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Not leaving it to divine chance, the state Catholic Conference has turned in recent years to some of Albany’s most well-connected and influential lobby firms to help block a bill that would make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice.
The Catholic Conference, headed by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, has used Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, Patricia Lynch & Associates, Hank Sheinkopf, and Mark Behan Communications to lobby against the Child Victims Act as well as for or against other measures.
Tax-exempt, yet actively seeking to shape legislation. Absolutely sickening.
It appears 501(3)(c) tax exempt organizations can do "some" lobbying so long as it's not "too much". The IRS decides how much is "too much" based on the amount of staff hours and $$ put into the effort. The only unambiguous prohibition is a blanket one against participating in any sort of political campaign or election in any way. That latter prohibition is the one we unbelievers usually talk about being abused.
Attempting to block or weaken protections against child rape, particularly in view of their checkered past with it, concerns me far more than the lobbying. I would guess that for an organization the size of the RCC, spending $2m and some staff time won't qualify as "too much" lobbying. As Viz points out, it's probably allowed / legal. That doesn't of course make it moral.
You don't believe Catholic people deserve to have their opinions voiced? There is no law being broken by them doing that.
So you also support weakening child protection laws?
Not leaving it to divine chance, the state Catholic Conference has turned in recent years to some of Albany’s most well-connected and influential lobby firms to help block a bill that would make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice.
Sounds all so christian to me. I can see why EVERY church would support this.
You don't believe Catholic people deserve to have their opinions voiced? There is no law being broken by them doing that.
I do indeed believe that Catholic people should have their voices heard. I absolutely do not believe it is proper for a tax-exempt organization to spend $2M to lobby for the benefit of the organization, not necessarily for the benefit of the members.
Let the Catholic people organize letter writing campaigns, demonstrations at the State Capitol, sit-ins at the legislature, etc. Have the Knights of Columbus show up in their uniforms, run some specials on EWTN, start some discussions and post form letters on Catholic Answers, etc. The Church should not be spending money this way.
I wish the IRS would come down on a few non-profits that break the rules so people would know the rules are real. My opinion is that the IRS would do that if the non-profit wasn't a religious organization, but they have historically looked the other way when churches do this.
It appears 501(3)(c) tax exempt organizations can do "some" lobbying so long as it's not "too much". The IRS decides how much is "too much" based on the amount of staff hours and $$ put into the effort. The only unambiguous prohibition is a blanket one against participating in any sort of political campaign or election in any way. That latter prohibition is the one we unbelievers usually talk about being abused.
Attempting to block or weaken protections against child rape, particularly in view of their checkered past with it, concerns me far more than the lobbying. I would guess that for an organization the size of the RCC, spending $2m and some staff time won't qualify as "too much" lobbying. As Viz points out, it's probably allowed / legal. That doesn't of course make it moral.
Yes, that $2 million would save them much more in future claims if they were successful in getting the statute of limitations for lawsuits and the timelines shortened. It's about money, not morals.
Yes, that $2 million would save them much more in future claims if they were successful in getting the statute of limitations for lawsuits and the timelines shortened. It's about money, not morals.
Of course. If you want to understand most human behavior, just follow the money.
So you also support weakening child protection laws?
That's a different issue entirely.
What do you want to argue about? Religious people having a voice? Or weakening child protection laws?
Quote:
Not leaving it to divine chance, the state Catholic Conference has turned in recent years to some of Albany’s most well-connected and influential lobby firms to help block a bill that would make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice.
Sounds all so christian to me. I can see why EVERY church would support this.
I cannot and will not defend the Catholic church on the matter of harming children.
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