Expert: Sal - 10/22/2004

Question
Hi Sal,

Could you tell me why Protestants don't require that the body be present during a funeral and Catholics do.  Also, why did the Catholic church change its position regarding cremation?

Thank you,

Les

Answer
Dear Les:

Thanks for the question. It is always a pleasure to hear from you.

The Catholic Church has the utmost respect for the human person who is made in the image and likeness of God (see Genesis 1:26-27). It is because of this respect that the Church had always required that the body be present at the funeral Mass. This also is known to help the family and friends with their grief.  Burying the dead is a corporal work of mercy. “…I performed many charitable works…I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothes to the naked. If I saw one of my people who had died…I would bury him. I also buried any one whom Sennacherib slew…” (Tobit 1:16-18).

In 1963 the Holy Office (now called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) lifted the Church's ban on cremation. It allowed for cremation in certain circumstances. All services were still to be performed in the presence of the body with the allowed cremation occurring only afterwards. This stipulation made good sense since many of the prayers of the funeral Mass refer to the body of the deceased.

In 1969 the Church for the first time began to allow a Committal Rite to be performed at the grave of crematorium. The funeral Mass still could only be performed in the presence of the body, however.

In 1983 the Code of Canon Law reinforced the ancient practice of requiring the body to be present at the funeral Mass. “The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed; it does not, however, forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching” (Canon 1176.3).

In 1997 an indult (an exemption to the rule) was given to the U.S. Bishops from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The letter dated March 21, 1997, stated in part, “In conformity with canon 1176, § 3 the custom of according burial to the bodies of the deceased is to be commended and encouraged.
If, however, the family of the deceased or the testament of the deceased request that the body be cremated or if this is required by the civil authorities, the funeral may nevertheless be celebrated liturgically, provided that the cremation is not undertaken for motives in opposition to Christian doctrine (canon 1176, § 3).
It is greatly to be preferred that the funeral liturgy take place in the presence of the body of the deceased prior to its cremation.”The letter continued,  “Experience has shown that on occasion request is made for the funeral liturgy to be celebrated in the presence of the ashes of the deceased after cremation. In the light of an opinion expressed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 3 December 1984 (prot. 99/18), and of the recent vote of the Assembly of Bishops, this Dicastery concedes a particular permission to the diocesan Bishops of the United States of America. By this, local Ordinaries are authorized in the individual cases which are brought to their attention to permit that the funeral liturgy, including where appropriate the celebration of the Eucharist, be celebrated in the presence of the cremated remains instead of the natural body.”So the local bishop now has the authority to allow or disallow the cremains (cremated remains) to be present at the funeral Mass.

The original reason for prohibiting cremation was that cremation was being used by some to deny the resurrection. The Church felt that it was necessary to protect the faithful in this manner. Since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (“you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit”[Ephesians 1:13]) the Catholic Church has always respected and honored the human body. Protestants generally see the body as a shell and do not accord it the respect and honor that it rightly deserves.

Today more and more Catholics are choosing or are considering choosing cremation mainly due to the lower potential cost. The denial of the resurrection by cremation is no longer an issue. The Catholic Church's decision to allow cremation recognizes these facts. The Church does continue to discourage immediate cremation. The fact the it has given an indult to allow cremains to be present at the funeral Mass shows the Church's ability to adapt to meet the changing circumstances and the needs of her children. The outward rites may change, but the basic beliefs, in this case the respect for the body and the belief in the resurrection, do not.

I pray that this was helpful to you, my friend. If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to ask.

God Bless You,
Sal