Freepreach.org - Protecting the Free Expression of All Religious Traditions
Different Catholic Answers in Wisconsin?
Roger Severino
Recently, the Catholic Diocese of LaCrosse became one of only three dioceses nationwide to forbid -- for fear of IRS penalties -- distribution of the Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics, written and distributed by Catholic Answers. Ironically, this is the former Diocese of now-Archbishop Raymond Burke, who has recently ordered the distribution of well over 50,000 of the very same guides in his new Archdiocese of St. Louis.
But LaCrosse's diocesan attorney has since recused himself from all decisions involving church tax-exemption issues in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest -- recent news reports have highlighted the attorney's repeated political contributions to pro-choice Democrat candidates.
And today The Washington Post reports that, in another Wisconsin diocese, “Green Bay's influential Bishop David A. Zubik issued a note in church bulletins this week urging Catholics to vote in the presidential election and to base their vote foremost on opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.”
Who's right about what Catholic Church leaders should or shouldn't preach (or what teachings they can or can't distribute in writing) about the election? As far as we're concerned, that's for the bishops to work out -- not the IRS.