El Paso Catholic church bulletin urges Obama defeat

A local Catholic church appears to have violated IRS rules -- and Catholic doctrine -- by endorsing a presidential candidate in a church bulletin.

St. Raphael Catholic Church on the city's East Side might have violated an Internal Revenue Service rule that prohibits tax-exempt churches from taking sides when it comes to candidates seeking political office in its Aug. 5 bulletin.

"I am asking all of you to go to the polls and be united in replacing our present president with a president that will respect the Catholic Church in this country," the end of the entry in the bulletin says. "Please pass this on to all of your Catholic friends."

The IRS won't comment on individual complaints, but its publication, "Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations," says, "Churches and religious organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office."

The item in St. Raphael's bulletin clearly violates those rules, said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based group that argues that separation of church and state protects religion as well as government.

Lynn said the item encouraging parishioners to vote against President Barack Obama was an official communication of the church.

"What's more official than the church

bulletin?" he asked.

Monsignor Francis J. Smith, pastor of St. Raphael Catholic Church, couldn't be reached for this story.

But the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, which oversees St. Raphael, acknowledged in an email that the entry in the bulletin was inappropriate.

"Churches and other nonprofits are strictly prohibited from engaging in political campaigning/endorsement of a particular candidate," said Deacon Carlos Rubio, vice chancellor of the diocese. "The Diocese of El Paso is aware of this requirement from the IRS and mindful that it does not violate such norms."

The passage in the bulletin lists the number of employees of Catholic schools and hospitals in the United States, and it appears to be in response to Obama's mandate that health plans offered by those employers cover birth-control medication for women who want it. Catholic doctrine opposes artificial means of birth control.

The language that appeared in the bulletin also appeared -- verbatim -- in a July 10 post titled "Social Importance of the Catholic Church" on "Defenders of the Catholic Faith" -- a blog hosted by writer and lecturer Steve Ray. Political entries on the blog oppose Obama and what it says are his policies.

Contacted by email, Ray seemed unconcerned that the bulletin did not credit him for the passage, which he said he didn't remember writing.

"I am for the church and Catholics speaking their mind," he wrote. "We've been quiet too long."

Church rules say differently.

The primary U.S. church document on the Catholic Church's role in politics is called "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship," issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It says the role of bishops, priests and deacons is to teach fundamental moral principals that provide the framework for decisions such as how to vote.

"In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Church's leaders are to avoid endorsing or opposing candidates or telling people how to vote," the document says.

It also quotes Pope Benedict XVI: "The Church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest. ? The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice."

Rubio, the deacon of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, referred to the bishops' instructions in describing the steps the diocese is taking in response to the entry in the St. Raphael bulletin.

"The office of the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of El Paso has asked the pastor of St. Raphael Parish to re-address the article that appeared on August 5, 2012, in the parish bulletin in a manner that is consistent with the Guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on 'Faithful Citizenship' and requirements of the IRS," he said.

St. Raphael's bulletin was one reaction to Obama's mandate over contraception coverage. It also aroused the anger of many Catholics -- including some bishops.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State asked the IRS to investigate the Diocese of Peoria, Ill. Its bishop, Daniel R. Jenky, delivered a homily comparing Obama to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin over the birth-control issue and then urged his listeners to go vote their consciences.

Last year, the organization complained to the IRS that El Paso's Word of Life Church was improperly involving itself in electoral politics by using its Tom Brown Ministries website to encourage voters to recall Mayor John Cook and city Reps. Steve Ortega and Susie Byrd.

Lynn, the executive director of Americans United, said IRS sanctions that are milder than revoking tax exemptions are often secret, so it can be impossible to know when -- or whether -- the agency takes action.

Even though the church cannot take sides, Rubio reminded El Paso Catholics to vote this presidential election season.

"The Diocese of El Paso cannot endorse any candidate for public office but reminds the Catholic faithful to exercise their civic duty to vote responsibly," he said. "It also reminds pastors and those who write in parish bulletins to respect copyright/published material guidelines for giving credit to original authors."

Marty Schladen may be reached at mschladen@elpasotimes.com; 546-6127.

Source: http://www.au.org/media/in-the-news/el-paso-catholic-church-bulletin-urges-obama-defeat

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