Indiana church's refusal to install gravestone with Colts, NASCAR logos sparks suit

Recommended by Matthew Brown, Deseret News

Published: Monday, March 11 2013 12:00 a.m. MDT

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David Shaw, left, and Mike Fraker remove a cover from the headstone of Jason Carr outside Shaw Monuments in Vernon, Ind., Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. The headstone, which has sports logos, images of animals and forms a couch when put together, is the subject of a lawsuit. The Republic in Columbus reports Shannon Carr spent $9,600 on the granite headstone to mark Jason Carr’s grave in the St. Joseph Parish Cemetery. The headstone features images of a deer and a dog and color logos of NASCAR and the Indianapolis Colts.

Andrew Laker, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Summary

An Indiana woman who wanted to honor her late husband with a headstone that captured his interests in sports and the outdoors is suing a Catholic church for refusing to install it.

The issue has divided the church community and sparked allegations that the church hasn't treated the family with compassion. But Rev. Jonathan Meyer, priest at St. Joseph Catholic Church, says thats not so.

"We provided the family funeral rites, prepared a funeral meal and offered family members individual counseling after the services," Meyer said. "We were with them the entire way until this matter came up."

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About the Author

Matthew Brown

Matt writes about faith how it is lived, how it intersects with society and how current trends affect religious practice. He returned to reporting and writing after more than 12 years as an editor, most recently a more ..

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