What do Catholics teach about this?

Jackson Esmiol: Catholics along with most Christians believe in the eventual resurrection of our bodies. Cremation has been looked at as a denial of this doctrine but modern teaching recognizes that God is all powerful and cremation is not really an issue to our bodily resurrections.The policy of the Catholic Church is: "While the Church recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed, cremation is permitted as long as it had not been chosen for reasons contrary to Church teaching.Cremated remains are to be treated with the same respect given to the remains of a human body, and should be buried or entombed. The scattering of cremated remains on the sea or on the ground, or keeping them in the home, is not the reverent final disposition that the Church requires.An interesting sidelight: Scientist says cremation contributes to global warming: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Scientist_Says_C...For more information, see the Order of Christian ! Funerals: http://policy.archchicago.org/policies/bk4num700.p...With love in Christ....Show more

Lynn Mctier: What does the Bible teach about cremation? Nothing is said in Scripture for or against cremation. First Corinthians 15 makes it clear that no matter what condition the body is in at death, the resurrection of the Christian is assured. However, most Christians prefer the traditional method of burial because burning of the remains is so widely practiced by pagans. While Dr. McGee was with us, he wrote about this subject:CremationIt is true that the Bible does not specifically deal with cremation of the body, but note that in the Word of God, the handling of the body after death is always done with respect, and it is reverently entombed.Believers realize that the body will someday be resurrected. In the New Testament, it is quite interesting to find that the early Christians adopted a very wonderful word for the burying places of their loved ones. It is the Greek! word, koimeterion which means a “rest house for strangersâ€!  or a “sleeping place.” It is the same word from which we get our English word cemetery. The same word was used in that day for an inn or what we would call a hotel or motel, places where you spend the night to sleep, expecting to get up the next day and continue your journey. This is a picture of the place where you bury your saved loved ones. The Scriptures teach in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that the body of a believer is put into a sleeping place until the resurrection because the Lord is coming and the body is going to be raised up. Note that it is the body, not the soul, that is in the grave. The soul is eternal. It never sleeps or dies but goes directly to heaven when released from the body.When you and I bury loved ones who know Christ, we have the confidence that we will see them again. When we bury them in the soil, it is like planting a seed in the ground: “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:42). I believe burial is a ! testimony of our faith, which is the reason I strongly recommend it.However, 1 Corinthians 15 makes it clear that, no matter what condition the body is in at death, the resurrection of the body is assured.The Bible clearly teaches that both the saved and the unsaved will be resurrected. Those who are not caught up to be with Christ at the Rapture will be resurrected later. You can read this in Revelation 20. In verse 6 it says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”Then, speaking of those who are not believers, we read in verses 11 through 15 that they will stand before the great white throne of God, and after they are judged, they will be cast into the lake of fire. “…This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14, 15). Th! is is a solemn and terrible future for those who reject the Lord Jesus ! Christ as their Savior....Show more

Maryland Gareau: its fine, as long as its not done based on the Gnostic heresy belief that all matter inc human flesh is evil & sinful (and should be burnt and destroyed after death) when compared to the human spirit..... Catholics believe both human body and spirit are made by God and is "very good" and if u agree with this its fine to cremate...Show more

Coleman Deliberato: it is now allowed , it used to be banned when people refused to believe there was an afterlife , but with temperatures a concern in some countries , it is now legal

Arnoldo Budzynski: They believe that it is not bad to be cremated but you cant spread them over the ocean or something like that

Scot Sepulbeda: Catholics don't believe in cremation. Cremation is generally prohibited unless done to prevent an epidemic etc.Edit:PaulCyp is a modern day liberal.

Zora Mazzie: The first poster is incorrect. Cremation is acceptable provided tha! t the post-cremation remains are treated with the same respect as the body, either buried or stored with respect. They cannot be scattered.

Alden Soldano: It's frowned upon I guess. The church didn't allow it untill the 60's.

Ramona Pago: i believe religion is man made. its just an older version of the government, its like asking a member of an uncivilised society what they think about tax.and to I HATE BOYS.. the church never allowed same sex marriages or homosexual priests.. how is it possible to update a religion due to modern day beliefs?