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October 25, 2016

Vatican releases instruction on burial, cremation

Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, speaks at a Vatican news conference Oct. 25. Cardinal Muller said that while the Catholic Church continues to prefer burial in the ground, it accepts cremation as an option, but forbids the scattering of ashes or keeping cremated remains at home.

VATICAN CITY – Professing belief in the resurrection of the dead and affirming that the human body is an essential part of a person's identity, the Catholic Church insists that the bodies of the deceased be treated with respect and laid to rest in a consecrated place.

Published in Vatican
February 21, 2016

Holy Family’s resting place comes as a funeral home

Holy Family Church in Glace Bay, N.S., is being turned into a funeral home. It is one of six area churches closed by the Diocese of Antigonish.

Growing up in Glace Bay, N.S., Trevor Tracey watched funerals pass by the windows of his elementary school and dreamed that one day he would be the man leading the procession.

Published in Canada
April 2, 2015

Easter invites us to choose the kingship of Christ

Guards surround the coffin of King Richard III as his remains lie in repose at Leicester Cathedral during the public viewing of his coffin in Leicester, England, March 23.

The drama of Holy Week is a story about a king. The crowd that welcomes Jesus on Sunday, waving their palm branches, acclaims Him: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,
the king of Israel!”

Published in Fr. Raymond de Souza
June 4, 2014

Ireland investigates report of babies buried at former religious home

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin

DUBLIN - The Irish government established a working group to address details emerging about Catholic-run, state-funded mother-and-baby homes and the burial of deceased children.

Published in International