Do Catholics Cremate?

[Anastasia13]

Do Catholics cremate bodies or just bury? Why? I know the Orthodox don't-something about our bodies being there for the resurrection.

[Nihil Obstat]

We have the option under the current Catechism, as long as it is not done as a sort of statement against the resurrection. And, of course, as long as the remains are treated with respect, which includes [i]not[/i] sitting in an urn on someone's shelf.

Edited October 21, 2012 by Nihil Obstat

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1350863732' post='2495762']
We have the option under the current Catechism, as long as it is not done as a sort of statement against the resurrection. And, of course, as long as the remains are treated with respect, which includes [i]not[/i] sitting in an urn on someone's shelf.
[/quote]
Why is sitting on a shelf not respectful? What is respectful? How is respectful defined in this context-what does it mean/look like?

[dUSt]

I told my wife to cremate me and bury me in the St Francis garden at my parish, in the corner closest to the altar.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Light and Truth' timestamp='1350863828' post='2495764']
Why is sitting on a shelf not respectful? What is respectful? How is respectful defined in this context-what does it mean/look like?
[/quote]
The cremains are to be treated essentially as a body, i.e. buried. Obviously you would not keep someone's dead embalmed body in your house. I believe they can also be sealed in places specially designed to house cremated bodies, or in mausoleums.

[Groo the Wanderer]

[size=4][font='times new roman', times, serif][color=#000000]From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:[/color][/font][/size]

[size=4][font='times new roman', times, serif][color=#000000][i]Respect for the dead[/i][/color]
[color=#000000][b]2299[/b] The dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by the prayer of their relatives, who must see to it that the sick receive at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God. ([url="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/27-chapter10.xhtml#para1525"]1525[/url])[/color]
[color=#000000][b]2300[/b] The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy;[sup][url="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm#note3070"]92[/url][/sup] it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit. ([url="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/29-chapter12.xhtml#para1681"]1681-1690[/url])[/color]
[color=#000000][b]2301[/b] Autopsies can be morally permitted for legal inquests or scientific research. The free gift of organs after death is legitimate and can be meritorious.[/color]
[color=#000000]The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body.[sup][url="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm#note3071"]93[/url][/sup][/color]


[color=#000000]From the Code of Canon Law:[/color][/font][/size]

[center][size=4][font='times new roman', times, serif]TITLE III.[/font][/size][/center]
[center][size=4][font='times new roman', times, serif]ECCLESIASTICAL FUNERALS (Cann. 1176 - 1185)[/font][/size][/center]
[size=4][font='times new roman', times, serif]Can. 1176 §1. Deceased members of the Christian faithful must be given ecclesiastical funerals according to the norm of law.
§2. Ecclesiastical funerals, by which the Church seeks spiritual support for the deceased, honors their bodies, and at the same time brings the solace of hope to the living, must be celebrated according to the norm of the liturgical laws.
§3. The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.[/font][/size]

Edited October 22, 2012 by Groo the Wanderer

[CatherineM]

You put them on a shelf, and they may end up getting left behind and tossed out. When we cleaned out an apartment upstairs, a guy had left behind his parent's ashes. We took them to the police who actually have a procedure for it because it happens so often. Cop said most landlords just chuck them out.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1350867064' post='2495780']
You put them on a shelf, and they may end up getting left behind and tossed out. When we cleaned out an apartment upstairs, a guy had left behind his parent's ashes. We took them to the police who actually have a procedure for it because it happens so often. Cop said most landlords just chuck them out.
[/quote]
Wow.

[LinaSt.Cecilia2772]

When my aunt passed away from cancer, she wanted to be cremated and buried. We respected her wishes, she was cremated, has a mass for Christian Burial, and she was buried in a Catholic Cemetery run by the Cordi-Marian Sisters.

Before she made her decision because she knew she was going to pass away, she had talked to our priest about the proper way of being cremated, was it allowed, and what the official church laws were and such. I would recommend talking to a priest about it because it's the only official way to know, or read the catechism.

[Freedom]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1350863732' post='2495762']
We have the option under the current Catechism, as long as it is not done as a sort of statement against the resurrection. And, of course, as long as the remains are treated with respect, which includes [i]not[/i] sitting in an urn on someone's shelf.
[/quote]

What happens if you treat it with disrespect such as keeping their ashes on the shelf? What type of sin would that fall under? Sorry to highjack but I'm still waiting to receive my Catechism in the mail.

[eagle_eye222001]

[quote name='Freedom' timestamp='1350876694' post='2495813']
What happens if you treat it with disrespect such as keeping their ashes on the shelf? What type of sin would that fall under? Sorry to highjack but I'm still waiting to receive my Catechism in the mail.
[/quote]

Well, whoever has the proper authority should be let known in a pastoral manner that the remains need to be buried or put in a proper place as Nihil previously mentioned.

This I am sure of:
If the remains were not properly taken care of due to ignorance, then it's venial.


Of the following, I am a bit unsure of and welcome a confirmation, clarification, or flat out correction.

From a blitz reading of what has been previously cited, I would say that that the "dealing of the dead" is a serious issue since it is a human body.

So if one knowingly disrespects the remains of a cremated person by just placing it on a shelf, then you have a case of mortal sin.

[Winchester]

I'm going to be launched into space, and burned up on reentry. You will all breathe my corpse.

[Nihil Obstat]

Yeah, I cannot imagine disrespect of mortal remains being anything other than grave matter.

Heh heh. Grave. Perfect.

[CatherineM]

I'm going to be cremated and placed in a niche in the Catholic cemetery here. They have an inside place for urns that's heated. No frozen ground for me.

[InPersonaChriste]

I won't be cremated because we had this whole thing about my grandma wanting to be spread across the hills in Norway. We battled it out for a long time and finally got her buried (thank God!). She didn't actually want to be spread around, it was a family feud..

And I am planning on being incorruptible....