[amdavadis4ever] Space-starved churches push for shroud burials instead of coffins (Posted by B D Jesrani)

 

Space-starved churches push for shroud burials instead of coffins   Clara Lewis         Space constraint is forcing churches in Mumbai to opt for green solutions for disposing of the dead. In the last six months, the St Blaise Church, Amboli, has had at least 15 shroud burials (body wrapped in cloth and lowered into the grave). The coffin was not used by families voluntarily . Father Franklin Mathias, parish priest, said space const raint, the environmental benefits and economics of a burial without a coffin prompted them to encourage shroud burial. He said the success of such burials depends entirely on the parishioners. "This year is being observed by the church as the Year of Mercy . Burial is an act of mercy , and we decided to go back to the old way of doing it. Jesus was buried in a shroud. It will save wood and for the poor, it brings down the cost of a burial significantly . Today a coffin costs at least Rs 10,000," he said. At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Orlem, Malad (W), written instructions have been issued to the parish undertaker to use very ordinary wood for the coffin frame; the lining also has to be ordinary cloth, and the coffin is to be covered with a cloth and not wood. St Blaise Church, Am boli, has organised a talk next week on shroud burial for its parish pastoral council (PPC) -a committee of lay people who represent different sectors within the church's jurisdiction, to encourage more people to opt for the shroud burial, said Merlyn Coutinho, secretary , PPC. For all of last year the Orlem church, which has one of the largest congregations in Mumbai, had to shut down its graveyard as the soil had turned alkaline and decomposition of bodies had become a problem. Embalming of bodies and coffins delayed the disintegration process. The church now fills the open coffin with soil and flowers before burial. "If people want to use expensive wood we've told them they will have to use the Oshiwara cemetery , which is for all, as they will not be allowed to bury their dead in the church graveyard," said Father Gilbert de Lima, parish priest. "We introduced good-quality soil, added nutrients and have planted flowering plants on all the 365 temporary graves. In case of family graves too, which are about100, we have asked people to opt for plants instead of putting marble slabs." Father de Lima said the space is insufficient for the large parish and hence the move towards an environment-friendly burial. Most Christians prefer to bury their loved ones in the church graveyard rather than the one run by the BMC. The Amboli church, too had faced a similar problem three years ago when it had to shut down its graveyard. Father Allwyn D'Silva, head of the environment department of the archdiocese, had first proposed the shroud burial. He is now parish priest of St John the Baptist Church, Thane, and said the practice was introduced last year in the parish, and in the last six months they have had 10 shroud burials. "It is ecologically friendly and for the poor it is a huge relief. It should be encouraged in all churches," he said. The pro blem of space is so acute that the St Anthony of Padua Church, Kalwa, that was using one of the two graveyards at St John the Baptist, last fortnight was told to take its dead to Sion for burial as the graveyard needs to be revitalised. "The bodies are now being treated with nutrients so that they decompose faster. Once a few graves become free, we will restart the use of the graveyard," said Father D'Silva. Father Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the archdiocese, said the use of a coffin is an offset of the rich in Europe and does not have its roots in Christianity. In fact, canon law only requires that the body is treated with dignity and respect. Father Barrett said even cremation is allowed as per the revised 1983 canon law, and quite a few Catholics have opted for it.

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