In 2013 the Catholic Archdiocese of Newark began to sell gravestones directly to those buying burial plots at the various cemeteries the Archdiocese controls. The program proved highly successful and in it’s first year brought in more than $500,000 in revenue until a problem arose. That problem was the Monument Builders Association of New Jersey which leaned hard on the legislature to put religious institutes out of business when it comes to headstone sales. The legislation buzzed through the legislature and was quickly signed into law by Chris Christie although full implementation was delayed by a year. Now, religious organizations are barred from selling headstones in the state which essentially creates a monopoly for preexisting businesses. However, a court challenge to the law is pending in a federal court with the Archdiocese, along with the Institute of Justice, arguing that the act was passed solely for the economic benefit of the established gravestone sellers. But until a ruling is reached in the case the ban will remain in effect and restrict the choice of the bereaved in Jersey.
See Eric Boehm, A grave injustice? New Jersey’s ban on headstone sales takes effect, New Jersey Watchdog, March 25, 2016.
