St. Thomas

Question: : Father, are there rules and guidelines for cremation in the Catholic Church?
Answer:     There are rules and guidelines for just about everything in the Catholic Church! There was a time when cremation was banned by the Church, but that prohibition was lifted late in the Twentieth Century. While cremation is acceptable, there are some rules and guidelines to keep in mind. It is recommended that the body be brought to church for the funeral Mass before cremation. This way, the body can be blessed and incensed; however, this is not a requirement. For a variety of reasons, a family may choose to have the body cremated prior to the funeral Mass, and the urn would be brought to church and placed by the Paschal Candle. Cremains must be treated with the same respect and dignity one would show the body of the deceased person. The container for the ashes ought to be dignified and appropriate. The remains must have a proper Christian burial in the ground, a columbarium, or at sea. The ashes may not be scattered, exposed to air, or cast. For burials at sea, the cremains would be commended to the water within the urn, as would a body in a casket or shroud. These are the rules and guidelines for cremation in the Catholic Church.