New Jersey law will end cemetery-headstone sales by Newark archdiocese

March 24, 2015

New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie has signed into law a bill that will prevent the Newark archdiocese from selling headstones for the archdiocesan cemeteries.

In 2013, when the Newark archdiocese began selling headstones, private sellers complained that the archdiocese was exploiting its non-profit status to corner the market and drive them out of business. Despite the pleas of Archbishop John Myers that the matter involved a question of religious freedom, legislators gave overwhelming support to a measure that bars the owners and operators of religious cemeteries from marketing headstones.

Governor Christie had vetoed a similar piece of legislation in February because it would have taken effect immediately. At the governor’s request, lawmakers quickly approved a new bill that will take effect in one year, allowing the archdiocese time to wind down current sales.

 

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Further information:

• State to Archdiocese of Newark: Get out of the headstone business (NJ.com)
• Governor vetoes bid to bar New Jersey Catholic cemeteries from selling headstones, but backs eventual passage (CWN, 2/06)