Vatican says Catholics can't keep loved one's ashes at home or scattered about

If you are Roman Catholic and have been considering having your or a loved one's ashes placed in a locket, planted with a tree, shot up in a firework, or simply displayed on a shelf in the home, you may want to reconsider.

The Vatican recently announced the only appropriate place for such remains is somewhere "holy."

That includes cemeteries and other locales with the distinction of being sacred.

Also noted is that burial is preferable to cremation, but when the latter is chosen appropriate actions must be taken to ensure, "...every appearance of pantheism, naturalism or nihilism be avoided."

The BBC reports that the Vatican approved cremations in 1963, but the Roman Catholic Church has always upheld that the practice can in no way compromise the faithful's belief in resurrection.

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