Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island is under fire from an activist group that claims his recent column in the diocesan newspaper criticizing Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani for his position on abortion violated the Church's tax-exempt status.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate Bishop Tobin to determine whether he violated the Church's tax-exempt status.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, the group's executive director, said in a news release that Tobin "appears to have violated federal tax law by attacking Giuliani." He added that "federal tax law forbids non-profits to use organizational resources to support or oppose candidates for public office."
According to the Associated Press, the IRS has refused to comment on the case until it decides whether or not there is any substance to the complaint. The AP reports that the diocese has rejected the claims as having no merit.
In his article entitled "My R.S.V.P. to Rudy Giuliani," Tobin explained that he had rejected an opportunity to meet with the former New York mayor for his "personally opposed, but…" moral stand on abortion calling it "pathetic and confusing."
"Rudy's preposterous position is compounded by the fact that he professes to be a Catholic," says Bishop Tobin, adding that "Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Pat Leahy, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden come quickly to mind" as Catholics abandoning their faith for "political expediency."
The bishop has received support and encouragement from faithful Catholics defending his right to express his individual opinion.
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