We're a Church, Not a Lobby, Catholic Bishop Tells Ethics Probers

FoxNews ^ | June 11, 2009

[NYer]

The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., says he's a man of God, not a lobbyist. But state officials say he's both.

According to the Connecticut Office of State Ethics, the diocese acted as a lobbying organization in March when it rented buses to transport people to a rally in Hartford — the state capital — to protest a bill that would have granted more power to parishioners regarding church finances.

Officials also are investigating whether the church acted as a lobbying organization on its Web site when it urged parishioners to contact lawmakers about the bill, which eventually was withdrawn amid public outcry, and about a another bill to legalize same-sex marriage, which was signed into law in April.

Now the ethics office is "evaluating" whether the diocese failed to register as a lobbyist — an investigation that Bishop William Lori says violates the diocese's First Amendment right to free speech and assembly.

"I don't know what the motive of the Office of State Ethics was or is, but I do know that their actions stem directly from our attempts to defend ourselves in the face of two pieces of legislation that were unfriendly to the day-to-day mission of the church," Lori told FOXNews.com on Thursday.

"We were simply seeking to fulfill our mission, to continue to be ourselves."

And the diocese is fighting back, bringing a civil lawsuit against two Office of State Ethics officials — Enforcement Officer Thomas K. Jones and Executive Director Carol Carson.

Connecticut law defines lobbying as "communicating directly or soliciting others to communicate with any official or his staff in the legislative or executive branch of government or in a quasi-public agency, for the purpose of influencing any legislative or administrative action."

Individuals or organizations must register as a lobbyist if they spend more than $2,000

[NYer]

Bishop William Lori

[NYer]

In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Pastor Martin Niemöller - 1959

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Protecting yourself from legislation directed at you is not lobbying.

[massgopguy]

This applies to Black churches right? RIGHT?!

[Lurker]

One day very, very soon some of these government functionaries are going to start disappearing.

[OldNavyVet]

This is stupid on the part of government.

Everybody knows that lobbyists send money along with their requests.

[kinsman redeemer]

from the article:

"The diocese acknowledges in its lawsuit that it coordinated transportation to the rally, and that it incurred expenses exceeding $2,000. But that, says the bishop, does not make the church a lobbying organization."

[NYer]

This is a breach of 1st Amendment rights.

[rbmillerjr]

Simply another move in the initiation of the persecution of the Church.

I expect it to get alot worse.

[ArrogantBustard]

Yep ... and there are supposed “christians” who would happily throw us to the wolves.

[Salvation]

BTTT!

[A.A. Cunningham]

Some of them are here posting keywords.