because of this we can’t leave the earn full of our loved one on the mantle of our house because that is the equivalent of leaving the full deceased body of our loved one on the mantle of our house.

2) Whenever a Catholic is cremated, the remains are to be buried, not scattered.

This point is intimately connected with the first point. Because the cremains are still the actually body of the deceased person they deserve to be properly buried with the funeral rites of the Catholic Church. We bury the body (or cremains) of a person who was washed in the waters of baptism, anointed with the oils of Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick, and nourished by the Eucharist because they are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Christians respect and honor the bodies of the dead and the places where they rest (hopefully a Catholic cemetery).

In this same point it should be noted that we respect the body by burying the whole body. Here is the problem with scattering ashes: you don’t know what is going to happen to your loved ones body (please see point #1). If you take your loved ones body to their favorite ball park and let their body loose on the field then lawnmowers will eat up your loved one, when the players wash their shoes your loved one will end up down a drain and in a sewer, and God only knows what else can happen. The same goes for corporate funeral homes who try to sell little keychains or earrings with some of your loved ones ashes within them. What will happen when you die and your children don’t know, or don’t care, that grandma or grandpa are in your keychain or earring and they throw them away. Now pieces of your loved one are buried in the city dump. These are important things to consider.

3) In cases where cremation is planned, the Church counsels that the body should be present for the funeral.

I understand that in our modern culture families are separated and live in different places. This is an unfortunate reality for families that they only get to see each other at large gatherings for special occasions or for a funeral. Most families who choose cremation will wait for a convenient time to have a mass celebrated where out-of-town members can come in. This results in the deceased loved one sitting on the mantle for weeks, months, or years on end (see point #2) waiting for the “right time” to celebrate the funeral or the cremains are buried before a funeral mass can be celebrated. It’s important the the Mass of Christian Burial be celebrated as soon as possible, as is normal for the “typical” funeral, so that soul of the deceased can be prayed for a buried properly.

While I only have three points listed there is a lot to consider and think about. I highly encourage you to think about how you wish to be buried and plan for the day now. Go to your parish priest or local Catholic cemetery and they will be happy to point you in the right direction on how to properly plan ahead. This is also a good opportunity to plan on certain scripture readings you want read at your funeral, who you want to take on a certain role (pall bearers, lectors, etc.), music you want played, etc. The Mass of Christian Burial is meant to celebrate your life, give comfort those who are morning, and to pray for repose of the deceased persons soul. The Church cares for the sanctity of all life and offers all people the save respect and dignity their body’s deserve.