Archdiocese Intervenes In Health Care Forum At Church, Bars Democratic Congressman From Speaking

Chicago Catholic News:

The Archdiocese of Chicago intervened in a planned "health care reform forum" at Oak Park's Ascension Parish after learning the event was being co-sponsored by two groups affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Read the whole story: Chicago Catholic News

Comments

[bobfeld]

05:20 PM on 10/06/2009

Can someone tell me why all chueches are tax-exempt. They are NOT charities. I never understood the tax-exempt status.

[takeabigdeepbreath]

05:06 PM on 10/06/2009

Now let's watch and see if the RC church can be consistent on this point... I for one rather doubt it.

[llisa]

04:18 PM on 10/06/2009

Getting politicians out of the Catholic church? OK. What better time time to get the Catholic church out of politics!

[Whinger]

03:51 PM on 10/06/2009

Ah it's just another form of censorship, we get that here a Huffin-Puff too!

[Artemis34]

02:28 PM on 10/06/2009

If you know of reasons why the Catholic Church should not be tax exempt, file a complaint with the IRS:

Complaint instructions:
http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=178241,00.html

IRS Form 13909 (complaint form)
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13909.pdf

Most common violation:
Organization is involved in a political campaign
Organization is engaged in excessive lobbying activities

Description "Church leaders directed members to donate time and money to..." partisan politics.

I recommend you share your complaint with your elected officials as well.

[fallingsky]

03:21 PM on 10/06/2009

oh shut up....They Church is following the tax laws by not allowing a political org .....Oh by the way,,, Pelosi, Kerry, Durbin, Obama, Daley, et al Catholic or another Christian denomination

[Artemis34]

03:32 PM on 10/06/2009

The point is that this is the exception of behaving appropriately, not the rule.

They are laundering money through the KofC and other organizations to violate the provisions of their tax exempt status.

It is the same logic they use to scare monger regarding about abortion in health care reform. You give public money to private companies that also use resources to sell private plans that do cover abortion. They say that it is the same of giving money for abortions. *

So, if they receive public money and benefit from tax exempt status and that money is co - mingled with their support of non-exempt activities, then it is the same as paying directly for the non-exempt activities.

* I say it is a case for universal single payer. BTW under the Hyde Amendment federal funds cannot be used for abortion.

[Petey131]

04:02 PM on 10/06/2009

"They Church is following the tax laws."

Sorry but "they church" is not.

[Artemis34]

02:08 PM on 10/06/2009

"Emboldened by their victory in California, the religious right is now moving on Maine -- and building an early fundraising advantage. The same right-wing groups who funded Frank Schubert's fear-mongering TV ads in California are now the largest donors to his "Stand for Marriage Maine" campaign:

* National Organization for Marriage - $160,000
* Knights of Columbus - $50,000
* Focus on the Family - $31,000"

From the courage campaign

Not the Catholic front / money laundering group the KofC is engaged in right wing partisan politics.

But, g-d forbid we care for the sick!

[grata2ude]

01:22 PM on 10/06/2009

Are they afraid they'll get caught molesting the altar boys?

[Artemis34]

12:59 PM on 10/06/2009

"archdiocesan policy indeed does bar political activity at churches"

What hypocrites!

Just like their "Yes on prop 8" campaign, move it to the Knights of Columbus or some other sham front!

So, when the subject is oppressing women or gays and / or otherwise limiting freedoms and imposing your religion on everyone, it is okay.

But if the subject is a truly Christian one of healing the sick, they can't have that!

Sickening!

[plaidsportcoat]

12:17 PM on 10/06/2009

revoke their tax exemption immediately, you cowards!

[monk2000]

12:57 PM on 10/06/2009

Agreed. Religion and politics have NO BUSINESS to be intertwined.

[Artemis34]

12:02 PM on 10/06/2009

Dems are the only one's trying to heed Jesus' command to "heal the sick."

Never read the conservative position "f' - 'em" in the Christian bible.

[shirley flaherty]

11:40 AM on 10/06/2009

I didn't like it when President Bush used us for his religious views and I didn't like it when we our congress funded "Faith Based Inititives." This is no different. I am a Democrat and I want to keep the church out of the state and the state out of the church.

The speakers at the conference have a right to speak to the issues, but the event should not have been held in a church or sponsored by a partisan group.

When church and state collide, it's usually the church that suffers.

[Artemis34]

02:17 PM on 10/06/2009

Agreed. Dump the "Faith Based Inititives."

B u s h was just buy votes / support.

[nightsdoor]

03:29 PM on 10/07/2009

Historically, the church isn't what suffers. It's the people.

[33Greeper]

11:30 AM on 10/06/2009

If the Church is Republican, then I am no longer Catholic.

[ForObamaInDallas]

12:42 PM on 10/06/2009

The Catholic church is not republican. It is actually more likely to be democratic and used to usually be democratic.

Thing is many Catholics (unfortunately) are falling for the "abortion issue!" issue alone. It is many of those Catholics that are republican and the most out spoken. Just like their non-Catholic christian counterparts.

Social welfare and concerns is very Catholic. As a Catholic, these are the ideals I grew up with: caring for the sick and the poor, helping those less fortunate than you, etc. This is why I am a bleeding hear liberal Democrat myself. :)

[ForObamaInDallas]

12:47 PM on 10/06/2009

er, "hear" == "heart"

[monk2000]

12:58 PM on 10/06/2009

Fellow Catholic against stupid rei.ch wingers who is pro choice here.

Jesus was the coolest most righteous hippy to ever live people.....

[bobfeld]

05:22 PM on 10/06/2009

The leaders of the church are Republican,the flock generally isn"t. Obama got 54% of the Catholic vote.

[atourdeforce]

11:26 AM on 10/06/2009

The Church is completely free to engage in political activity... as long as they relinquish their tax free status.

Want to play partisan politics? Lets start taxing them.

[lvdragonlady]

11:17 AM on 10/06/2009

So now the 'church' is republican?

[InYourWorld]

12:15 PM on 10/06/2009

This is what happens when hate filled people from both sides start stereotyping. Looking at HP one would be led to believe that all Christians are right wingers that are evil and like to eat babies for profit. Democrats are supposed to be exceptionally smart, trendy, and know everything.

Hate fill rhetoric from both sides has weakened our country to the point where banks, businesses, and our elected officials are pillaging this country in the open while everyone is calling each other names. The GOV has us right where it wants us......

[Artemis34]

01:21 PM on 10/06/2009

Just observing and reporting is not hate.

If you are channeling funds to impose your religion on everyone in a country that supposedly has freedom of religion (which necessarily must include freedom from religion), don't be surprised when people see that for what it is.

If you are channeling funds to oppress women and gays, don't be surprised when people see that for what it is.

If you are channeling funds to defend pedophiles, don't be surprised when people see that for what it is.

While you make a point, I haven't seen any "attacks" (read accurate reporting) on the Unitarian Church or the United Church of Christ in HP.

My personal opinion is that is because they are more closely living their values.

[surfcitysteven]

11:12 AM on 10/06/2009

"We will not allow decent men of high moral fiber to speak at our functions", said the leader of the child-molesting cult.