There's been a lot of discussion here about Michael's attorney being caught up in 'scientology.' Surely you can see, that simply because someone's relative's religion specifies thus or so is no reason to abrogate the law. The RCC can hold any ceremony they wish for Terri, with or without a bone chip or a lock of hair. [Hint: this is 2005.]
Funny the picture you paint sounds more like 1984.
Terri was Catholic. But Mikey didn't get the last laugh on this one point. Terri was included in the mass for Pope John Paul II before she was cremated. And she was included in the mass yesterday in DC. Probably many more, also.
Her lock of hair wasn't needed for the mass. Her parents wanted it as a remembrance. So, naturally, Mikey denied them.