BOSTON (MA)
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
By THEO EMERY
Associated Press Writer
BOSTON— When the clergy sexual abuse scandal broke in early 2002, lifelong Roman Catholic Don Pachuta told himself he wouldn't give another nickel to the Boston Archdiocese until the church opened its books and showed him where his money had gone.
More than three years later, he's still waiting.
An increasing number of Catholics like Pachuta, as well as members of other religious denominations, are backing a legislative proposal to make churches, mosques and synagogues in Massachusetts subject to the same reporting requirements as secular charities and non-profits.
And in a sign of the shift in influence by the once-powerful Catholic church in a heavily Catholic state, some lawmakers appear more willing to force reforms on the archdiocese.
The measure, which is backed by about 30 lawmakers, would require most churches and religious institutions to file the same annual reports with the attorney general's office as other charities and nonprofit organizations.
They would also have to report their real estate holdings, and the rules would also apply to related organizations and businesses that they own, whether for-profit or nonprofit. Most states with reporting requirements exempt churches, but some do require religious institutions to file financial information.
The Roman Catholic Church, as well as Protestant and Orthodox denominations, are lining up to oppose the legislation, saying that it would allow the government to intrude on private affairs of the church.
Posted by kshaw at August 9, 2005 05:17 PM