At the Republican dinner tonight, the invocation just came from Msgr. James Lisante, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church, West Hempstead, whose commentaries have appeared on TV and in newspapers.
He said:
"Bless all our Republican presidential candidates, and help us sort out all this election stuff with grace dignity and goodness and unity. Whatever their weaknesses or mistakes, Mayor Rudy and Senator John are even on a bad day far superior to what's on the other side."
Dan Janison
Comments (18)
If the Monsignor is acting in his official capacity (so it appears), perhaps someone should remind him of the laws regarding non-profits and the prohibition against endorsing a particular political candidate. Better yet, bring this to the attention of the IRS.
Amen to John's comment.
Your comments are so gay. Are you really that much of a loser?
Fred said: "Your comments are so gay."
Fred, why don't you explain to all of us just what you mean by your comment. You sound like quite the bigot. If you've got something substantive to say, by all means say it. Your current post, however, is a meaningless waste of bandwidth. Try not to sound like such a nitwit.
Priests are allowed to have opinions. Have you heard of "Rev" Al Sharpton or "Rev" Jessie Jackson?? To say the IRS should be notified displays your ignorance and prejudice against a catholic Priest. The crack about gays was equally stupid. The real issue is how can a Catholic priest support Rudy who is a pro-abortion wolf in sheep's clothing. The good Monsignor is supporting a man who is pro-abortion, pro-death penalty and pro-war. Thus a man who disagrees with the church on three major issues. Rudy also supported a convicted felon for Secretary of Homeland Security, and put the emergency bunker in the World Trade Center, which was a target of terrorists since at least 1994. No judgment and no moral compass; sounds like presidential timber to me!
Actually, Charlie, you are the one who is ignorant -- of the law. The Monsignor is certainly entitled to his opinion about abortion, but carrying water for particular political candidates is another matter. Churches and others who are granted special tax relief at the public expense are legally required to be very careful about abiding by the separation of church and state. Here is a link on the topic (or click on my name). It's about time that the IRS cracks down on churches and others ignoring the law, the Monsignor included. Anybody got a video?
http://taxes.about.com/b/a/257340.htm
BTW, I don't like Rudy and wouldn't vote for him as President. This is not about Rudy. It's about obeying the law and the separation of church and state. You know, obeying the U.S. Constitution.
One more thing. I'm all for nailing Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson too if they've violated the law.
John what law are you talking about? Please cite the statute or case law.You probably never read the constitution, which says NOTHING about the separation of church and state. It says the government can't establish an official religion.Priests, ministers and rabbis have the right of free speech. I suppose you think that Rev Martin Luther King Jr should not have led the civil rights movement, because he was a minister. Why nail anybody?
Just have someone read the constitution to you.
Charlie -- If anyone is being deliberately obtuse, it's you. Did you even read the last webpage that I cited? I doubt it.
Let's do this again, since I'm obviously dealing with a remedial class. Click on the very first link in the last website that I mentioned. Here, let me lay out for you:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=161131,00.html
That's the IRS talking. You've heard of the IRS haven't you? Read it and weep.
Free speech has its limitations -- if you're "taking" public monies, as is the case with religious organizations and their tax exempt status. Can you comprehend that? I can't help you if you can't absorb a simple concept like that.
Now about that video....
Oh, this is good. I've got even more for you, Charlie, from the IRS again. From the section called "What is Political Campaign Intervention?" as linked to my name. And I quote the IRS:
"Contributions to...public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of an organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention."
Can you hear me now, Charlie? CHARLIE! Are you reading this, son.
The Monsignor might want to sit down and be quiet when it comes to pontificating in favor of particular political candidates.
John,
I read the link that you provided on campaign intervention, and going by the example provided by the IRS concluded that the monsignor did nothing that violated the law.
How so, Maven? I respect your opinion from other blogs. I know that you're not a zealot.
John,
Thanks. The Monsignor wasn't acting as an official of St. Thomas, or of the Diocese, nor was he addressing a meeting of the church or the diocese, nor did he use membership in the his church, the diocese, or the RC church as a rationale for advocating a specific action.
If he had said "It's our duty as good Catholics to vote for X" then it would have been a very different story -but, according to the blog item, that wasn't the case.
Priests and other religious ministers have the right to say what they want to. A church can't print endorsements of canidate in their weekly bulletins, but any clergyman has the right of free speech. The clergy file tax returns like everyone else for their income. The institutional churches and other tax exempt organizations must refrain from political activity. Your prejudice against the church is surpassed only by the weakness of your arguments and your ignorance of constitutional law. God Bless
Charlie --
What kind of simplistic world do you live in that expecting the church to abide by the law is prejudice against the church?
There have been numerous problems with non-profits not abiding by the laws under which they are organized. Hence, the IRS webpages on the subject.
You had no idea what I was referring to initially and you still don't. You refuse to be encumbered by the thought process. We can't have a meeting of the minds if you refuse to think.
There are limitations to what a priest can say politically. The fact that HE (sexist that the Catholic church is) files a tax return is not the point.
Maven and I may disagree a little on the interpretation of those limitations (I'll reread your stuff shortly, maven, thanks), but you don't even appear to comprehend that there ARE limitations.
Turn off FOX news and use your head for a change. Your prejudice against thinking is surpassed only by your arrogance about your church being able to do anything that it damn well pleases.
Now the debate has turned to the fact that you think the church is sexist, and anyone who disagrees with you watches FOX news. Thus, collateral issues and name calling are your refuge. You are clearly a sick little man whose prejudice against the church takes him away from the debate,which you may recall was about free speech and tax exempt organizations, to a broad based attack against an institution you hate. How does the all male clergy become relevant to this discussion? You'd be interested to know that I don't like FOX news,CNN or MSNBC, all of which pass off rhetoric as debate, and fuel the small minded on both sides of every issue, with sound bites in lieu of discussion. Take your best shot, I'm out. GOD BLESS YOU
Charlie -- Perhaps the Monsignor's time would be better spent dealing with situations as in the link below (or click on my name), rather than running around prattling on about Mayor Rudy and Senator John."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05192007/news/regionalnews/l_i__sex_jury_slams_diocese_for_11_4m_regionalnews_.htm