SPRINGFIELD (MA)
The Republican
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
By BILL ZAJAC
wzajac@repub.com
As the state House of Representatives gets ready to vote on a bill requiring charitable organizations such as churches to file annual financial disclosure statements, local battle lines continued to be drawn yesterday by opponents of the legislation.
A Catholic lay organization that supports the bill yesterday accused the Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, the bishop of the Springfield diocese, of passing along misinformation about the bill in letters trying to generate opposition.
The accusation was denied yesterday by a diocesan spokesman.
Meanwhile, a group of Springfield Protestant clergy plan to meet today to discuss their opposition to the bill.
The Rev. Talbert W. Swan, organizer of the meeting, expressed surprise the bill could be voted on as soon as today in the House.
"I'm shocked. The Senate just passed it last week. It makes you wonder why it is being rushed through the House," Swan said.