Group asks IRS to investigate Catholic bishop against Obama <http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-10-22-irs-catholic-obama_N.htm>http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-10-22-irs-catholic-obama_N.htm
By Daniel Burke, Religion News Service Emacs! WASHINGTON A church-state watchdog group has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether the Roman Catholic bishop of Paterson, N.J., violated tax laws by denouncing Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama. In a letter sent to the IRS on Wednesday (Oct. 22), Americans United for Separation of Church and State accused Paterson Bishop Arthur Serratelli of illegal partisanship for lambasting Obama's support of abortion rights. In a column posted on the Diocese of Paterson's website and published in its weekly newspaper, Serratelli also compared Obama to King Herod, the biblical monarch who ordered the death of John the Baptist. The bishop did not refer to Obama by name but only as "the present democratic (sic) candidate." Under federal tax law, nonprofit groups including religious organizations are prohibited from intervening in campaigns for public office by endorsing or opposing candidates. FIND MORE STORIES IN: <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places,+Geography/States,+Territories,+Provinces,+Islands/New+Jersey>New Jersey | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Religion+and+beliefs/Religions/Catholic+Church>Catholic Church | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Religion+and+beliefs/Religions/Roman+Catholic+Church>Roman Catholic Church | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Sen.+Barack+Obama>Sen. Barack Obama | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Catholics>Catholics | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Internal+Revenue+Service>Internal Revenue Service | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Washington-based>Washington-based | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Baptist>Baptist | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/New+York+City+Mayor+Rudy+Giuliani>New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/United+for+Separation+of+Church>United for Separation of Church | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Rev.+Barry+Lynn>Rev. Barry Lynn | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/King+Herod>King Herod | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Diocese+of+Paterson>Diocese of Paterson | <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Freedom+of+Choice+Act>Freedom of Choice Act Serratelli wrote that Obama has pledged, if elected president, to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, abortion-rights legislation the Catholic Church vehemently opposes. "If this politician fulfills his promise, not only will many of our freedoms as Americans be taken from us, but the innocent and vulnerable will spill their blood," Serratelli wrote. The Rev. Barry Lynn, president of Americans United, said it is "impossible to interpret this passage as anything but a command to vote against 'the present Democratic candidate' because of his promise to sign a certain piece of legislation disfavored by the Catholic Church's hierarchy." The Paterson diocese said Serratelli's column was focused on proposed abortion legislation, not the upcoming presidential election. "It's absolutely, positively misleading to say that the bishop urged Catholics not to vote for Sen. Obama," the diocese said in a statement. Rob Boston, a spokesman for the Washington-based Americans United, said that of the estimated 90 claims it has filed with the IRS since 1996, only four others have accused Catholic bishops or dioceses of electioneering. Earlier this year, Americans United asked the IRS to investigate Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, for criticizing former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was running for the Republican presidential nomination at the time. <*}}}>< <http://halfthekingdom.mofuse.mobi/>Half the Kingdom! on your Mobile <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/wordpress/>Half the Kingdom! Blog <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom! Main Site <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/by-the-by/>Half the Kingdom! By the by <*}}}>< Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue with Your help, so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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