Articles
August 1998
The Director - Features
Cremation and the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church's unique belief in the sacredness of the human body has been traditionally expressed through the extensive care shown in preparing deceased bodies for burial and the prayers and gestures during funeral liturgies. Although the Church always prefers bodies being buried rather than cremated, it isn t totally against cremation. Cremation and the Catholic Church, outlines the Catholic Church's viewpoint on cremation and its recommendations regarding funeral rituals when a body is cremated.
The article was written by Reverend James P. Moroney, a priest of the Diocese of Worcester and executive director of the NCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy. Former chair for the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, he is a frequent lecturer on liturgical subjects.
The article originally appeared as "In Sure and Certain Hope: Cremation and Catholic Funeral Liturgy" in Catholic Cemetery, December 1997. The Director gratefully acknowledges permission from the publisher to reprint a condensed version of the original article.
