The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom be retained, but it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons, which are contrary to Christian teaching. Many Catholics desire that their ashes be scattered in a place which is special to them or their loved one.
As a Catholic, may I be cremated? Yes. In May 1963, the Vatican's Holy Office (now the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith) lifted the prohibition forbidding Catholics to choose cremation.
In fact, Hinduism is the only religion that mandates cremation, which is known as antim sanskar, or last rites. It is usually performed within 24 hours of death or as soon as possible, due to the fact that Hinduism also doesn't traditionally use embalming or other preservation tactics.
They follow the custom of burying the dead, as Jesus Christ was buried in a tomb. Nevertheless, the attitude of the Church has changed in the recent years. It does not prohibit the process of cremation unless it is chosen as a way to deny the Christian teaching on Resurrection and reverence of the human body.
Norms For Funeral Rites With Catholic Cremation:
The cremated remains are to be buried in a cemetery or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium (cf. OCF, no. 417); It is not permitted to scatter cremated remains.
Of all world religions, Islam is probably the most strongly opposed to cremation. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, there is little diversity of opinion about it. Cremation is considered by Islam to be an unclean practice.
Hinduism: In the Hindu faith, there is no burial. The bodies are burned. In India ceremonial customs vary depending on the region, said Atul Trivedi, an area Hindu priest.
Eastern Orthodox Catholicism (Greek and Russian)
Eastern Orthodox churches strongly oppose cremation. This is because these orthodox religions associate cremation with a deliberate desecration of the body. These churches prefer the natural decomposition of a traditional burial.
Glass, rubber and large metal items can not be cremated. Any objects that you wish to keep such as jewellery or other items should be removed prior to the cremation.
There is no requirement to keep ashes on the forehead all day or for any period of time after they are given, but many Christians choose to keep them on their foreheads throughout the day on Ash Wednesday.
The Vatican decreed that the ashes of loved ones have no place in the home, and certainly not in jewelry. It urged that cremated remains be preserved in cemeteries or other approved sacred places.
Rather, church authorities should designate a sacred place, such as a cemetery or church area, to hold them. Only in extraordinary cases can a bishop allow ashes to be kept at home, it said.
How long after death should a Catholic be buried? The funeral and burial take place between 2 and 7 days after someone has died — typically around three days after. The ceremonies are usually not held on a Sunday, as this day is reserved for the traditional Sunday church service.
Rosary Beads and Other Religious Tokens
Catholics may choose to be buried with their rosary beads. These may be placed in the hands of the deceased for an open-casket visitation. The rosary beads would need to be removed from the casket if the body is eventually cremated.
Catholicism. Officially, the Roman Catholic Church prefers normal casket burials over cremations, but does allow for burials at sea of whole or cremated remains. The Church defines burial at sea as sinking remains in a worthy container to the sea bottom and final resting place.
According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars.
A: In the Bible, cremation is not labeled a sinful practice. Frankly, the topic is not dealt with at all in terms of the detailed lists of instructions for living and dying set forth by almighty God in the Old and New testaments. The short answer to your question appears to be no, cremation is not a sin.
The church provided guidance on this in 1983, stating, “The Church earnestly recommends the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed, it does not however, forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching” (Canon 1176).
Origins Of The Tradition
In Jewish communities, people gather at the burial and throw either 3 or 13 spadefuls of dirt on the casket. These customs are based on the idea of three layers of the soul in the case of 3 spadefuls, and throwing 13 spadefuls is a reference to the 13 spadefuls in the Psalms.
Hinduism. Another religion originating from the Indian subcontinent, Hinduism, also stipulates that sacred objects should be left in place after death, and the body kept covered. The body and sacred objects are then washed and dressed by family, with the eldest son of the dead person traditionally leading this ceremony ...
– Honoring and burying or interring the dead is a duty of every Catholic. – The funeral commends the dead to the mercy of God. – The funeral provides consolation and healing for those who mourn. – The funeral includes the Vigil, Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal.
The Church maintains that it does not oppose cremation, and anyone who has been cremated can still receive Catholic funeral rites, including a funeral liturgy. This guidance is true for both traditional cremation and direct cremation.
Muslims are always buried, never cremated. It is a religious requirement that the body be ritually washed and draped before burial, which should be as soon as possible after death. Those carrying out this duty should be immunised against hepatitis B and be aware of the hazards of AIDS.
Certain religions have objections to autopsy (eg, Islam, Judaism) in that bodily intrusion violates the sanctity of keeping the human body complete, despite those religious doctrines not strictly forbidding it.