One of the medieval “works of mercy” is burying the dead. So the Benedicting monks of St. Joseph Abbey in Louisiana, who had been making hand-crafted wooden caskets for members of their order, decided to make them available to the public.
But before they sold even one, state officials filed a cease-and-desist order, threatening the monks with fines and criminal prosecution. It seems Louisiana has protectionist laws favoring local funeral directors, who alone are entitled to sell coffins.
Now the case is working its way through the courts, with some observers hoping that the Supreme Court will eventually weigh in to spell out the limits of business regulation.
See Louisiana monks go to court to sell their caskets – The Washington Post.
Maybe the monks could bring back the “works of mercy” tradition and apply for a religious exemption.
At any rate, what do you think of the merits of the case? Should states be able to pass laws that protect local businesses by preventing the formation of other local businesses?
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