Diocese of Bridgeport sues state over"lobbying" complaint

[Brownstein, Alan]

There are at least three interesting issues raised by this lawsuit. First, there is the general question of when lobbyist registration laws violate the free speech clause of the First amendment. Second, there is the question of whether religious organizations should be granted exemptions from state lobbyist registrations laws. Third, there is the question of whether granting an exemption to religious organizations for activities that would require registration if they were engaged in by secular organizations constitutes viewpoint discrimination prohibited by the free speech clause of the First Amendment.

Alan Brownstein

From: religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu [mailto:religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu] On Behalf Of Brad Pardee
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:01 AM
To: Academics, Law & Religion issues for Law,
Subject: Diocese of Bridgeport sues state over"lobbying" complaint

The Connecticut Office of State Ethics has attempted to require the Diocese of Bridgeport to register as a lobbyist because a) the Diocese spent over $2000 to rent buses to bring protesters to the state capitol for a demonstration against Raised Bill 1098 (the attempt to force the Catholic church to reorganize in violation of church law), b) the Diocese made statements on its website encouraging members to oppose Bill 1098 and Bill 899 (regarding same-sex marriage).

>From the Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-church-ethics-0530.art0may30,0,5479928.story
>From the Diocese: http://www.bridgeportdiocese.com/story_Ethics.shtml
>From WorldNet Daily: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99836

Brad
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