Ekshumacja w świetle prawa kanonicznego

Abstract

Human being has always been a religious being and faith, regardless of its form, has not only obliged them to bury the dead, but also to protect their remains from being destroyed by animals or other human beings. In its regulations, the current Code of the Canon Law does not directly speak about the exhumation. However, exhumation is referred to in a variety of legal regulations issued by the particular church in the form of instructions issued by some of the Polish dioceses, as well as regulations provided by the administrators of particular denominational cemeteries. While speaking about exhumation, it is important to stress that in the light of the canon law it mainly takes place during the beatification process and is a requirement of the canonization law which should happen during that process in the diocese or before the beatification of the servant of God. In conclusion, it is important to highlight that the Catholic Church respects and refers to the civil law while setting the norms in regards to when and why the exhumation should be conducted.