Why Are Churches Banned From Selling Headstones? (NJ)

[struggle4progress]

BY MELISSA QUINN 8/12/15 AT 11:15 AM

... Traditionally, parishioners purchased monuments, such as headstones and mausoleums, through private monument businesses and owned them directly. The archdiocese, though, was responsible for caring for and maintaining the monuments in perpetuity, and often bore the cost of doing so ... Under the inscription-rights program, the archdiocese owned the monuments and mausoleums and were able to conduct any maintenance needed without permission ... After the archdiocese decided to continue its program, the Monument Builders Association of New Jersey filed a lawsuit in state court challenging the church’s ability to sell headstones ... In May 2014, the state court ruled against the Monument Builders Association ... After losing in court twice, the Monuments Builders Association of New Jersey took the issue to the state legislature ... In March, Christie signed a revised version of the bill into law ...

http://www.newsweek.com/why-are-churches-banned-selling-headstones-362169

[Bluenorthwest]

1. I read this story once about a guy named Jesus who tossed merchants out of the place of worship

Of course according to 'the Church' that fucker was wrong about every last thing.

[struggle4progress]

2. That's frequently a reasonable remark to make to any church engaging in a business

though it seems to me irrelevant to the legal questions