Pennsylvania Catholic church using 'mafia-like' tactics to fight sex abuse bill

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Pennsylvania Catholic church using 'mafia-like' tactics to fight sex abuse bill

Church accused of using ‘mob boss approach’ to pressure
lawmakers who support bill that would give victims of
sexual abuse more time to sue abusers

Stephanie Kirchgaessner in New York
Friday 17 June 2016 11.00 BST

The Catholic church in Pennsylvania has been accused of employing “mafia-like” tactics in a campaign to put pressure on individual Catholic lawmakers who support state legislation that would give victims of sexual abuse more time to sue their abusers.

The lobbying campaign against the legislation is being led by Philadelphia archbishop Charles Chaput, a staunch conservative who recently created a stir after inadvertently sending an email to a state representative Jamie Santora, in which he accused the lawmaker of “betraying” the church and said Santora would suffer “consequences” for his support of the legislation. The email was also sent to a senior staff member in Chaput’s office, who was apparently the only intended recipient.

The email has infuriated some Catholic lawmakers, who say they voted their conscience in support of the legislation on behalf of sexual abuse victims. One Republican legislator, Mike Vareb, accused the archbishop of using mafia-style tactics.

“This mob boss approach of having legislators called out, he really went right up to the line,” Vareb told the Guardian. “He is going down a road that is frankly dangerous for the status of the church in terms of it being a non-profit.”

Under US tax laws, organisations like churches that are classified as non-profit groups are not supposed to be engaged in political activity, though they are allowed to publish legislators’ voting records in some cases.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/17/pennsylvania-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-bill-mafia-tactics

[rug]

1. Chaput is a careerist.

“He is the most vehement supporter of the secrecy of the Catholic church over pedophiles. He fights any authority over his own, even when it is a matter of criminal law,” Fitz-Gerald said.

[truebrit71]

2. And this surprises whom?

It's a criminal enterprise being run like a criminal enterprise...

[trotsky]

6. Exactly.

No surprise.

[truebrit71]

8. Criminals will behave like criminals...

Whether money-laundering or covering up for child-rape...

[rug]

7. Alert Interpol.

[AlbertCat]

3. Under US tax laws, organisations like churches that are classified as non-profit groups ...

... are not supposed to be engaged in political activity,

Religion's current disregard for the law is a real problem.

Way past time to tax them and prosecute offenders and to let people know the secular law of the land comes before conviction to ancient superstitions.

[rug]

5. Incorrect. The prohibition is against supporting candidates, not issues.

https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/the-restriction-of-political-campaign-intervention-by-section-501-c-3-tax-exempt-organizations

It's a political wrong, not an illegal act.

[AlbertCat]

10. The prohibition is against supporting candidates,

That ploy isn't gonna work with people paying attention.


Besides, their tax exemption is routinely abused....and is unconstitutional anyway. Get rid of it.



Besides by their "disregard for the law" I mean all of it. Like "religious exemptions' from doing the jobs you were hired to do. Even when government jobs. Nope. Time for the church to be like any other business.

[rug]

11. It's not a ploy, it's the law.

Frankly, your argument is much better during an election than in lobbying legislation.

[truebrit71]

9. It is way past time "churches" had their exemptions revoked...

....ALL churches, not just the ones that cover-up multiple ongoing felonies...

[rug]

12. Thank God we don't have an established church.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. when you are on a mission from god the ends justify the means

[Brettongarcia]

13. Chaput is a martial artist; he likes to fight

Trained in the literal martial arts.

Part Canadian Indian?

Has a chip on his shoulder.

Not the turn-the-other-cheek type.

Writes for religious right journal, First Things.

Boston applied anti racketeering Rico laws to cardinal Law, before he skipped the country, for the Vatican.