I’m Catholic, can I be cremated when I die?

Many of my Catholic friends ask me if cremation is acceptable with the Catholic Church.

Since 1963 the Vatican approved cremation as a final disposition. Catholics should have no fear of choosing cremation.

However, the ashes must be kept in “sacred places” like a cemetery and therefore not at home, scattered or divided into smaller amounts to family members.

*photo of the Havana Cathedral taken on my recent trip to Havana, Cuba.