your questions answered by a local pastor Dear Fr. Kerper Is it OK to be cremated?

Dear Father Kerper: Now that I’m deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition of getting older, I’ve started to think about honoring the human remains of ancestors. pre-arranging my funeral. I’ve heard that Recall, for example, how the Israelites the Church used to oppose crema- carried the bones of the patriarch Joseph tion, but now approves of it. I’m lean- with them as they fled from Egypt into ing toward cremation, mainly to save the Sinai Desert. (Exodus 13:19) Surely, if money on a grave, which seems like a corpses didn’t really matter, they wouldn’t If you would like to ask Father Kerper a waste. Also, I’d like my ashes scattered have taken the trouble to include Joseph’s question, please e-mail [email protected]. at Hampton Beach, where I spent many skeleton in their luggage. summers. Some Catholic friends have By the time of Jesus, many Jews, country in 1836, the corpses of the Mexi- told me that sprinkling ashes is not al- notably the Pharisees, firmly believed in can and Texan soldiers killed at the Alamo lowed. Is this true? If so, why not? resurrection; hence, corpses were viewed were all cremated. In 1963, the Church as “seeds” of future bodily life. After Jesus’ stated that cremation could be tolerated commend you for taking the death and resurrection, Christians viewed provided that there was no intention of time to plan your funeral. By the burial of the dead as an imitation of denying bodily resurrection. making arrangements now, you Christ’s entombment. Graves were blessed As for sprinkling your remains at the have graciously relieved your and venerated as the site of human re- beach, here are some points to consider: I First, cremated remains, though not loved ones of a very onerous – and of- mains destined for resurrection. ten contentious – task. Now, let’s walk Knowing of their faith in resurrec- equivalent to a corpse, are still the residue through some issues. tion, the enemies of Jews and Chris- of a human body. As such, they have a sa- Regarding cremation, you state tians often cremated martyrs’ remains cred quality, being the physical remnants that the Church “now approves of it.” as an additional punishment, as if to of the temple of the Holy Spirit. They Strictly speaking, this is not correct. thwart their future life. It is interesting must be treated with respect. The Church merely tolerates cremation. that a practice Christians now freely Second, the burial place – whether Full body burial in consecrated ground choose was once used to humiliate a marked grave or a small plot hold- remains the undisputed preference of them. In fact, it was the denial of bodily ing an urn – is a blessed sacramental the Church. resurrection that provoked the Church’s that reminds surviving loved ones of The Code of Canon Law, which expresses prohibition against cremation. In the the inevitable resurrection of all human the authentic “mind of the Church,” says late 19th century, many enthusiastic beings. Also, a burial site is a focal point this: “The Church earnestly recommends proponents of cremation promoted it as of prayer and acts of remembrance by that the pious custom of burying the an excellent way of repudiating Chris- subsequent generations. If you toss your bodies of the deceased be observed.” As tian belief in bodily resurrection and ashes into the ocean, your descendents, for cremation, the Code simply states: the practice of venerating the saints. who may long to connect with your “The Church does not prohibit cremation In response to the growing “cremation physical remains, will be deprived of a unless it is chosen for reasons contrary to movement,” the Catholic Church, in link with their past. Christian doctrine.” (cf. Canon 1176.3) 1886, officially prohibited Catholic Some, of course, will object: “It’s my The preference for burial, first declared membership in so-called cremation body! I can dispose of it as I wish!” Not in 1983, was strongly reinforced in an societies and refused funeral rites to really. Ultimately, our bodies belong to appendix pertaining to cremation in the anyone who deliberately chose crema- God because they originate from God’s 1997 Order of Christian Funerals. The rite tion. This ban was included in the creative power. We are not our own. states: “Although cremation is now per- 1917 Code of Canon Law. While the Church allows a lot of free- mitted by the Church, it does not enjoy However, the prohibition was never dom in the arrangement of funerals and the same value as the burial of the body. absolute. Cremation has always been burials, our choices must always affirm The Church clearly prefers and urges that acceptable under certain circumstances, the sanctity of the human body, even dead the body of the deceased be present for such as mass death caused by epidem- ones, and joyfully proclaim our belief in the funeral rites.” ics and wars. For example, victims of the the bodily resurrection of the dead. From earliest times, Christians have Black Plague were burned in attempts — Father Michael Kerper is the pastor of Corpus practiced full body burial, a custom to prevent its further spread, and in this Christi Parish in Portsmouth.

Parable MagazineParable  November/December Magazine  September/October 2008 | www.parablemag.com 2007 | www.Parablemag.comJosphat, Bishop and MartyrThe Nov. Epiphany 12 | Frances of the LordXavier Jan. Cabrini, 6 | Raymond Virgin Nov. of Peñafort, 13 | Elizabeth priest ofJan. Hungary, 7 | Feast Religious of the Baptism Nov. 17 of | Presentationthe Lord Jan. of 13 the | St. Blessed Anthony, Virgin Abbot Mary Jan. Nov. 17 21 | St.| Cecilia, Agnes, Virgin Virgin and and Martyr Martyr Nov. Jan. 2221 || St.Solemnity Vincent, of Deacon our Lord and Jesus Martyr Christ Jan. the22 King| St. FrancesNov. 23 de| Andrew Sales, Dung-Lac,Bishop and Priest Doctor and of Martyr the Church and his Jan.companions, 24 martyrs Nov. 24

MAN1108FRONT.indd 6 10/2/08 3:48:43 PM