A cremation service in Malta should be as environmentally friendly as possible and accessible to all, the Malta Humanist Association said in a statement.
The association said it is committed to cooperate with the government with regards to consultation on the forthcoming Cremation Bill, which is being spearheaded by government MP Rosianne Cutajar.
The MHA has already met with MP Cutajar and other MPs to discuss some ideas the association feels are fundamental.
“As Humanists, the ethics of the process of saying our last goodbyes to our loved ones, is very important as a matter of respect and of legacy.”
The association said cremation should be as environmentally friendly as possible, as a feasible and attractive alternative to burial, which is putting greater demands on our very limited land. The process should be as energy efficient as possible and with the least emissions possible. Eco-friendly caskets may be used. In fact the use of alkaline hydrolysis, also known as bio-cremation, should be considered. This process uses much less energy and produces considerably less emissions.
Cremation should be accessible to all, by families of any background and means. Its introduction should bring down the general costs of funerals and burials, with the help of the state if necessary, to encourage greener funerals and reduce the burden on families when they are already experiencing loss and grief, the MHA said.
“We support the principle of autonomy. We propose that the ashed remains, whether from traditional Cremation or Bio-cremation, are to be given to the next of kin, to be kept and disposed of as they wish or as per the wishes of the deceased. We think that by law, one should also be able to consider appointing a "post-mortem curator" to intervene at the point of death, to make sure that the deceased's body is treated as per the deceased's will.”
The association also said the state should provide an adequate and dignified venue that can host funerals of any worldview.
“The majority Catholic population has ample choice on places of worship, while we lack even a single place that can host a Humanist or other life-stance funeral. We also propose that this venue can replace an average Catholic temple of worship in terms of person capacity, say for a funeral of 300 people, and serviced and equipped as per law and the needs of funerals of various life-stances.”
The association said the implementation of these proposals wouldl not only be beneficial to the quality of life, social justice and the culture of the Maltese people, but will also be implementing further the values of Religious Freedom in Malta.