Cremation

“Not to oppose error is to approve it, and not to defend the truth is to suppress it” - Pope St. Felix III

Note: In this report I may occasionally use bold print, Italics, dotted underline or word underlining for emphasis. This will be my personal emphasis and not that of the source that I am quoting.

Q: May a Catholic be cremated? Ann S.

A: Yes. “For centuries it was forbidden for Catholics to be cremated because it was believed that to do so was a sign of disbelief in the immortality of the soul, as well as an act of disrespect for the body. This prohibition was lifted in 1963; in the revised Code of Canon Law, cremation is permitted, provided it is not done for reasons contrary to Christian Faith.”¹ “The Church earnestly recommends that 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.”² “Unless they have given some signs of repentance before their death, the following are to be deprived of ecclesiastical funeral rites: (2) persons who had chosen the cremation of their own bodies for reasons opposed to the Christian faith.”³ “Any funeral Mass whatsoever is also to be denied a person excluded from ecclesiastical funeral rites.”⁴ “The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body.”⁵

Q: Is there anything in the bible about cremation? Ann S.

A: Yes. “The only instance of cremation (in the bible) is that of Saul and his sons.”⁶ “All the most valiant men arose, and walked all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons (3 sons), from the wall of Bethsan: and they came to Jabes Galaad, and burnt them there. And they took their bones and buried them in the woods of Jabes: and fasted seven days.”⁷

This report prepared on October 18 2007 by Ronald Smith, 11701 Maplewood Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024-8482, E-mail: hfministry@juno.com Readers may copy and distribute this report as desired to anyone as long as the content is not altered and it is copied in its entirety. In this little ministry I do free Catholic and occult related research and answer your questions. Questions are answered in this format with detailed footnotes on all quotes. If you would like to be on my list to get a copy of all Q&A’s I do, please send me a note. If you have a question(s), please submit it to this landmail or e-mail address. Answers are usually forthcoming within one week. If you find error(s) in my report(s), please notify me immediately!

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