Homosexual Group’s IRS Complaint is ‘Bogus,’ Maine Catholic Diocese Says

CNS News ^ | 5/26/2009 | Pete Winn

[Verginius Rufus]

I was quoting a line from a famous Supreme Court decision (I think McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819). Back then I don't think frivolous lawsuits were a major problem. I'm not sure if you can pinpoint when they did become a major bane of American society--perhaps a rising tide through the 20th century and especially in the past few decades.

[P-Marlowe]

That, padre, is what would lose its 501(c)(3) status if this homosexual group prevails, which I am confident it won’t.

Suppose that the entity called "Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland" were to be stripped of its tax exempt status? What would stop it from selling all its assets to another Roman Catholic Church for a dollar and then starting a new tax exempt entity called "Roman Catholic Church of Portland II" and then having the other church donate all the old entities assets to the new entity or sell them back for a dollar?

[Dumb_Ox]

Yep, I caught the McCulloch reference.

On a related note, people tend to forget that lawsuits, especially in our complicated age, help to expand government power. When the government declares a right to something, it declares itself competent and willing to enforce that right.

And government then conveniently becomes a patron for lawsuit-happy clients.

[SunkenCiv]

A San Diego-based homosexual activist group has filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service charging the Roman Catholic diocese of Portland, Me., with violating federal tax rules by taking part in a referendum campaign aimed at repealing the state's new same-sex marriage law.