Grave worry for Catholics

ALBANY — A holy battle is brewing in the state Legislature over headstones.

The Catholic Conference is urging lawmakers to reject a bill that would bar religious cemetery operators from selling monuments.

“There is no good reason to prevent these cemeteries from providing this service and, at the same time, protecting their future,” the conference wrote in a recent memo to state lawmakers.

Conference officials say Catholic cemeteries need the revenue from the sale of monuments to pay for the upkeep at gravesites.

“We can think of no other ‘business’ that has a single source of income, a limited ‘customer base’ and yet is expected to maintain itself forever,” the conference wrote.

Supporters of the bill argue it levels the playing field between commercial monument makers and the religious organizations that don’t pay taxes and have ready access to customers.

“Right now, they have an unfair advantage,” said state Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island), who introduced the measure in the Senate last week.

Savino said the bill would simply close a loophole in state law that allows religious cemeteries to sell monuments while most other cemetery operators are already barred from doing so.

Currently, Catholic dioceses in Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany sell monuments, but commercial dealers fear more will soon get into the business.

“They are inside the cemetery and the same individuals that are selling the plot are offering families package deals,” said Anthony Minozzi,a fourth-generation monument maker and president of the New York State Monument Builders Association.

Minozzi said monument makers near upstate Catholic cemeteries have lost as much as 40% of their business.

“The bill supports a healthy competitive marketplace,” he said.

While the Senate passed similar versions of the bill in recent years, it has stalled in the Assembly. Minozzi and other supporters hope the recent change in Assembly leadership will bring better results.

The measure also has the backing of influential Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle (D-Rochester).

“We believe this is the year for us,” Minozzi said.