Terri Schiavo's ashes will be buried in an undisclosed location near Philadelphia so that her immediate family doesn't show up and turn the burial into a media spectacle, a member of the Schiavo family said Thursday.
"If Mike knew they would come in peace, he would have no problem with it," Scott Schiavo, Michael Schiavo's brother, said during an interview at his home.
What is the Catholic position on funerals? According to the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington,
The Church now permits cremation. It is preferred that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites since its physical presence reflects the values affirmed in these rites.
What's the big deal about cremation? It's not just a picky rule, it has specific religious significance. According to American Catholic,
From early Christian days cremation was viewed as a pagan practice and a denial of the doctrine of the Resurrection. That's why cremation was expressly forbidden by the Catholic Church until recent years.
Unlike many Protestants, Catholics do not cremate or bury, with a service to follow, a point that Michael Schiavo does not seem to understand.
The presumption was that the funeral Mass would be celebrated in the presence of the body with cremation held off until later.
It's not just that Terri's cremation is not the preferred form; the order of the services is also important
The principal celebration is the funeral liturgy, which is typically a Mass. Two smaller celebrations also take place. The vigil for the deceased is a short prayer service during the time following death and before the funeral liturgy. It usually takes place at the funeral home. The rite of committal is a short prayer service at the cemetery, ideally beside the open grave or place of interment. Both of these short services include Scripture, prayers and possibly songs. The ideal sequence of these three funeral rites is vigil, funeral Mass, then committal.
Well, at least her family can visit her grave, right?
Wrong.
Scott Schiavo said the ashes would be buried in a plot left by an aunt and uncle, but the family does not plan on providing the specific location for the burial
Let me see if I understand - neither the parents nor Michael Schiavo live in PA. But, it's important to bury her there, because...why?
Frankly, this just looks spiteful and petty. There really is no other way to construe it.
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