Cremation

The Latest

Rev. Thomas Petri, O.P. is President of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.

Moral theologian on new cremation guidance: ‘Reverence for body’ still paramount

Dec 15, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Catholic Church teaching on “reverence for the body” must still be at the center of any decisions related to a... Read more

null

Human composting, alkaline hydrolysis disrespect the human body, U.S. Catholic bishops say

Mar 23, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee on Thursday issued a statement stating that newer methods of human burial do not show... Read more

null

‘To dust you shall return,’ but human composting? California bishops raise objections

Sep 20, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

When a body is composted, it is placed in a reusable container where microbes and bacteria decompose it into soil... Read more

null

Catholic woman may receive settlement over her son's cremation

May 31, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A Catholic woman who sued the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office claiming her son was cremated in violation of her... Read more

Why many Catholic dioceses offer free interment of cremated remains

Nov 3, 2020

By Mary Farrow

There are many ways - some more conventional than others - that cremated remains, kept in urns or in other... Read more

Vatican: Cremated bodies may not be scattered

Oct 25, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released an instruction Tuesday regarding burial and cremation, reiterating the Church's teaching... Read more