Monks' casket fight lands in federal court

[PJD1987]

m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.rbml?&catid=20069195&feed_id=0&videofeed=36&nb_splitPage=4

"NEW ORLEANS - An order of Benedictine monks takes on the funeral industry Monday in a federal court dispute over whether the monks can sell simple caskets — or whether the state can block them from doing so until they pass a myriad of licensing requirements.

The 36 monks of St. Joseph Abbey in St. Tammany Parish, north of New Orleans, filed suit in August 2010, saying the Louisiana Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors wants to maintain a “casket cartel” through regulation dominated by the funeral business."

Also found it interesting that these monks get no assistance from the Roman Catholic Church…is that normal?

 

[Dale_M]

This sounds like a difficult case.
the article:

Jeff Rowes, lawyer with the Arlington, Va.-based Institute for Justice that is representing the monks, said there is little doubt the case will wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down similar restrictions in Tennessee, but Oklahoma funeral regulations were upheld by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

BTW, here is a link to the article in a format I found more browser friendly:
cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/06/national/main20069195.shtml

 

[gilliam]

Also found it interesting that these monks get no assistance from the Roman Catholic Church…is that normal?

Yes

 

[PJD1987]

This sounds like a difficult case.

BTW, here is a link to the article in a format I found more browser friendly:
cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/06/national/main20069195.shtml

Sorry, I’m on my bberry so the link probably wasn’t the same on a regular computer. My apologies.