Legislative Attack on Catholic Church in Connecticut

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this is nothing new. just more of the devil attacking Holy Mother Church. he’ll fail in the long term even if this passes. if it does it sets a very dangerous precedent that should have every religous person up in arms regardless of their faith.
 
But the idea that some legislators would even contemplate doing this in the USA is unthinkable.

I didn’t know that Communist China had an offshoot in Connecticut.
 
Senate Bill 1098 comes in response to several high profile embezzlement cases in Connecticut parishes, according to its sponsors.

State mandated audits and other financial checks and balances would be appropriate. But this bill would broadly strip pastors and bishops of virtually all management authority in church matters. It forces the church to organize its internal affairs according to a state-imposed model.

Here is the text of the bill. Note the sweeping powers it gives to elected parish councils –

cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/S/2009SB-01098-R00-SB.htm

I’ve long favored a stronger laity role in Church governance, in collegiality with the bishops. I do not believe Christ ever intended for the centralized theocracy we have now. However, that demand has to come from the church pews, not be imposed by politicians.

The hearing is Weds., March 11.
Connecticut residents: call your state senators and representatives this week and urge them to oppose SB 1098.

Audits YES; state takeover NO.
 
This from the Conn. Conference of Catholic bishops –

ACTION ALERT - VERY URGENT !!!
Your Help is Needed to Defend Our Faith
and
Stop This Violation of Religious Freedom

Contact Your Legislators / Attend The Public Hearing

The Co-Chairs of the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, Senator Andrew McDonald and Represenative Michael Lawlor, have raised legislation that would restructure Catholic parishes. Senate Bill 1098 directly attacks the Roman Catholic Church in our state. No other religious denomination is forced to restructure under this proposed legislation. The legislation is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, March 11th, at 12:00 noon, in Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN OUR STATE.

Contact the Co-Chairs of the Judiciary Committee and tell them you oppose the legislation, S.B. 1098

Senator Andrew McDonald - 1-800-842-1420 email: McDonald@senatedems.ct.gov
Representative Michael Lawlor - 1-800-842-8267 email: MLawlor99@juno.com

If you which to call your legislators or members of the Judiciary Committee use the phone numbers below:

House Democrats: 1-800-842-8267
House Republicans: 1-800-842-1423

Senate Democrats: 1-800-842-1420
Senate Republicans: 1-800-842-1421
 
The Church belongs to only one person: Jesus Christ. Hence, the fundamental structure of the Church is not something that is negotiated like a social contract that created the United States, but is given to her by Christ. The folks in the pews have no more ability to alter the hierarchical nature (i.e. based on Holy Orders, whence the word hierarchy) of the Church any more than the Bishops.

In our Catholic tradition, authority in the Church, which is God’s family, derives from the authority of Christ which he committed to his Apostles and their successors. Authority is thus not an assertion of oneself, but the assertion of Christ. Human sin sullies, but cannot alter, that reality.

The laity certainly have a role in the Church, and some would be called to share their expertise and gifts in the service of the Church’s internal governance. However, as we lay members of Christ’s Body do not share in the Apostolic authority granted in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, our service is always one of charity in communion with the Bishops. And actually, the primary role of the laity in the Church lies in the secular world, where our actions and examples evangelise and win hearts and minds for Christ.
 
So are you suggesting that we should make the governor of Connecticut a bishop?
 
The sponsors of this bill have caved in, and Wednesday’s hearing has been canceled. They say it suddenly dawned on them this bill may be unconstitutional. More likely the huge public outcry had something to do with it. Senator McDonald had over 3,000 messages in his email this morning!

from the Hartford Courant:
courant.com/news/politics/hc-catholic-church-bill-0310,0,2406636.story

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 the measure’s constitutionality can be determined.

Despite the postponement, the Catholic Church is going forward with plans to rally at the Capitol. Hundreds of people, many of whom where angry about what they view as the state’s inappropriate and perhaps unconstitutional incursion into church affair, were expected at the hearing.

“We have decided to cancel the public hearing for tomorrow [and] table any further consideration of this bill for the duration of this session,” the lawmakers (Rep.Michael Lawlor and Sen.Andrew McDonald) said in a joint statement.
 
Woo hoo!!! I just emailed that McDonald guy this morning against this ridiculous bill. So did a lot of other people apparently, lol.
 
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