I’m all for free enterprise, but is there a reason the Abbey took this to court and didn’t just apply for a state license to sell the caskets? I didn’t see mention of it in the linked article.
The law limited casket sales to licensed funeral directors at state-licensed funeral homes. Directors must undergo an apprenticeship and finish 30 hours of college courses, and funeral homes must meet detailed requirements, such as a parlor to fit 30 people and room for viewing six caskets.
I guess the state determined, in its "infinite wisdom", that you can't just sell caskets, you have to be in the funeral business to sell them. Just like a non-RTW state that says to paint houses (interior and exterior) you have to go through an apprentice program (slave out to a union for a year or two), be approved (pay your union dues) and pass a state exam (that they charge for, of course) - just to paint houses!!
Rackets, all of them!