Tail-Between-The-Legs Cowering Catholic Answers Sues Irs over Alleged Attempts to Silence Churches, Non-Profits on Moral Issues, California Catholic Daily, June 8, 2009

" Tail-Between-The-Legs Cowering"
Catholic Answers Sues Irs over Alleged Attempts to Silence Churches, Non-Profits on Moral Issues
California Catholic Daily
June 8, 2009

http://calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=73c1103f-9eca-4f5d-9eb4-536297f969bf

Catholic Answers, a lay-run Catholic apologetics and evangelization group based in San Diego County, has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service alleging the federal tax-collection agency is using its powers to stifle the legal expression of pro-life and other religious viewpoints by non-profit organizations.

"We're suing the IRS for violating our First Amendment rights, for slapping us with a fine for exercising our free speech rights, and for intimidating all non-profit organizations into silence," said Catholic Answers president Karl Keating in a statement posted on the organization's web site.

According to the web site, "Catholic Answers is one of the nation's largest lay-run apostolates of Catholic apologetics and evangelization. Its mission statement explains its purpose: Catholic Answers is an apostolate dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness of Catholic truth to the world. We help good Catholics become better Catholics, bring former Catholics 'home,' and lead non-Catholics into the fullness of the faith. We explain Catholic truth, equip the faithful to live fully the sacramental life, and assist them in spreading the Good News."

In Keating's announcement posted on the Catholic Answers web site, he says the dispute dates back to the 2004 elections when he wrote an E-letter saying that presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., should not be permitted to receive Holy Communion because of his support for abortion.

"Now, it's important to note that at no time did I or anyone at Catholic Answers tell people whom to vote for or whom not to vote for," said Keating. "We merely stated our view that pro-abortion Catholic politicians should not be allowed to receive Holy Communion. Well, for this simple statement of Catholic belief and practice, the IRS slapped us with fines and taxes!"

The IRS ruled that Keating's E-letter represented an intervention in the election prohibited by regulations governing non-profit, tax-exempt groups like Catholic Answers. Keating characterized the IRS finding as "preposterous."

According to Keating, it was Frances Kissling of the pro-abortion group Catholics for Choice (formerly known as Catholics for a Free Choice), who initiated the complaint against Catholic Answers. In May 2000, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement denouncing Kissling's group, saying "the group's activity is directed to rejection and distortion of Catholic teaching about the respect and protection due to defenseless unborn human life." The bishops' statement said Catholics for a Free Choice "is not a Catholic organization, does not speak for the Catholic Church, and in fact promotes positions contrary to the teaching of the Church…" The group, said the bishops, "is, practically speaking, an arm of the abortion lobby in the United States and throughout the world."

Kissling, said Keating, "hated our very successful Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics, which was read by more than 20 million American voters -- and merely educated Catholics on the 'five non-negotiable' moral issues of our time (abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, and homosexual 'marriage.') The voter's guide did not mention any candidates or political parties. It simply talked about Catholic teaching on these five major issues." The IRS concluded that the Voter's Guide did not violate any rules governing non-profits, but that Keating's E-letter mentioning Kerry by name was a violation.

Keating said that "for many decades the IRS has been using very vague criteria to intimidate churches, non-profit organizations, and ministries into silence on moral issues that are being debated in the political realm. The intimidation has become so bad that nowadays, most churches and non-profits in America are scared to death even to talk about moral issues that are deemed 'political' (such as abortion)."

Keating continued, "If you're wondering why you don't hear more about abortion in your parish, especially during election time, this is why. It's IRS intimidation. For instance, in many cases, Catholic parishioners have been forbidden by their pastors or diocesan leaders to distribute our Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics. All of this tail-between-the-legs cowering comes from the IRS' ability to intimidate churches and non-profits into silence on political issues."

On April 3, Catholic Answers filed its lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service in U.S. District Court, alleging the IRS had violated its First Amendment rights.

"We're standing up to the IRS," said Keating. "Not just for ourselves, but on behalf of non-profit organizations and churches all across the country that are constantly harassed, threatened, intimidated, and persecuted by the IRS."