(Image Source: The Enquirer)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

The National Enquirer made headlines this week for running a photo of a deceased Whitney Houston lying in her casket.

The Daily Mail has a censored version -- The Enquirer calls it the ‘last photo’ of the pop icon.

And media are reporting on outrage over the cover, which is now on newsstands. The Christian Science Monitor writes:

“The National Enquirer’s decision to feature cover photos of the late Whitney Houston, in a casket, has touched off a furor, raising anew a debate over professional ethics, taste, morality, greed, and privacy.”

But some outlets are asking -- why so much outcry? A blogger for the Atlanta Journal Constitution points out the Enquirer has done this before -- with Elvis and John Lennon.

The Washington Post reports the Enquirer is sparking controversy.

While an opinion column says the Enquirer has done, quote, “far worse” in the past.

In the LA Times, an article asks if the Enquirer has ‘finally gone too far’

Then another -- by the same writer -- asks, ‘why are we shocked?’

So, some cry unethical and morbid, others argue Houston the photo is dignified -- and it’s news. And some say -- bottom line -- this is not a new debate. But all that aside -- questions are being raised about how the photo was obtained since the viewing of Houston’s body was private. And -- how is her family reacting?

Fox News reports.

“The photograph does not bear a credit, and The Enquirer is not releasing any details about how they obtained it. No one from Houston’s family has called the photograph out as fraudulent. Magazine photo editors estimated that a coffin photograph like the one published by the Enquirer could sell in the mid six -figure range or even higher.”

The Enquirer’s publisher told Fox she thought the photo was "beautiful." But Houston’s family isn’t so at peace with its publication, according to TMZ. The outlet reports the family is “disgusted” a photo was somehow leaked, but …

“Despite their disgust and outrage, we're told the family will not investigate the matter further.  The owner of the funeral home has denied any wrongdoing on the part of her or her staff.”

Houston’s funeral was held February 18.