Columbarium or cremation niches at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe (File photo)
A bill that allowed Hawaii Catholic churches and other houses of worship to build and maintain columbaria, or cremation niches, on their property, is being challenged in the state legislature.
On Jan. 31, diocesan finance officer Lisa Sakamoto sent out an email alert that House Bill 646 would repeal a previously passed 2020 bill “that allowed our faith communities to care for our deceased brothers and sisters at our place of worship.”
The Diocese of Honolulu’s vicar general Msgr. Gary Secor testified on Jan. 31 in opposition to a companion bill in the state Senate, SB 157, and that bill was deferred. But a hearing on HB 646 takes place on Feb. 2.
Sakamoto asked for all local Catholics to submit testimony opposing HB 646 by Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
“We need volumes of opposition from our community to stop the passage of this bill,” she wrote, suggesting Catholics send in a simple message:
“I am strongly opposed to HB646. If passed our faith communities will no longer be able to care for our deceased brothers and sisters at our place of worship without significant burden and hardship on our churches. Please do not let this bill pass for the sake of our kupuna and our faith communities.”
Bishop Larry Silva and Msgr. Secor have submitted additional testimony for the Thursday hearing.
“Repealing the Cemetery Authority exemption for non-profit religious organizations in Hawaii would have a significant detrimental impact to those we serve,” Bishop Silva wrote in his testimony. “The passage of HB646 would repeal Act 022 (20) and churches throughout the state would no longer be allowed to continue this work of mercy without great administrative and costly burdens to our churches.”
The bishop also pointed out that the existing Act 022 puts no financial burden on the state legislature.
“The hundreds of local churches throughout the State have been given the opportunity to utilize this exemption to provide a continuum of care for their members
and the families of deceased loved ones and to do so in their places of worship for grieving families,” he wrote. “Our churches were given this opportunity to return to the work of mercy of burying the dead and we are very grateful to all of you.”
Sakamoto said to submit testimony opposing HB 646 online at capitol.hawaii.gov/account/register.aspx. Or you can email the chair of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, copying your representative on the committee.
Contact are as follows:
Chair Nakashima (Hilo/Hamakua) at repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov
Vice Chair Sayama (Kaimuki) at repsayama@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep Au-Belatti (Makiki) at repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Amato (Kihei) at repamato@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Gates ((Waianae/Makaha) at repgates@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Hashem (East Honolulu) at rephashem@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Hussey-Burdick (Kailua) at rephusseyburdick@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Lowen (Kailua-Kona) at replowen@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Onishi (Hilo) at reponishi@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Tam (Waikiki) at reptam@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Pierick (Royal Kunia/Waipahu) at reppierick@capitol.hawaii.gov