Cremation

[Hub]

Hi Fr. Joe,
I understand the Catholic Church now allows cremation under certain
conditions ie. no scattering, urn must be buried etc. Can a married
couple co-mingle the ashes together and have the urn buried? I can
not seem to find the answer to this question anywhere. Thanks,
Hub

[Father Joe]

I would suspect that in theory such could happen given that ashes
signify destruction and do not have the same significance and meaning
as bodies. But how would it work in practice. Picture this scene:

The Undertaker: I am sorry Mrs. O'Malley, but your husband clearly
spelled out that he wanted his ashes commingled with yours.

Mrs. O'Malley: So what does that mean, do I have to keep Barney on
the mantle until it is my time to go?

Father O'Toole: Oh no, that will not do, the Church insists that the
internment of ashes should be soon after death, accompanied by a the
funeral service.

The Undertaker: Yes, the good Father is quite right, so if it is all
the same by you, we are going to have to put you into the oven today.

Mrs. O'Malley: What! But I'm not dead yet!

Father O'Toole: Well, murder is not the best idea, but it would
resolve the ritual crisis we have before us. I guess I could absolve
the undertaker afterwards?

The Undertaker: Thank you, Father...now, come on dear, the oven is
already hot.

Mrs. O'Malley: This is insane! I know I promised him, but I have
changed my mind! I don't want my ashes mingled with his, after all.

Father O'Toole: Are you sure?

The Undertaker: Really, the process is quite fast. The heat turns
most of you to liquid or boiling greese. That actually runs off. We
put the scorched bones that remain through a grinder...that is
actually the ashes everyone talks about. But if you are sure...?

Mrs. O'Malley: I am quite sure.

Father O'Toole: Okay then, I guess poor Barney will be interred all
alone in his urn. The space is sealed and it will take a court order
to open it in the future.

The Undertaker: What lack of devotion women have these days! My Aunt
Selma jumped into the grave with her husband. We had to pull her out
screaming and hollering.

Father O'Toole: I recall that Indian braves were buried with their
wives and horses. That was one way to insure that wives kept their
husbands healthy and to prevent hanky-panky.

Mrs. O'Malley: Goodnight to the both of you!