[sweet_diane]

"My question too - why does Michael want to cremate Terri against the wishes of her parents absent any evidence that this is what Terri would want? Just to spite the parents or for some other reason?"

I'm curious if the Catholic church has a stance on cremation, for or against and autopsy?

Personally, just from my knowledge of this case, I don't see why Michael wouldn't want an autopsy so he can prove that everything he's said is true about Terri's condition and how she got there.

[MineralMan]

"I'm curious if the Catholic church has a stance on cremation, for or against and autopsy?"

The RCC does not prohibit cremation, nor does it prohibit autopsies.

[maryz]

AFAIK, cremation was traditionally opposed by the Church, first because it was a widespread pagan practice and later because it was favored by "Freethinker" types as a way of symbolically denying the Resurrection. I believe th Church always allowed cremation in special circumstances (e.g., plague). I know it's used more frequently now, but I don't know if any kind of special permission has to be sought.

[Texas Deb]

"Personally, just from my knowledge of this case, I don't see why Michael wouldn't want an autopsy so he can prove that everything he's said is true about Terri's condition and how she got there."

Exactly - I've wondered the same thing about why Michael would not want more neurological tests run on Terri. If she is in the state he claims, would they not just give him more evidence to prove his case?