Thrissur: The Covid-19 pandemic has mandated a host of new changes, some temporary and others likely to be permanent. Yet, few would have predicted that it may pave the way for a greater acceptance of the practice of cremation among the Catholic community.

According to the latest reports, Thrissur will become the site for the first gas-based crematorium of the Catholic Church. Archdiocese pastoral council secretary, Mary Regina confirmed, on February 9, that cremation “will become an acceptable form of funeral among Catholic Church members in Kerala.”

Despite India now slowly emerging from a disastrous year stained by an invisible virus, the worst is far from over for the state of Kerala. Last week, the state had recorded the second-most COVID-19 in the nation, and it now accounts for nearly half of all active coronavirus cases in the country.

The reluctance of members of the Catholic community to have their deceased buried at cemeteries close to residential areas coupled with the long-standing problem of land shortages relating to the setup of new cemeteries has led to an increasing number of people within the state turning to cremation as an alternative form of funeral over burials.

Cremation has been allowed under Catholic Law since the Vatican lifted a ban on it in 1963. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops outlines the permission for Catholic cremation as, “Although cremation is now permitted by the Church, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body. The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites.”

However, theologians have noted that the Vatican, the headquarters of the Catholic Church, upholds cremation as long as those practicing it do not denounce the core concept of the resurrection of body and soul. Moreover, under Catholic law, the ashes of the cremated must not be scattered at sea or stored in urns at home, but only at ‘sacred places’ such as a church cemetery. The ashes must also not be divided among family members or used in the creation of ornamental artefacts.

Yet, despite cremation being permitted under Catholic law, a reluctance to stray from tradition in Kerala has meant that hardly any have opted for the method. As per some reports, just two Catholic Christians had been cremated in the state as of August 2015. The first was, reportedly, a businessman from Kochi in 2007, and the second a retired professor from a prominent university in 2015.

In more recent times though, following the 2014 notice from the Synod of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church that bishops from various dioceses could permit cremation, and with churches demanding increasing sums of money for permanent spots in cemeteries, some have noted that burials are quickly turning into viable funeral methods only for the rich.

Whether the higher rates of cremation witnessed over the last year will continue even once Kerala escapes the vice-grip of COVID-19 is something that only time will tell, but the Catholic Church appears to be betting on it given its decision to open its first crematorium. What it does display though, is the Catholic Church’s increasing proclivity to adapt to modern circumstances.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/catholic-church-to-open-first-crematorium-in-kerala-covid-19-prompts-break-from-tradition-among-churches/718101