Claudia Calleja
Cremation idea gaining ground
There is a pending application to construct a crematorium at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
There seems to be a slow move in favour of cremation with both the government and Church saying they do not object to the alternative to burial being requested by a number of mourners.
More than 200 people have joined an online group asking for the introduction of cremation and, earlier this month, Social Policy Minister John Dalli said the government had set aside a zone at the Addolorata Cemetery for the development of a crematorium.
Replying to a parliamentary question, Mr Dalli added that the government was not interested in actually developing or managing the crematorium and would leave that up to the private sector.
In 2002, the firm Malta Crematorium Company Ltd filed an application to build a crematorium at the cemetery and the application is still pending.
According to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's website, the application is being assessed in terms of the Structure Plan and other established policies.
Another application was filed in 2005 to construct a crematorium in St Paul's Bay. The application was turned down by Mepa to the relief of residents, who strongly objected to it.
With the Church no longer opposing cremation, it has been considered by some as an alternative to the parcelling of more burial grounds as land where to bury the dead is fast disappearing.
Figures show there are 20,517 private graves in government cemeteries, of which 14,329 are at the Addolorata. There are currently 4,029 applications for graves at the Addolorata where there were more than 1,000 burials between January and August this year.
Earlier this month, Mr Dalli said the Cabinet was considering a proposal to extend the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery by a further 9,000 new graves.
Reacting to this news, readers resurrected the cremation debate as some claimed it would solve the space problem.
One person wrote "cremation is clean and hygienic" while another said: "I would rather (be cremated) than be chucked into a hole in the rocks, left to rot."
Another reader disagreed with cremation adding: "The main reason I disagree is that, if further forensic examinations need to be carried out on the cause of death, the cadaver cannot be exhumed".
Readers also debated whether building a crematorium would be economically feasible.
More than 200 people joined the Facebook group called Let's Legalise Cremation In Malta in which they called for the introduction of cremation.
One person wrote: "I hate the thought of my body being kept under the ground to get eaten away. I always thought I would wish for my body to be cremated and preferably some of the ashes thrown into the sea."
Currently, cremation is not regulated by law since there are no crematoriums. However, bodies that were cremated abroad have been allowed a normal burial.
This is what is recommended by the Church in case of cremation. The president of the Theological Commission, Hector Scerri, explained that the Church recommended that the custom of burial be retained.
"But it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching... the faithful should be exhorted not to keep the ashes of the dead in their homes, but to bury them in the usual manner," he said.
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18 Comments
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Mario Tabone
Nov 1st 2009, 19:57
When I was a child I attended a family burial at the Addolorata Cemetary. As the grave was opened one could see an old coffin which contained the remains of the parent from this particular family. This had been there a number of years but looked intact. As the new coffin was lowered into the grave a...nd placed on the old coffin, this disintegrated. You can imagine the feeling of the family members . This horrible incident scarred me for life and since then I have been in favour of cremation. I urge the goverment to grant this right to the people of Malta and dignify the process of laying our dearly beloved to rest.
yvonne cassar
Oct 29th 2009, 07:34
Firstly, why 7 years to have the application pending? considering how short we all know land is in malta and getting shorter, i think malta has no option but to consider cremation. We are all ok for now, maybe we will manage in our lifetime to find us a space, but what about 20 or 30years on? As for the scattering of the ashes, crematoriums have gardens around where you can quietly scatter your ashes and hence be able to visit that area when ever you like.
come on malta get with the times!!!
Karen Agius
Oct 27th 2009, 21:57
I have always had the fear of dying in malta, as i had the awful opportunity of attending a funeral here and found it very traumatic and even worse when I was told that the coffins are placed on top of each other. My father died very recently and I flew to the UK for his funeral. I was not aware that catholics could be cremated and found the service beautiful. The family has the option of not having the curtain closing whilst you are present this was done after we left the chapel.
I have since instructed my husband that if I was to die before him to fly me to UK for a cremation so would be very impressed if this was to be finalised in Malta. Hopefully before I go on to greener pastures!
T. Braun
Oct 27th 2009, 21:57
@ Mrs Simonide Rancati
Search for group called:- Let's legalize Cremation in Malta
James De Giorgio
Oct 27th 2009, 21:16
Imagine having a relaxing moment swimming in the sea and suddenly finding yourself swimming in a mixture of sea and ashes, the latter belonging to a dearly-departed-who-knows-who!!
