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Monks sued over caskets

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    Law: Only licensed funeral directors can sell coffins

  • Duration 3:15
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Welcome back in keeping with -- the tradition the monks of Saint Joseph abbey in Louisiana live off the profits from goods -- make.

In their case they make wooden caskets.

But just recently that the Louisiana state board of in bombers and funeral directors told them that making those caskets against the law -- us from New Orleans is -- Justin Brown from Saint Joseph -- nice to see this morning welcome to show.

Thank you.

So walk me through how this happened you were just making these caskets which you described as basically just a box.

When you are told -- from the state.

In 2007.

We began.

Small operation we called Saint Joseph -- works.

Following a request from a number of our friends & Associates.

That they would like to to be buried in the similar.

Style casket that we've been making for the monks 400.

Years.

And so without knowing it we.

Opened up an operation that we found out later it was illegal in the state of Louisiana.

And it's illegal -- because you would need to be a registered in Ballmer and run a funeral home that's correct the law says that only.

A licensed funeral home can sell -- casket.

In Louisiana.

It even if you were just sell what you described as simply a box so -- another family decided to make a pine box and -- They would actually be violating the law that's correct you can make it for yourself.

But you can't sell them.

And as I understand it the way in which you would -- -- -- with the law.

Is what you have to set up.

Room that would show off have the ability to show off 3030 bodies that's correct we would have to become funeral directors ourselves.

And we don't see that as as part of our mission.

Part of our mission is simply to work with our hands and to create things that that can help us two.

Provide for.

The needs of our community and to continue.

Our work what has this regulation done to the business in your ability to raise money.

Well it has it slowed it down very much and only over the last year after the federal but the district federal court here in New Orleans struck down the law.

Hat have -- been able to to get business.

-- and have -- to make.

A little bit -- also -- work so where does that stand now do you appeal do you think it's just gonna go to the Supreme Court moved to the State Supreme Court -- beyond.

Well it's a federal case we're on Thursday we will be going to the fifth circuit.

Federal Court of Appeals here in New Orleans where the appeal by the state will be heard.

Not sure where it's gonna go after that yeah.

-- we should mention that we requested statement from the Louisiana state board of bombers -- funeral directors but they have not replied.

We appreciate you joining us this morning at a Justin Brown from Saint Joseph down there in Louisiana good luck on this we thank you for -- -- store thank thank you very -- come.

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