Page 3 - Catholic Funeral Information Brochure

Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery

CATHOLICS

& CREMATION

In 1963, the Catholic Church lifted its prohibition
forbidding Catholics to choose cremation. In April
1997 the Church permitted the presence of the
cremated remains of a body at a Funeral Mass.

"The Church earnestly recommends that the pious
custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be
observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit
cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary
to Christian doctrine." 1

The cremated remains of a body should be treated
with the same respect given to the human body
from which they come and should be buried in a
grave or entombed.

The practices of dividing or scattering cremated
remains or keeping them in a home do not fulfill the
requirement of the Church regarding a reverent
disposition.

1. Code of Canon Law, Cann. 1176 3
Other references: Order of Christian Funerals, no. 417
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)