Our Catholic Cemetery is in disrepair. Why doesnt the Diocese help us out to straighten out the monuments and clean it up?
First, it is necessary to define the responsibilities of the church and the responsibilities of individual families. Monuments and grave markers are the property of the person or persons who purchased them and their descendants. The parish or cemetery is in no way responsible for their maintenance. The only exception is if a monument becomes a hazard to the general public and no family can be contacted. Then the cemetery should take action to remove the hazard. Second, it is reasonable to expect every Catholic cemetery to be maintained properly with respect to regular and customary mowing and trimming of grass. The level of road maintenance as well as water lines is usually dependent upon funding. With regard to funding, each parish, and therefore its cemetery, is an entity unto itself with respect to its financial responsibilities. Each of these parishes is part of a larger entity — the Diocese — which provides leadership and guidelines in accordance with Canon law.
