In this 2014 photo, a woman prays in front of a niche holding the cremated remains of her husband in a Catholic cemetery in Westbury, N.Y. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Diocese of Honolulu is expressing strong support for a state House bill that would allow places of worship to build on their properties columbaria — sites for the storage of funeral urns — that are exempt from the requirements established for commercial cemeteries.
The diocesan position statement in favor of HB2202 states, “We support an amendment to Hawaii’s current law regarding Cemetery and Funeral Trusts to allow non-profit religious institutions to feasibly construct and properly manage a columbarium within their property or place of worship, by providing niches to our members for an affordable fee.”
The arguments supporting the bill are religious, social and economic. A church columbarium would be an extension of the spiritual care given to parishioners. It would also be a more meaningful and affordable place for families to gather to remember their deceased loved ones.
Bishop Larry Silva, in testimony delivered Feb. 4 to the state House of Representatives Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce in favor of HB2202, said, “We envision creating a parish-based, and carefully managed, columbarium program. Multiple generations of local families could be laid to rest together. Family members could visit and honor their ohana in their chosen place of worship.”
“All of this would be done without the financial and emotional hardship associated with caring for the remains of loved ones after they have passed,” he said.
The diocese has been encouraging Catholics to testify in favor of the bill.
In addition to Bishop Silva’s testimony, statements have been submitted by vicar general Msgr. Gary Secor, the U.S. provincial superior of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts Father Herman Gomes, the regional minister for the Sisters of St. Francis Sister William Marie Eleniki, diocesan chancellor Deacon Keith Cabiles, and others.
Lisa Sakamoto, the financial officer of the Diocese of Honolulu, has been coordinating the effort to submit testimony to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, which is considering the legislation.
Arguments Sakamoto has circulated in favor of HB2202 state that the bill would “allow multi-generational families to be laid to rest together and cared for in their chosen place of worship, providing future generations with the comfort of knowing their kupuna, parents, siblings and other family members are being cared for in one location.”
“The passage of this bill will also help prevent countless local families from incurring financial and emotional hardship in caring for their loved ones in their afterlife,” states the diocesan reasoning.
In testimony to Rep. Roy M. Takumi and Rep. Linda Ichiyama, chairman and vice chairwoman respectively of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, Kekoa McClellan, a parishioner at St. Ann Parish in Kaneohe, said the primary goal of this bill “is to provide a continuum of spiritual care for our parishioners, even in their afterlife, that does not run our local families broke at what can be the most emotionally and financially difficult time for them.”
Deacon Cabiles testified that “Whether one is a Christian, Jew, Muslim or Buddhist, funeral services are a grand culmination, a rousing finale and the symbolic final hug, kiss and handshake with our loved one. But for Hawaii’s faithful, to be buried at their place of worship is a reality not yet realized.”
With the passing of HB2202, he said, “grieving families will receive a seamless and natural process of spiritual care within their own worship community, and be able to experience a continued and infinite joy, knowing that our beloved ohana are laid to rest in their own place of worship.”
Msgr. Secor said, “I too would like to be able to provide for our faithful a proper resting place in their place of worship at our 66 parishes throughout Hawaii, especially on the neighbor islands.”
Msgr. Secor cited a 2016 survey of parishioners who expressed “an overwhelming support and need for columbaria.”
“All would like to be able to be laid to rest in their house of worship,” he said. “More importantly, family members could visit and honor their ohana after attending services and pray for them without having to leave the church.”
“The current law as written,” he said, “does not legally or feasibly allow the church to provide this important service.”
“There are more than 200,000 Catholics throughout Hawaii,” Bishop Silva said. “The passage of House Bill 2202 would have a positive impact on thousands of Hawaii’s residents” including other faith communities.
Lisa Sakamoto is collecting testimony in favor of the bill to forward to the proper legislative committee at the right time. Catholics are urged to prepare testimony now and email it to her at lsakamoto@rcchawaii.org. Email her also if you need sample testimonies to help you write your statement. To submit your testimony directly to the legislature online, you have to register at www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx.
