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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)
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Posted by: filioque -
Mar. 24, 2015 11:09 PM ET USA
I recently purchased a headstone for installation in a cemetery of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The cemetery referred me to a private seller and I chose what I wanted, inscribed as I wanted it. No one at the cemetery asked to review my choice. It was quite satisfactory.
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Posted by: ElizabethD -
Mar. 24, 2015 12:36 PM ET USA
This is nonsense. Our diocese only allows the use of headstones purchased from the diocese at our cemeteries and one apparent reason is that designs, symbols and messages engraved on the headstones are all acceptable for a consecrated Catholic cemetery.
