Not really against cremations. But the bishop of the Diocese of Nuoro and Lanusei dictates the conditions for those who do not want to be buried, according to the strict Catholic rite, and prefer to be turned into ashes: mass will not be for everyone.
Monsignor Antonio Mura issued a decree at the beginning of the month. On the basis of canon law, it is reiterated that "in the event that the cremation of the body has been chosen, in order for the Christian funeral to be celebrated, it is necessary that this choice has not been made for reasons contrary to the Christian faith".
Not only that: the ashes must be “preserved in the cemetery or other sacred place. The following are not permitted: the conservation of the ashes in the home, their division among family members or other people, their dispersion in earth, water, air or their conversion into commemorative souvenirs, pieces of jewelery or other objects”.
For those who choose dispersion in nature "the funeral must be denied". Nor can they be celebrated in remembrance.
The Monsignor also underlines that "it is up to the diocesan Bishop to express his judgment on the celebration of the funeral after the cremation, in the presence of the urn with the ashes". And even in this case numerous conditions are imposed.
The provision was adopted because "the Church, in remembrance of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord, following the very ancient Christian tradition, insistently recommends that the bodies of the faithful departed be buried in the cemetery or in another sacred place".
Therefore "the increasingly widespread practice of the cremation of bodies - with the various situations that arise - requires to be accompanied by an appropriate catechesis and by indications of a pastoral and liturgical nature".
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)