Dioceses in Rhineland-Palatinate commented on new burial law
The Catholic Church welcomed individual changes, but reaffirmed its criticism of new burial forms outside of cemeteries.
The Catholic dioceses in Rhineland-Palatinate have commented on the entry into force of the new implementing regulation of the Burial Act. Representatives of the dioceses of Limburg, Mainz, Speyer and Trier as well as the Archdiocese of Cologne emphasized that the Church wants to provide pastoral care to people in times of death and mourning even under changed legal framework conditions. This was reported by the Diocese of Mainz.
The diocesan leaderships acknowledged that the law was adapted to current social needs after decades. Among other things, expanded possibilities for religiously influenced burial forms as well as improvements in the regulation of burial sites and in the interment of so-called star children were positively evaluated. At the same time, those responsible continued to express concerns about new forms of burial outside traditional cemeteries, such as keeping ashes at home or scattering them in nature.
In the Church's view, visible and publicly accessible grave sites remain important places of personal and communal remembrance. At the same time, it pointed out that the greater diversity of burial forms increases the need for counseling for relatives. The dioceses announced that they would constructively participate in the further development of burial and memorial culture and carefully monitor the effects of the new legal regulations.
Previously, UOJ reported that a lecture on holy women was held in Dublin.
