Suit Challenges Catholic Cemetery's Headstone Rules

The Indianapolis (IN) Star reported yesterday on a lawsuit against an arm of the Indianapolis Archdiocese over rules of a North Vernon, Indiana cemetery. Shannon Carr spent $9600 on a  black granite headstone for her late husband that reflected his interests.  It is shaped like a couch and depicts images of a deer, a dog and color logos of NASCAR and the Indianapolis Colts. St. Joseph Catholic Church notified the monument maker that the marker did not meet cemetery requirements.  The priest at St. Joseph says that even though regulations were not formalized until after Carr purchased the monument, Carr was notified before she purchased the marker that the Parish Council had determined that it was too secular under informal rules that were understood at that time. The Archdiocese attorney says that the court lacks jurisdiction over the case because deciding it would involve civil authorities in church affairs. [Thanks to Amy Edmonds for the lead.]