Posted on 10/26/2004 10:12:33 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
Catholics for a Free Choice Files IRS Complaint Against Denver Archdiocese; Statement of Frances Kissling, President, CCFC
10/25/2004 4:05:00 PM
To: National and State Desks, Religion Reporter
Contact: Michelle Ringuette of Catholics for a Free Choice, 202-986-6093 ext. 208 or 202-550-1321 (cell)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following statement by Frances Kissling, President, Catholics for a Free Choice (CCFC), regarding CCFCS IRS complaint against the Denver Archdiocese, was released today:
"With eight days remaining until Americans choose their next president, Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC) has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against the Archdiocese of Denver for Archbishop Charles Chaput's attempts to influence the outcome of the election.
"CFFC has called on the IRS to exercise its "immediate action against the Archdiocese of Denver, which has violated its status as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) by intervening in campaigns for public office."
"Archbishop Chaput, leader of the Archdiocese of Denver, has repeatedly engaged in voter instruction by explicitly urging Catholics to vote against candidates who support abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. In fourteen of 28 of his columns in the archdiocese's weekly newspaper, Archbishop Chaput has repeatedly urged voters to reject candidates opposed to the organization's views. The archbishop has also attempted to influence voters during public speeches, interviews and on Friday, October 22, in an op-ed in the New York Times.
"Without mentioning anyone by name, the archdiocese has frequently equated a vote for certain candidates as sinful and even outright 'evil.'
"In filing this complaint, Catholics for A Free Choice does not infringe on either the right to free speech or the practice of religion. The Archdiocese of Denver made a contract with the federal government and the IRS when it sought to be exempt from paying taxes. In return for such a privilege, it agreed not to participate in election campaigns in ways that constitute an endorsement or opposition to specific candidates, explicitly or implicitly. In much the same way that campaign involvement by individuals and profit making corporations is regulated by law, the involvement of tax-exempt organizations is regulated to prevent the indirect use of taxpayer funds in political campaigns. We think these laws are equitable and we call on all tax exempt organizations to follow them."
EDITOR'S NOTE: For an expanded version of this press statement, please go to
http://www.catholicvote.net/news_releases/releases/2004/102504chaput.htm.
Frances Quisling ... following in the great apostolic tradition of Judas Iscariot.
For your ping lists
Catholics can't be reminded to vote pro-life, but this is OK:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1256787/posts
They haven't got a case. The Church is clearly stating its position based on its liturgy. Since no specific candidate is named, there can be no endorsement implied.
Thanks for stating what I was thinking.
Chaput's columns spark IRS complaint
By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News
October 26, 2004
An abortion-rights group has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against the Archdiocese of Denver for meddling in the 2004 election.
In frequent columns on political issues, Archbishop Charles Chaput "has repeatedly urged voters to reject candidates opposed to the organization's views," says the complaint filed by the Washington-based Catholics for a Free Choice.
The complaint says Chaput violated the church's 501c-3 tax exemption, which forbids political partisanship, by "explicitly urging Catholics to vote against candidates who support abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research." It cited columns in the Denver Catholic Register, as well as speeches, interviews and an opinion piece Chaput wrote in Friday's The New York Times.
"The church in northern Colorado respects and observes the law," Sergio Gutierrez, archdiocese communications director, said Monday.
He said the abortion-rights group's complaint isn't surprising, given its 30-year track record of trying to obscure authentic Catholic teaching that opposes abortion.
Barry Lynn, president of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, said Monday that his group considered but decided not to file an IRS complaint against Chaput. Lynn's group reviewed an Oct. 12 The New York Times article that identified Chaput as a key Catholic leader who opposes Democratic candidate John Kerry.
In May, Lynn's organization filed a complaint against Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan for saying Catholics need to go to confession if they voted for candidates who back policies such as abortion, which the church teaches is a grave sin.
"As a whole, we didn't think (Chaput) had quite gone as far as Bishop Sheridan's comments," Lynn said. "And also, we've been just besieged with these complaints."
Lynn said the group is trying to select an array of different kinds of alleged tax exemption abuses to present to the IRS. He said he could not estimate the number of recent complaints against churches and bishops.
In an e-mail interview last week, Chaput said the Times article misrepresented his positions.
"The Catholic Church does not endorse candidates, has no desire to do so, and neither do I," he said.
Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
Typical leftist approach to free speech. If you can't shout your opponent down, try to get the government to silence him. "Progressives" indeed.
And what part of Dogma does she say isn't the truth?
Wait a minute.
How can abortion be a grave sin ? Isn't it a mortal sin ?
Catholics for a Free Choice is a non-partisan organization. We do not support or oppose candidates for public office. CFFC shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women’s well being, and respect and affirm the moral capacity of women and men to make sound decisions about their lives. Through discourse, education, and advocacy, CFFC works in the US and internationally to infuse these values into public policy, community life, feminist analysis, and Catholic social thinking and teaching.
Non-partisan!? Who are these guys kidding?
The Archbishop should have known better. He should have made his pronouncements from the pulpit of a black church.
There is absolutely no way you can jive abortion on demand with Catholicism... these people are ignorant beyond any calculative measure of their faith and its teachings.
They are not remotely Catholic if they believe innocent life may be extinguished by choice... or that infantacide is in keeping with the teachings of the faith.
Their a sham... might as well be called atheists for god.. as their name is a complete affront, let alone their attempt to argue they are faithful.
Bull they don't support or oppose a candidate, what a crock! Latest Catholic newspaper has a full page ad run by these blashpemers all but saying be a good Catholic and vote for John Kerry to continue the cycle of infantacide and death... Its ok, this is what god wants.... to say they are non partisan is rediculous.
Yeach! what is that a picture of?
Catholics for a Free Choice ... ethics that are based on justice ...Wrong again, Frances. The intentional taking of an innocent human life is intrinsically unjust.
Why would anyone want to hang around with someone who's obsessed with the "right" to convert unborn babies into hamburger?
The terms are supposed to be synonymous. I prefer "mortal sin" myself.
Isn't this an oxymoron? When I could no longer agree with the Catholic Church, I left. I didn't say I was a Catholic 'except' for this or that area of theology where I disagreed.
If individual so-called Catholics for Free Choice are known to their parish priest, are they allowed to receive Communion and the other sacrements? How is that possible?
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