Catholic Answers Sues IRS

The apologetics organization Catholic Answers has filed suit against the Internal Revenue Service claiming the federal tax collection agency has “intimidated” churches and non-profit groups into silence on politically controversial moral issues.

In an announcement posted at the organization’s web site, Catholic Answers president Karl Keating explained that the IRS fined the group for a 2004 e-letter it wrote saying that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry should not be allowed to receive Holy Communion.

Keating charged that Francis Kissling, then-leader of the pro-abortion front group “Catholics for a Free Choice,” had instigated the IRS action with a complaint.

He said Kissling “hated” Catholic Answers’ “Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics,” which aimed to educate Catholics on issues such as abortion. However, the guide did not mention any candidates or political parties and was cleared of any violations by the IRS.

According to Keating, the IRS did rule that the e-letter’s remark about Sen. Kerry was “intervening” in the election, a charge Keating called “preposterous.”

He said the IRS has been using “very vague criteria” to “intimidate” churches, non-profits and ministries into “silence” on controversial moral issues.

“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).”

“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,” Keating wrote.

Complete article here.

This is so wrong. I hope and pray Catholic Answers wins. There are moral issues at stake that effect a person's soul. People have a right to know these things and to be guided spiritually by their shepherds. What ever happened to the right to free speech and the right to freedom of religion?

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Comments

  1. Anonymous6/9/09, 1:02 AM

    It sounds to me like the "good guys against the bad guys". We can no longer assume our government is "of the people, by the people and for the people".

    The government learned to use the IRS against the mob in the 30's and 40's, since then, who ever is in power has used it for their own purpose.

    In the past 50 years, I have seen our country move more and more toward evil. Good people have to stand up for what is right soon, or all will be lost.

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