Does the Catholic Church allow cremation?
The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body.
However, traditional bodily burial remains the preferred Christian practice. Burial in a cemetery recalls the burial of Jesus in the tomb and honours the human body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
When cremation is chosen, the cremated ashes of the deceased must be treated with the same reverence as the body. The Church instructs that the ashes must be laid to rest in a sacred place, such as a cemetery or columbarium. They may not be scattered in nature, kept permanently at home, or divided among family members, to preserve the communal memory and prayer of the Church.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2301
- 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.