AboutGeorge A. Card,sfo, M.I Expertise I am willing to attempt answer any question, if I dont know, I will look or pass the question on to friends for feed back. Beside Catholicism(especially the social/moral and the Eastern rites),I am well read on Mormonism and so-called Christian Fundamentalism.Also I study Franciscan History as means of growing in my lay Fraciscan calling to holiness in Christ.
Experience 15 years as the Justice and Peace Laison for my (local)Secular Franciscan Fraternity,15 years public speaking on the Faith,and/or teaching CCD and Youth Retreats,a former Officer for K of C and my SFO Fraternity,still hold appointed offices in SFO fraternity
Organizations Catholic Church, Rome Rite
Secular Fraciscan Order
Knights of Columbus
The Men's Study (A local Catholic study group I co founded)
Others
Militia Immaculata(Knights of the Immaculate
Publications Local News Letters:Mostly my Poetry
Education/Credentials 2 years of Minor Seminary
Bible and Adult Faith Studies and Seminars
Question QUESTION: I am a practicing Catholic and want to know why it is OK to cremate the body after death and since scripture does not change, why can we do that now and not 50 years ago? I would like a scriptural answer that justifies cremations acceptance if possible. Thank you for your help.
ANSWER: Peace
dear Michael,
First, your question is a matter of disciple not of doctrine, therefore it can change.
The Church generally frowns on cremation, especially years ago because various non-Christian sects, especially Masonic used it as away of mocking bodily rising of man, when Christ returns.
The Church generally back "then" approved of it, as a means to stop the spread of illness.
Since the Church reject the doctrine: Sola Scripture, we need not have to find our answer in Scripture. We just need to listen to the Church, and we will know the truth that sets us free in Christ.
your servant but His first
George
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: George,
Thank you for responding, but am a little taken back by your response. As a practicing Catholic and Master Mason, I don't agree with the reference as Masons being a non-christian sect, it is a fraternaty and only that which does not promote cremation.
Let me ask little different question, why is it that the Roman Catholic Church and the Christian Orthodox church for many years agreed on not allowing cremation but now the Roman Catholic's have changed yet the Orthodox remain true to this value? I'm hoping for a concrete answer and not just the answer "because the church sais so" Again, thank you for your help.
Answer Peace
dear Micheal,
Its a matter of displine therefore, it can change.
As a practicing Catholic, I am sorry my honesty set you back.
According current canon law, a Catholic who claims to alliance with Masonary of any kind is banned from the Sacraments, and in some case are ex-communicated until the make a public confession before their bishop or a priest that he grants permission to hear such a confession.
The Church has imposed the penalty of excommunication on Catholics who become Freemasons. The penalty of excommunication for joining the Masonic Lodge was explicit in the 1917 code of canon law (canon 2335), and it is implicit in the 1983 code (canon 1374).
Most Masons don't know the full and true nature of Masonary. I belong to several Catholic organizations that promote the truth about them or seek to counter the damage they do to souls and cultures that embrace their doctrines.
Because the revised code of canon law is not explicit on this point, some drew the mistaken conclusion that the Church's prohibition of Freemasonry had been dropped. As a result of this confusion, shortly before the 1983 code was promulgated, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement indicating that the penalty was still in force. This statement was dated November 26, 1983 and may be found in Origins 13/27 (Nov. 15, 1983), 450.
Below is a link to an official Catholic documen on Masonary:
