Is it against the Catholic religion to be cremated?

Answer 1

Catholics along with most Christians believe in the eventual resurrection of our bodies.

Cremation has been looked at as a denial of this doctrine but modern teaching recognizes that God is all powerful and cremation is not really an issue to our bodily resurrections.

The policy of the Catholic Church is: "While the Church recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed, cremation is permitted as long as it had not been chosen for reasons contrary to Church teaching.

Cremated remains are to be treated with the same respect given to the remains of a human body, and should be buried or entombed. The scattering of cremated remains on the sea or on the ground, or keeping them in the home, is not the reverent final disposition that the Church requires.

An interesting sidelight: Scientist says cremation contributes to global warming: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070418/lf_afp/lifestylewarmingdeath_070418143046

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

In the Bible cremation is portrayed only as an exceptional method of disposing of bodies. Most often cremation took place in the midst of unusual circumstances. For example, in 1 Samuel 31:12 we read about the men of Jabesh-Gilead who burned the corpses of Saul and his sons in order to prevent desecration of their bodies at the hands of the philistines.
We don't find cremation mentioned in the New Testament. Burial is the normal method. Moreover, the church fathers preferred "the ancient and better custom of burying in the earth."
However, there is no actual prohibition against cremation in the pages of Scripture. And if a Christian does get cremated, this poses no problem for God in resurrecting that person's body from the dead (1Cor 15:42-44).
We read in 2 Cor 5:1, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." It does not matter how our "earthly tent" (body) is destroyed; all that matters is that God will raise it from the dead. Even those who are buiried eventually dissolve into dust and bones. So regardless of whether we're buried or cremated, we can all look forward to a permanent resurrection body that will never be subject to death and decay.

Answer 3

No but the remains must be treated with respect, usually buried.
In times past, people requested cremation as a way to demonstrate their disbelief in the resurrection. Therefore the Church frowned on it.
That is not true today.

Answer 4

It relies upon on the reason. interior the previous cremation develop into frowned upon yet is totally perfect right now while you're actually not being cremated with the reason on combating or making the resurection of the physique greater difficult.

Answer 5

No- as long as the reason for the cremation is NOT a denial of belief in the resurrection of the body.

I already have my cremation, urn and niche paid for.

Answer 6

No. My whole family is Catholic, but me, and pretty much all of them have been cremated.

Answer 7

yes

History reveals no trace of incineration among the Jewish people, except in extraordinary circumstances of war and pestilence. The interment of a deceased person with ecclesiastical rites in consecrated ground. The Jews and most of the nations of antiquity buried their dead.

According to the canon law every man is free to choose for himself the burial ground in which he wishes to be interred.

The Christians never burned their dead, but followed from earliest days the practice of the Semitic race and the personal example of their Divine Founder. It is recorded that in times of persecution many risked their lives to recover the bodies of martyrs for the holy rites of Christian burial.

Answer 8

I don't think so, my Uncle was cremated and he was Catholic

Answer 9

No. The Church only requires that the remains be properly buried in cemetary and not spread over the ocean or kept in an urn on your fireplace mantel.

God bless.

Answer 10

No. Although scattering of ashes isn't allowed, and the cremains should be treated with dignity.