Mary Francis
Oct 27th 2009, 18:24
In this day and age it is about time that Malta became up to date with cremation. It is a neat, safe, civil and very gentle way of bidding 'good-bye' to our loved ones. I completely endorse what Paul Barrett wrote and the sooner it is done the better it would be.
debra asciak
Oct 27th 2009, 18:12
cremation if it positivly decided it should be decided to the full. Like in foreign countries. Taking the ashes of the ones we love back home.
Anthony Roberts
Oct 27th 2009, 16:38
Cremation would be a good thing especially as we are so limited in space. I have no problem with it and I think it would be good step to introduce it in Malta.
victor pulis
Oct 27th 2009, 15:26
the faithful should be exhorted not to keep the ashes of the dead in their homes, but to bury them in the usual manner," he said.
Why?
Paul Cave
Oct 27th 2009, 15:16
Surely the big question here should be why on earth it has taken over 7 years for the Adolorata application to be considered, SO FAR!!!
Mrs Simonide Rancati
Oct 27th 2009, 14:16
I wanted to join the Facebook group mentioned in the article but could not find it. Can anyone please tell me how to get to it?
Tim Ripard
Oct 27th 2009, 14:11
It's laughable that it has taken MEPA 7 years to assess an application, and they still haven't finished.
Paul Barrett
Oct 27th 2009, 13:04
Having attended several funerals in Malta and also several funerals and cremations abroad I have no doubt that funerals as they are conducted in Malta are bordering in the barbaric in comparison.
A Crematorium where after a service, the coffin slides gracefully behind a curtain has got to be less traumatic than four or five guys jumping in and out of a hole, up-ending the coffin and pushing and shoving to get it into the ground + then grunting and groaning with large slabs to get them into place and seal them up with some evil mud looking mixture.
As for the ashes - For those that have not a family plot; perhaps a rose garden on consecrated ground where ashes could be scattered.
Pauline Peterson
Oct 25th 2011, 09:52
Well written Paul.
Louis Cassar
Oct 27th 2009, 11:10
Why would anyone want to exhume a cadaver once the circumstances that led to death are known and uncontested? I can think of better ways of spending my Saturday afternoons! Seriously, what’s all this hype about death, cremation and ashes flying about? We all have to join the carbon cycle more actively, at some time or other, so get over it. Ashes from cremated humans, given proper filters and flue scrubbers are utilized, are also surely way healthier than soot from the power station. And, unless one is vegetarian, we’ve all enjoyed sinking our teeth into juicy barbecued steaks of beef or pork, so why discriminate against uncle Joe or aunt Doris??
Phil Humphries
Oct 27th 2009, 10:57
With an increasing and aging population and so little spare land to spare, this is a 'no-brainer'.
Given that neither the Church nor the State objects, then who else has the right to deny anyone their wish to be cremated when the time comes?
As for cremation being economically feasible, I have no doubt that this would become an extremely profitable venture over time. At present, the cost of sending a body aboad to be cremated and having the ashes returned must be prohibitively expensive and unnecessarily distressing for those concerned.
I believe that cremation could be undertaken in Malta ( no pun intended ) for a reasonable price, but I have little doubt that those with a vested interest in keeping funeral costs at their current exhorbitent levels will agree with me. Hopefully, common sense will prevail and if cremation gets the go-ahead, then count me in ( but , God willing, not just yet ! )
Ray Mangion
Oct 27th 2009, 10:38
Cremation is the best way to solve several problems, one being space and another the thought of your loved one being eaten away by worms in a black hole underground. As for smoke coming out, it happens everyday; black dust has been reported many times and it cannot be identified or even finding its origin. If when I died, cremation has not been made legal I am prepared to leave instructions in my will to have my body taken to the UK and be cremated there.
Godfrey Camilleri
Oct 27th 2009, 09:37
I am all in favour of cremation to reduce space but there are at least two aspects that need be considered carefully: (a) a future possible necessity of forensic or DNA tests as mentioned in the article and (b) the noxious gases emitted from a crematorium. Some ashes may also fly away so that I do not know how nearby residents would feel having ashes from corpses rather from a power station! Some may reminisce Auschwitz.!