Morticians Stiff Monks

Covington, La. Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina gave the Benedictine monks at St. Joseph Abbey a new calling.

After the storm pummeled much of a pine forest, they had long relied on for timber and income, the monks hatched a fresh plan: They would hand-craft and sell caskets.

But now, the local funeral directors are trying to put a lid on the monks' activities. The state funeral regulatory board, dominated by industry members, is enforcing a Louisiana law that makes it a crime for anyone but a licensed parlor to sell 'funeral merchandise.'

The morticians are serious. Violators such as the monks can land in jail for up to 180 days. Monks are being stiffed. wsj