No free market for monks...

It strikes me as strange that Benedictine monks would have to go to federal court in order to be allowed to sell the caskets that they make, but that is apparently the case in Louisiana. (story here)
I am familiar with caskets made by other monastic communities such as at St. Meinrad, Indiana, the Trappists at New Melleray, Iowa, and by the Benedictines monks of the Holy Cross in Chicago (www.monsterycaskets.com). I have admired the simple elegance of these caskets when I have seen them used in services and have appreciated that these represent a reasonably priced option for families who are often taken advantage of during a time of grief.
It seems that funeral directors in Louisiana were willing to act as a clearing house for sale of the caskets, but they wanted to buy the caskets for half of the $1,500 to $2,000 charged by the monks and then tack on $1,000 for their effort. I fail to see what interest that State of Louisiana has in requiring that caskets be sold only by licensed funeral directors -- particularly as their laws do not require that a casket be purchased at all. Perhaps it is just the interest of the legislators who wish to benefit from the financial support of the funeral industry.