Tying Up Loose Ends

Straight Answers By Fr. William Saunders
^{HERALD Columnist}

During the past three weeks, the Herald and the Chancery have received numerous letters and phone calls concerning issues recently addressed by Straight Answers. The most attention revolved around the funeral ceremonies of John F. Kennedy, Jr., who was cremated and whose ashes were then scattered in the ocean. By sheer coincidence, the topic of Straight Answers was cremation for the week when the tragic death of John Kennedy was reported.

In the article, I wrote that the Church does permit (but does not prefer) cremation, "unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching," e.g. the denial of the resurrection of the body (Code of Canon Law, #1176). However, the cremated remains must be treated with respect and should be interred in a grave or columbarium.

In the directives entitled "Reflections on the Body, Cremation, and Catholic Funeral Rites," which were incorporated into the Order of Christian Funerals, a further clarification is provided as follows: "The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. [Italics added.] Whenever possible, appropriate means for recording with dignity the memory of the deceased should be adopted, such as a plaque or stone which records the name of the deceased" (#417). These directives were issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops for the United States and were confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments of the Holy See. As such, these directives are binding for all Catholics.

Responding to this controversy, His Eminence, Cardinal Law, Archbishop of Boston, repeated these directives in his column in the Archdiocesan newspaper, The Pilot. The Committee on the Liturgy of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops also repeated them on its website to clarify the Church's position.

Why then did the Kennedy family scatter the ashes of John F. Kennedy, Jr. at sea? I do not know, but clearly their action (if indeed it was reported accurately) violated the Church's directives. I would have hoped that the priests comforting the family and involved in the affair would have given the proper guidance.

A better question would be, "After searching so vigorously for the bodies of the victims, why did the family not have a regular funeral Mass for John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife, and her sister? After the funeral Mass, the deceased could then have been cremated and interred in a proper way. Such a course of action would have been most appropriate and spiritually comforting.

The second "loose end" that I need to address concerns an article written about holding hands during the Our Father at Mass. I received numerous replies in favor of the article. Mr. Dennis Cherry, however, wrote an opinion piece (ACH, July 29, 1999), stating, AI was a bit surprised at Father William Saunders having such a problem with it. He says that, while no one can find fault if a husband and wife or a family spontaneously wants to hold hands during the Lord's Prayer, the priest has no right to introduce, mandate, or impose it." First of all, please remember that Straight Answers is not an opinion column; otherwise, one could not necessarily entitle it Straight Answers. Over the past six years, I have rarely used the pronoun AI," because I do not give my opinion. I simply provide the Church's official teaching in response to questions I have received. For this reason, any good reader notes the numerous citations of Church documents and other sources in each article, as were contained in the article in question. I might include some examples from my past experience as a priest, but never do I teach anything but the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

Therefore, Mr. Cherry needs to read more thoroughly, for the Church is the one that has the "problem" with holding hands during the Our Father. The official liturgical regulations are very clear that the priest has no right to introduce, mandate, or impose it. I do not make the rules; I simply state the Church's rules.

Sadly, we live in a society which has lost respect for authority and rules. Individuals seem to obey rules or agree with them when they are convenient and comfortable. When they are not so convenient and comfortable, then these individuals think that they can disregard and violate them. Poor victims of Original Sin, we like Adam and Eve so easily slip and say, AI don't care what anyone says, I'll do what I want." So, if a Catholic wants to scatter ashes at sea, such individuals say, "Go ahead. Do what you want." If a Catholic wants to change parts of the Mass or introduce novelties, such individuals say, "Go ahead. Do what you want." Then those faithful Catholics who strive to uphold the rules are considered rigid, "out of touch," "out to sea," or retrograde. Well, the Church has not survived because of the "Go ahead. Do what you want." crowd; the Church has survived because of the faithful Catholics who follow the rules of the Church and are loyal to the Pope and the Magisterium.

Mr. Cherry concludes his opinion piece, "Father Saunders needs to get out and travel a bit." I agree. I would hope that Mr. Cherry would like to fund my next vacation. A trip to Rome or the Holy Land for the celebration of the Holy Year 2000 would be very nice, but I guarantee that I would come back with more "straight answers."

Fr. Saunders is pastor of Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria.

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