So long as cremation implies no contempt for the human body or for Church teaching about the resurrection, the practice is permissible when prescribed conditions are met. Of equal importance, however, is the Church's desire to remind us that we are temples of God, made in his image, that one day, if we have died with our sins forgiven, our souls and bodies will be reunited in heaven. The body deserves to be treated in death with the dignity merited by its origins and the sacred role it has fulfilled in this world as his holy temple. Most Catholic people want their bodies to be buried after death, and desire the same for loved ones, or, indeed, for anyone for whom they have some responsibility, and it can not be denied that the Church favors burial, while authorizing cremation where circumstances indicate. At the same time, while it is not for the Church to determine how elaborate a funeral should be, the cost of a casket or related issues, it is very much the right of the Church to urge that all funeral directors have the same consideration for the poor that many funeral directors do.
People are particularly vulnerable upon the death of a loved one.
They are ready prey to unscrupulous funeral directors. We have many poor parishes. These pastors try their best to keep costs at an absolute minimum. We urge every family to speak with their pastor before making definitive arrangements about a funeral. I, personally, celebrate a significant number of Funeral Masses each year.