Catholics And Cremations

Why Roman Catholics In Singapore Choose Cremations

Due to the space scarcity in Singapore, most Catholic Funerals end up at a crematorium where the deceased gets cremated. In the early days though, the Catholic Church did not allow cremation. Burial was the preferred method of body disposal as it emphasised the faith in the resurrection of the physical body. The body is believed to be a very important part of an individual’s identity and hence great care has to be taken to ensure that the body is treated with the utmost respect and dignity, even when the soul is believed to have left the physical body. This was until 1963 when the Vatican approved cremation as a final disposition method.

Government legislations which limit the years that burial land plots can be leased to only 15 years has caused a shift in people opting for cremation over burial. This has caused the Catholic community in Singapore to be more receptive to cremations over the years. The physical body has to be present for the Funeral Mass on the final day of the funeral. This means that the ashes cannot take the place of a physical body for the Funeral Mass in the Catholic Church.

Handling Of A Roman Catholic's Cremains

Do take note that even after the body is cremated, the Catholic Church expects that the cremains will be treated with respect. The cremains are not to be separated no matter what the reason is for. This means that taking some ashes out to fill up a pendant urn to be kept as a keepsake will not be acceptable. The ashes are to be kept as a whole, in line with what has always been done traditionally. This is to show devotion to the faith which prepares the cremains for the day of the resurrection. In Singapore, the scattering of ashes into a supposed garden (inland ash scattering) is not permitted by the Catholic Church as the ashes cannot be contained in a container. Sea burial is however allowed only if the ashes are contained in an urn which has been sealed properly to ensure that the ashes remain intact as a whole.

Ashes stored in an urn is also strongly encouraged to be stored in a holy place like a church or cemetery. Keeping ashes at home is actually not allowed for Catholics.