Free the Monks and Free Enterprise


Recommended Posts

I thought you might be interested in this unique problem of fellow woodworkers. I think that many of us will find this article interesting.

http://saintjosephabbey.com/

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/08/st_joseph_abbey_battles_state.html

Marc, in the interest of full disclosure, I once studied at St. Joseph Seminary...50 years ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought you might be interested in this unique problem of fellow woodworkers. I think that many of us will find this article interesting.

http://saintjosephabbey.com/

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/08/st_joseph_abbey_battles_state.html

Marc, in the interest of full disclosure, I once studied at St. Joseph Seminary...50 years ago.

Hi Marc

I'm from Lafayette in S. Louisiana and have been wanting to visit the Abby. We go camping on the North Shore quite often and next time we are in that area we will be certain to visit. Do you happen to know if they will let you visit the woodworking area it would be quite interesting to talk to some of the brothers.

Kirk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Marc

I'm from Lafayette in S. Louisiana and have been wanting to visit the Abby. We go camping on the North Shore quite often and next time we are in that area we will be certain to visit. Do you happen to know if they will let you visit the woodworking area it would be quite interesting to talk to some of the brothers.

Kirk

Kirk,

Your best bet is to contact Mark Coudrain (985 867-5161) for further information. Deacon Mark is the woodshop's director

The Woodworks website is http://saintjosephabbey.com/woodworks.html

Let us know how it goes.

Frank

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Best part of the video was where they were pushing the plywood through the slider... it looked more like the two monks were just walking saying a prayer while the plywood went through.

So, a naive question: why can't the monastery go pay for the license needed? Seems like it would be cheaper than the legal battle. I know the license is for more than just making caskets, but I doubt the license comes with a requirement that the other functions be used, too (unlike, say, a liquor license for a restaurant).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, a naive question: why can't the monastery go pay for the license needed? Seems like it would be cheaper than the legal battle.

I had the same thought. If I remember correctly, the article said that someone would need to work full time as an apprentice under a licensed mortician for several years, and would need to run a funeral home with parlors, embalming facilities, etc. If this is correct, it seems like the law is designed to make sure that the current morticians can pass their business to their heirs, but no other competition is allowed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...why can't the monastery go pay for the license needed?

There is more to it than just buying a license to sell caskets.

In order for the monks to sell caskets in Louisiana they would have to become funeral directors. To become a funeral director in Louisiana, state law requires at 30 semester hours of college and a one-year apprenticeship during which the candidate must preside over at least 25 funerals. A funeral home license requires embalming by a licensed embalmer. To meet these requirement he Abbey would need to be redesigned into a traditional funeral parlor.

Abbot Justin said satisfying the state regulatory board standards is not feasible because the abbey does not intend to offer funeral parlor services.

Beechwood is correct in his thinking that the funeral directors are looking to limit competition.

The one thing to keep in mind is that the whole casket building operation only involves 3 men.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beechwood definitely nailed it (pun intended :)) So much for free competition; it'll only change when all the heirs except one bail on being morticians then someone will point out the monopoly.

The monks should push for a law that says you can't preside over a religious funeral ceremony unless you have studied 30 hours under a Jesuit college.

As for CostCo, I'd bet they sell them in 2-packs...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
  • 1 month later...

Woodworkers in court, the saga continues.

St. Joseph Abbey monks, Louisiana funeral industry clash in court over casket sales restriction

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/06/st_joseph_abbey_monks_louisian.html#incart_mce

Trial involving casket sales restriction challenge by St. Joseph Abbey monks concludes

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/06/trial_involving_st_joseph_abbe.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
  • 6 months later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.