While cremation is not prohibited unless it is chosen for reasons
"contrary to Christian teaching," the Catholic Church prefers that the
body of a deceased person be buried in accord with church custom,
according to statements issued by two U.S. archdioceses.
Cardinal Justin
Rigali of Philadelphia and Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe,
N.M., said that even when cremation is chosen, the cremated remains of a
deceased individual must be treated with respect and integrity.
Cremated remains only may be buried in a cemetery or entombed in a
mausoleum or columbarium, they said.
The prelates issued their
statements recently to clarify church teaching on cremation and proper
burial of the dead. Both prelates said scattering cremated remains is
not permitted under church teaching.
"Especially to be condemned are the
practices of scattering the ashes, enclosing them in jewelry, dividing
them among relatives as keepsakes or doing other bizarre things with
them," Archbishop Sheehan wrote in an All Souls' Day statement.
"Such
practices do not give honor to the body and, indirectly, are an affront
to our belief in the resurrection of the dead."
Keeping ashes at home so
that family members "may feel close" to their loved ones "shows a lack
of faith in the communion of saints, by which we are spiritually united
to the departed, in a way far more marvelous than keeping their remains
on a shelf in our house," Archbishop Sheehan said.
SIC: GB/USA