Letter: A corpse is not a person

Sir: Burying human remains in several places ("Priests puzzle over double burial", 26 April) is only a problem if a corpse is regarded as a person. After death what remains has served its purpose, like milk teeth and hair clippings. These will not be used for a future life but may be treasured mementos of the past.

If a mourner finds it helpful to have a portion of her loved one's remains near by, that should be respected.

People come to terms with death in different ways. For myself, the whereabouts of relatives' material remains is a matter of indifference. The person's future is with God.

Rev Canon John Goodchild

Liverpool