Catholic Fire

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On his program yesterday, Glenn Beck discussed the government of Connecticut's attempt to control the Catholic Church with Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight with the Knights of Columbus and with Judge Napolitano. The Roman Catholic church expressed outrage this week -- and rightfully so -- over proposed legislation that would've forced the church to reorganize its infrastructure in Connecticut. According to Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the proposed legislation -- Bill 1098 -- was drafted in response to incidents in Greenwich and Darien, where two priests allegedly diverted, if not embezzled, parish funds to the tune of $3.5 million. The church was right on this one. The bill doesn't belong on the books. In fact, Bill 1098 was withdrawn Tuesday before it ever reached the cauldron of a public hearing Wednesday. Article.

A controversial bill that would change the way the Catholic church governs itself has been pulled and a public hearing planned Wednesday on the issue postponed until its constitutionality can be determined. The hearing had been expected to draw hundreds of people, many of whom where angry about what they view as the state's inappropriate and perhaps unconstitutional incursion into church affairs. At a press conference this morning at the legislative office building, Tom Gallagher of Greenwich, who has long advocated that lay people be given greater responsibilities within the church, said he has asked Rep. Michael Lawlor and Sen. Andrew McDonald, co-chairmen of the legislature's judiciary committee, to put off the hearing until Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has reviewed the matter. Lawlor and McDonald agreed. "At the request of the proponents who are advocating this legislation, we have decided to cancel the public hearing for tomorrow [and] table any further conside...

Hartford, Conn.,( CNA ).- Catholics around the country are upset over a new bill in the Connecticut Senate that, in the words of the Archbishop of Hartford, "forces a radical reorganization of the legal, financial, and administrative structure of our parishes." The bill, which bears resemblance to Voice of the Faithful’s Strategic Plan, is being supported by Dr. Paul Lakeland, who believes that in this case it’s appropriate to use state legislation to force the Church’s hand. Dr. Paul Lakeland, Fairfield University Chair of Catholic Studies, Voice of the Faithful member, former Jesuit Priest, and author of several books including “The Liberation of the Laity: In Search of an Accountable Church,” recently discussed his support for Connecticut’s controversial Bill No. 1098 with CNA. Dr. Lakeland is also scheduled to testify before the Connecticut General Assembly on behalf of the bill. The premise of the bill is remarkably similar to the 2009-2010 Voice of the Faithful Strategi...

Video – Bishop Lori on Raised House Bill 1098 On Thursday, March 5, a bill was introduced in the Connecticut state legislature, and immediately referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. It targets one – and only one – church in the state, the Catholic Church, and would strip the bishops and priests of the state of any power to exercise administrative authority over their parishes. Raised Bill No. 1098 is a committee bill and does not bear the names of any individual sponsors. Both co-chairmen of the committee, State Sen. Andrew McDonald and State Rep. Michael Lawlor, are outspoken proponents of same-sex marriage in Connecticut and have been critical of the Catholic Church’s opposition to both civil unions and same-sex marriage. The stated purpose of the bill is to “provide for the investigation of the misappropriation of funds by religious corporations,” but it deals only with the corporate structure of the Catholic Church. No other church is mentioned, or would be subject t...