Catholic cemeteries could not escape Katrina's wrath, says speaker

Published: 2005-10-11

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (CNS) -- Even the dead could not rest in peace during Hurricane Katrina. Speaking to Catholic cemetery directors from across the nation gathered in Hollywood for their annual convention Oct. 4-7, George Cooke spoke of floating caskets, flooded vaults, overturned oak trees and bodies stacking up in funeral homes. "The biggest problem in Louisiana right now is public cemeteries are not taking responsibility for caskets that are floating," said Cooke, director of cemeteries for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in southwestern Louisiana. Cooke reported that the easternmost cemetery in his diocese was under 6 feet of water after Katrina hit and reflooded after Hurricane Rita. He said his counterpart in the Archdiocese of New Orleans has only been able to visit two of the five Catholic cemeteries in the most affected areas, and the archdiocese has not conducted a funeral in five weeks. "Bodies are stacking up in funeral homes," Cooke said.

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