What is going on here? Lobbyists? Scorecards?

[Loonman]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/06/15/church_gives_pre_election_scorecard/

ex:
''We leave it up to each pastor to disseminate or not disseminate our analysis of votes; it's his prerogative," said Gerald D'Avolio, executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the Beacon Hill organization that lobbies for the archbishop of Boston and the bishops of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester. ''I think it's a matter of right that we let people . . . know the position of the people who represent them."

Although many special-interest organizations issue regular scorecards grading lawmakers on a variety of issues, the church mailing drew some criticism yesterday.

''I think the Massachusetts Catholic Conference is itching to get its tax exemption revoked," said Robert Boston, spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a nonpartisan, Washington-based advocacy group that is critical of involvement by religious organizations in electoral politics. ''It would be difficult to look at this as anything other than a command of who to vote for and who to vote against, and the IRS code is very clear that churches and other religious bodies may not engage in that type of activity."

Daniel Avila, associate director for policy and research at the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, disagreed, saying the timing of the mailing had nothing to do with the elections. Rather, he said, it was merely sent on the heels of the debate.

[LittleApple81]

1. The Catholic Church is so stupid... they will help the FUNDIES

WHO HATE CATHOLICS. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face...

[fdr_hst_fan]

2. Any religious or

psuedo-Religious organization that even so much as EXPRESSES AN OPINION as to who should and should NOT be elected to ANY political office (even dog catcher!) should have its IRS tax-exempt status revoked IMMEDIATLEY! No excuses! That means Pat "Daddy got me out of the Korean War" Robertson, Jerry "I lied about the membership numbers of my Moral Majority" Falwell, and any other Religious entity that takes a notion to butt in. I'm not religious, but I'll fight for anyone's right to worship, but I WON'T fight for any Religion's right to propagandize from the pulpit!