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Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine Allegedly in Violation of Tax Law by Gizem Unsalan May 22, 2009 |
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A San Diego-based civil rights group claims that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine is in violation of a tax law for its efforts to repeal the state’s new same-sex marriage law.
The Empowering Spirits Foundation, which works to seek equality for the LGBT community, filed a challenge against the diocese on Wednesday at an Internal Revenue Service office in Dallas. According to the Foundation, the diocese engaged in political activity by collecting signatures for a marriage equality referendum, which violates IRS rules for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.
Opponents of gay marriage, including the diocese, would need to collect at least 55,087 signatures from registered voters in order to qualify for a ballot measure that may overturn Maine's new gay marriage law. The signatures must be collected within 90 days after the state legislature adjourns in mid-June.
According to Marc Mutty, the public affairs director for the diocese, IRS policy allows the diocese to participate in the campaign to overturn gay marriage as well as collect signatures. Mutty called the Empowering Spirits Foundation’s IRS challenge a “bogus attempt to sidetrack the campaign.”
Meanwhile, in an effort to start a campaign that would defeat the referendum, nearly a dozen supporters of same-sex marriage gathered in a park across the street from Maine’s Capitol to thank the legislature and Governor John Baldacci for passing the marriage equality law earlier this month.
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