Cremation/Catholic Issues

Roman Catholic Protocol for Cremation

The Roman Catholic Church provides preferences and protocol regarding the cremation of human remains. Here is an important time-line regarding this issue:

- Vatican II removed the prohibition against cremation. Ashes were not allowed in church.

1997 - Change in policy. Ashes are now allowed in church.

Even with this change in policy, there are several suggested guidelines that the Roman Catholic Church makes:

1. The preference is for the body to be brought into church for a "Mass of Christian Burial" and then cremated after.
2. If  that is not possible, then the ashes may be brought into church for the "Mass of Christian Burial" as long as they are in a suitable container. This is preferable to a "Memorial Mass" with no remains present.
3. The Roman Catholic Church does not approve of scattering of ashes. It takes the position that the cremated remains must be maintained whole.
4. The Roman Catholic Church prefers that the cremated remains are buried or entombed on sacred ground, such as a cemetery.