Catholics Across America Oppose Proposed Connecticut State Bill, 1098/2009
Proposed Bill 1098/2009, "An Act Modifying Corporate Laws Relating To Certain Religious Corporations," addresses the business practices of Roman Catholic Churches and Roman Catholic Dioceses within Connecticut and outlines a standard business practice for these Churches and Dioceses to practice towards financial accountability.
All Roman Catholic Churches and Roman Catholic Dioceses located in the United States of America have paid employees who pay taxes, receive medical benefits, and retirement plans, and are subject to all aspects of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC], which are U.S. government authorities.
Articles of the proposed bill include establishing a corporate board to create a budget and maintain public disclosure and keeping individuals who break the law by misappropriating funds to be held accountable to the corporate law that governs these matters.
The proposed bill concedes to the religious importance of the Roman Catholic Churches and Dioceses and affirms the protection of the U.S. Constitution that no legislative authority weighs from the proposed bill. Despite this included affirmation, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport Bishop William Lori wrote in his blog:
"This bill, moreover, is a thinly-veiled attempt to silence the Catholic Church on the important issues of the day, such as same-sex marriage.
"The State has no right to interfere in the internal affairs and structure of the Catholic Church. This bill is directed only at the Catholic Church but could someday be forced on other denominations. The State has no business controlling religion."
Bishop Lori's blog post about Proposed Bill #1098/2009 has been distributed with attribution widely across the internet already in an awareness campaign about the proposed bill. The post has been quoted and linked from Livejournal account holders in personal blogs and Livejournal communities as well as appearing on popular Roman Catholic focused news blogs like AmericanPapist.
There has been no response at this time from Connecticut State Legislature Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Andrew McDonald, who was named as a responsible party for Proposed bill #1098/2009 by Bishop Lori, concerning Bishop Lori's blog accusations and conclusions about the proposed bill.
The Diocese of Bridgeport Connecticut has created a webpage to administer protest and letter writing to the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut State Legislature concerning Proposed Bill #1098/2009 within the Diocese of Bridgeport website's Breaking News From Around The Diocese section. This section includes a PDF of Proposed Bill #1098/2009. The proposed bill can also be read on the Connecticut General Assembly government website: Proposed Bill #1098/2009 An Act Modifying Corporate Laws Relating To Certain Religious Corporations.
Sources:
State of Connecticut General Assembly: Proposed Bill #1098/2009 An Act Modifying Corporate Laws Relating To Certain Religious Corporations;
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7 Comments
Post a CommentThis article is written as a veiled attack upon the catholic church. It fails to mention how this bill removes church officals from the ability to direct the spending of the church's own monies.
I am shocked at the specific named attack upon the catholic church by my own state in response to the CT catholic church's vocal protests agaist gay unions of any kind and abortions of any kind. I stongly support 99% of abortion rights and 100% of gay maraige rights, but the demand that a religious orgaiztion NOT voice it's opinion in public forums by the STATE GOVERNMANT is unconscionable. This (failed, thank God) legislation makes this mostly ambivalent voter want to take down the names of this bill's supporters and campaign agaist them on the principle that they are violating the main underling tents which we founded this country upon.
I see no reason why the government should involve itself with any religious institution. This sounds like an attempt to blur the lines of church and state, albeit from a far less common direction. To paraphrase the good bishop, the church has no business controlling the state, then it's clear the state has no business controlling religion.
The odd thing I heard about this was that the proposal was drafted by a group of Catholics.
JESUS CHRIST IS NOW AND EVER SHALL BE THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH. HE WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO BE DESTROYED OR BE OVER-TAKEN. WE MUST STAND UP FOR OUR FAITH AND PRAY PRAY THAT THIS ATTEMPTED ACTION BE DEFEATED.
The actions of the state of connecticut bill 1098/2009 against the Catholic church equates to the initial actions of Naziism against the jewish faith. As Roman Cathoilics let us not march to the ovens without a fight. St. Michael and Joan of arc fought our faith, now again it is time to fight those who wish to destroy us.
Those who seek to silence the Catholic Church on the murder (abortion) of innocent children and the perversion of homosexuality do not know the meaning of Faith. Practicing Catholics are not Nancy Pelosi catholics or Ted Kennedy catholics. Practicing Catholics believe the truths in the Bible and Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to St. Peter, not to the government. We will teach our children and grandchildren the truth and each day undo all the harm of the government school indoctrination. We will teach them the Constitution and The Bill of Rights.
Obama preaches unity and divides the Country on embryonic stem cell research and abortion. We know him for what he is and we will never let government take over the role of God in our lives.
It may start in CT but it will spread and it will ultimately fail. God is Truth. Truth does not change.
I'm not a Catholic, but this is potentially the beginning of the end to our 1st Ammendment rights - Do NOT permit this to happen. Rise up and protest!
The people who are supporting this legislation seem to forget that Catholic parishioners are NOT owners of their parishes. Each parish is OWNED by the diocese. It doesn't matter that the parishioners' donations pay for the buildings. Being a "donater" does not make one a "part owner." I can donate to a hospital - it doesn't make me a "part owner."
This isn't even a religious issue... non-owners cannot make decisions FOR owners...therefore parishioners (the non-owners) cannot make decisions for a diocese (the owners).