The Catholic Church has allowed cremation for many years now.
Although the Pope (who makes the rules) IS the head of the Catholic Church,providing it's ministers and bishops do not destroy the rules,they are allowed to bend them ever so slightly to accomodate the beliefs/opinions of Catholic worshippers in various countries.
As someone said in another post,the Catholic Church may believe that Homosexualityu is evil in itself,it doesn't necessarily condemn Homosexuals outright,they are regarded as unreformed sinners.
If the church banned sinners,they would cease to exist,so the Catholic Church takes what might be said to be a pragmatic view.
BTW I am an Aethist.