Thrissur: Even though the Catholic Church recently stated that it did not have any “doctrinal objections” against cremation there appears to be few takers for it.
According to church historians and theologians a transition from burial to cremation may take time as it involves embracing a radically different belief system about resurrection and life after death.
Paucity of space and public objections against cemeteries based on environmental considerations are the factors that necessitated the acceptance of cremation.
Many churches in urban and rural areas are finding it difficult to find space even for the ordinary burial of the deceased, leave alone demand for construction of exclusive permanent tombs.
The cost of such tombs ranges from Rs 3 lakh in rural areas to Rs 25 lakh in the urban areas, The Times of India reported.
Churches like Dolours Basilica in Thrissur are finding it hard to allocate fresh permanent tombs as they have ran out of space, according to church historian George Menachery . Christians account for about 20 per cent of state population.
The mismatch between the demand for permanent tombs and availability of space has triggered some disputes between the church and the faithful.
Theologian and former spokesperson of the SyroMalabar Church Father Paul Thelekkatt said the practice of constructing tombs had begun in India only after the arrival of the Europeans.
“The tomb of bishop Mar Abraham Angamaly , believed to have been constructed in the 16th century , is the first such tomb in Kerala,” Father Thelekkatt said.
Even though the Syro-Malabar Church had started approving cremation earlier, only less than five people have opted so far,” a church official said.Also, the practice of allocating a permanent tomb based on the money power of the surviving family members has a disturbing dimension of discriminating believers even after death, he said.
Prof Menachery said the churches like St Antony’s Forane Church, Ollur, with a large parish have abandoned the practise of allocating permanent tombs.
Mar Aprem Metropolitan of the Church of the East said even though cremation was widespread among the church followers in countries like the US, in India the practice was yet to gain currency, apparently because of the adherence to traditional belief systems.