One of the requirements under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is that non-profit charities are forbidden from engaging in political action and in particular from supporting political candidates. As we have seen from its involvement in anti-gay initiatives in California and Maine and elsewhere, the Roman Catholic Church apparently believes that it is above the IRS laws and regulations and that it can do whatever it wants politically. Now a group of atheists and a priest have filed suit against the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn due to its improper political involvement in support of political candidates. What makes the story even more sleazy is that the Diocese was working to support a politician who voted against extending the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims. Something obviously near and dear to the Church ice cold, black heart. Here are some highlights from the Brooklyn Paper:*
A major atheist group and a priest are suing the borough’s Catholic leadership, alleging that the church violated its tax-free status by making thousands of pre-recorded calls during the November election campaign that endorsed candidates favored by Assemblyman Vito Lopez.
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Nobody’s denying that the so-called “robocalls” supporting Lopez — with the voice of Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio himself — were placed to voters a couple days before the Nov. 3 general election. But the lawsuit will determine whether the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn overstepped its legal boundaries when it mentioned Lopez, the county’s Democrat Party boss and a Democratic assemblyman from Bushwick, in automated calls to thousands of Brooklynites.
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The suit also accuses the Diocese of placing the calls as a favor to Lopez, who, earlier this year, supported the church by opposing legislation that would give alleged sex-abuse victims more time to file old claims.
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DiMarzio and a Diocese spokesman did not return calls in time for The Brooklyn Paper’s catholic online deadlines.
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A major atheist group and a priest are suing the borough’s Catholic leadership, alleging that the church violated its tax-free status by making thousands of pre-recorded calls during the November election campaign that endorsed candidates favored by Assemblyman Vito Lopez.
*
Nobody’s denying that the so-called “robocalls” supporting Lopez — with the voice of Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio himself — were placed to voters a couple days before the Nov. 3 general election. But the lawsuit will determine whether the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn overstepped its legal boundaries when it mentioned Lopez, the county’s Democrat Party boss and a Democratic assemblyman from Bushwick, in automated calls to thousands of Brooklynites.
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The suit also accuses the Diocese of placing the calls as a favor to Lopez, who, earlier this year, supported the church by opposing legislation that would give alleged sex-abuse victims more time to file old claims.
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DiMarzio and a Diocese spokesman did not return calls in time for The Brooklyn Paper’s catholic online deadlines.
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The leadership of the Catholic Church both in the USA and around the world has become a corrupt, toxic, cesspool. A major revolt of the laity is required, yet I am not holding my breath that it will ever happen. It is far easier to simply walk away from the Catholic Church and find a new church home rather than battle the entrenched hierarchy that continues to view itself as unaccountable to rank and file Church members.
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