As cremations increase, bishop reminds Catholics not to keep ashes of loved ones

MANILA - Ashes of cremated loved ones must be kept in sacred places such as columbaria and cemeteries and not kept at home, Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Tuesday.

“I would like to remind everyone that it is not allowed for us to keep the urns containing the ashes in our homes permanently,” Pabillo said as quoted by CBCP News.

This, after the bishop noted the increasing number of dead being cremated due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

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In his pastoral instruction issued recently, Pabillo warned of “great danger of desecration in the future,” most especially when there is no one around to look after and care for the ashes.

“So the ashes should be laid to rest in columbaria in the cemeteries or in churches,” he said.