I thought that this information could be useful to anyone who is considering the "Catholic Funeral Plan" which is CONSTANTLY being advertised in many diocesan publications, at least in my area. No surprise to me that the L.A. and other NO dioceses are ripping off the faithful, and padding their pockets by tricking them into purchasing overpriced funeral plans.

http://www.funerals-ripoffs.org/#fraud

"FUNERAL GIANTS TARGET CATHOLIC MARKET: Conglomerates see high growth potential
in alliance with church", extensive report by the National Catholic Reporter newspaper, January 30, 1998.
      Harmful contracts. The report's articles describe how the Archdioceses of Los Angeles and Montreal have not opened mortuaries providing low, fair prices to their people (ads described in the item below have urged dioceses to open such mortuaries), but have signed contracts with the high-priced chains. Los Angeles has contracted with the Stewart Enterprises chain of Louisiana to build six of its own commercial mortuaries on church cemetery property. Several priests and morticians who spoke to the newspaper, commenting about the injustice and coming harm to families, did not want their names mentioned, apparently fearing the displeasure of Cardinal Mahony's office.
      Confidential newsletters. Several confidential industry newsletters quote analysts speaking of the new contracts as "the atomic blast of the industry," etc. -- apparently indicating that nothing this century has ever affected the industry and hurt families as much as these contracts will -- and predicting that "the Catholic Church will reap big money from its lease arrangement with Stewart."
      Publications refer to a recent docuмent of the NATIONAL CATHOLIC CEMETERY CONFERENCE which recommends that every diocese should help families by 1) "owning and operating its own funeral homes" or 2) setting up "parish-based funeral networks" which would each either a) have a central embalming facility and a licensed mortician, or b) affiliate itself with one or more funeral homes willing to provide these services. However, the Los Angeles and Montreal archdioceses are doing the opposite of providing low, fair-priced funerals -- instead, they are joining with commercial chains to make huge profits from Catholic families.      Archdiocese helps the ripoff. In the new Los Angeles archdiocesan arrangement, officials admit that families visiting church cemeteries will probably be funnelled into the Stewart mortuaries and prepay plans. (Some dioceses send advertising calendars of high-priced mortuaries to pastors to distribute to their people, harmfully guiding families into ripoff situations. The archdiocese is probably considering doing the same for its Stewart mortuaries and prepay plans.)
      A Houston price survey (displayed in Docuмent 4) of the lowest-priced "traditional" funeral and casket* at each mortuary showed prices ranging from $1,495 to $9,910 for the SAME or similar funeral and metal casket. Stewart mortuaries charged $4,495 to $6,495 for the same combination, thus, charging families $3,000 to $5,000 more than the lowest-priced, reputable mortuaries. *(The lowest-priced metal casket offered in a choice of three or more colors, one of which is not a shade of gray, brown or green.)
      Stewart is quoted in one newsletter as saying that, of the 10,000 burials in the six cemeteries each year, the company expects to get the funerals of 5,000 to 7,000 of the families. Local mortuaries say their loss of 5,000 or more funerals will force some of them to go out of business or sell out to one of the chains. They ask why the archdiocese did not contract with local mortuaries instead of with a Louisiana chain. (Perhaps high-priced Stewart offered more money to the archdiocese.)
      Interestingly, the archdiocese says it is not revealing the contents of the contract. This is strange because the people have a right to know what is happening to them, and the cardinal has no reason to keep it a secret unless it is a dishonest contract. Parishioners hear about the contents of contracts for church contruction, etc. -- so the only reason this contract which affects their own family finances is being kept secret must be that that the ripoff arrangements are embarrassing and would damage the archdiocese's reputation. (People should sue to force the contract to be revealed.)
      All Catholics in danger. Unhappily, the chains say that they are talking to all dioceses to get them to sign such contracts. You can imagine a daily, constant stream of worried representatives of chains and high-priced mortuaries visiting bishops' offices throughout the U.S., each one trying to offer the diocese a "bigger share of the ripoff" than the others are offering -- knowing that a long-term contract with one of them will leave the rest of them out in the cold for years to come. SCI says that it has even set up a "Christian Family Services" department to deal with dioceses. Analysts expect the chains to be talking to all denominations, so everyone is in danger.
(Our IFIC provided assistance to the newspaper. The report displays a photo of this Web page.)

 "YOUR DIOCESE NEEDS TO OPEN MORTUARIES WITH FAIR PRICES AND SALES TACTICS !" advertisements,
in the National Catholic Reporter national weekly newspaper (Monthly ads from May 2, 1997 to Jan. 23, 1998). The ads encourage readers to urge their denominations and dioceses to OPEN FAIR-PRICED mortuaries at their cemeteries -- with the dioceses operating and controlling them, keeping the prices low and fair. Small mortuaries without chapels can be opened quickly and inexpensively, with all funeral services held at families' own churches.
Church leaders should NOT ALLOW HIGH-PRICED CHAINS to build mortuaries at their cemeteries -- with the dioceses joining with chains to RIPOFF THEIR OWN FAMILIES by $20 to $50 million per year. Seeking to share handsomely in harmful ripoff of their own people, the archdioceses of Los Angeles and Montreal have recently contracted with the Stewart and SCI chains.
      Some Catholics are calling it a "sellout" of families by their own bishops and cardinals -- and calling for people to BOYCOTT the Stewart and SCI mortuaries, and to PICKET the archdiocese offices and STOP CONTRIBUTING to the archdioceses and parishes until the unjust contracts are cancelled. Some compare it to Judas saying "How much will you give me if I deliver all my people to you to fleece?"
 The National Baptist Convention recently cancelled a contract that their leaders made with the Loewen chain. People complained about high prices and payoff to the denomination. Baptists compared the contract to Judas' 30 pieces of silver.