PERTH, WA: September 21, 1989
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202
Number 2654
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Vatican worry over recent China events
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Whitfords scores a 'first' • Pages 6 and 7
Boost for education • Pages 2 (St. 3
• Page 4
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• Archbishop Foley was given police protection of a special kind on Tuesday when he had to brave the rain to impart his blessing to the Police Colours which were unfurled solemnly at a Police Academy service to mark Police Week. (See pages 10 & 11) 41111MIN111111111E AIME
Live and let die.
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COMPANY WHICH OPENED TO CATER FOR FUNERALS WITHOUT RELIGION CLOSES Perth can forget about "funerals without religion" for the time being. It does not mean that if you don't have a religion that you must forget about dying. It only means that the Melbourne-based company which had been making a big pitch for Perth business is closing its doors tomorrow (Sept 22).
In over two months of business in Melbourne and Perth where an average of 27,000 people die each year, the new company managed to handle only eight of them. For the company, it all began with the 1986 Australian census statistics which showed the fastest growing category among the major religions to be the "No Religion" and "Religion Not Stated" groups. The
numbers in this category doubled between 1971 and 1986. In 1971, thirteen per cent of Australians marked the "No Religion" box or left the question blank. In 1986 12.7 per cent of Australians described themselves as having "No Religion", 12.3 per cent refused to answer the question and 1.4 per cent described themselves outside the recognised denominations. These figures made a grand total of 26.4 per cent of Australians disassociating themselves from traditional Christian churches — a sharp rise from the minimal three per cent in 1921. While these statistics may be discouraging for some, the keen entrepreneur may see them as pointers to new business. So thought Keith Russell, founder of Simplicity Funerals and director
of Funerals Without Religion. He wondered if the average Australian is looking for a secular and non religious way to celebrate the final farewell. While people say they don't care where they are buried and often quip,
and set up a company in that name. His regular advertisements in the funeral directors' column of the morning paper stated simply, "Funerals Without Religion". He also ran several display advertisements aimed at raising public
An exclusive by Father JOHN JEGOROW religion" was another attention grabber. So far, the results have than less been encouraging. "To our amazement, the response has been quite small," said Kevin Hartley, Perth based manager of "Funerals Without Religion".
Although the Catholic Church has for long legislated, at times quite rigorously, about who and who not may receive Catholic funeral rites, or be buried in specially consecrated ground, the Church has never mandated a religious funeral service as a requirement to salvation. Rather, says the Church, it would be a very rash person who would risk appearing before the Judgement without the comfort of the prayers of those we leave behind. "just bury me in the backyard under the gum tree", relatives of the deceased rarely do just that. More often, no expense is spared to give the dead a dignified burial. Keith Russell decided to test the market place for funerals without religion
and awareness comment. "When you haven't been to church in a lifetime, it seems to me to be the ultimate in hypocrisy for your family to give you a religious funeral," his advertisement said. "I do not believe in
In over two months of business in Melbourne and Perth where the annual number of funerals is 27,000 the new company handled only eight funerals. Of the four in Perth, the mourners read the 23rd Psalm at the first and a minister of religion actu-
ally conducted the last one. While people are ready to go outside the church to get married there is something about death that draws them back into it, according to Keith Russell, director of Funerals Without Religion. Keith Russell placed his hopes on the fact that 12.7 per cent of Australians say they belong to no religious denomination and a growing number of people are choosing to marry outside the church. "The venture is ahead of its time, and we're closing this Friday, September 22," said Kevin. "There is no law that requires people to have a minister at a funeral and we are more than happy to carry out the wishes of the dead, whether they require a minister of religon or not," says Perth funeral director, Joe O'Dea.
"Perth funeral directors have been conducting funerals according to their client's wishes without ever specifically promoting religion or the lack of it," he said. The latest trend in burials is to have women funeral directors. They offer all the traditional services without touting to a specific creed or lack of it. The women, traditionally recognised for their compassion and care may well be more successful than Keith Russell. For the present, Perth has said no to "funerals without religion" at least as a slogan for commercial undertaking. Catholic conventional wisdom continues to say it is a tough religion to live by but by far the best to die in. To choose second best is to choose nothing.