Matt C. Abbott column
In the news: IRS, breast cancer, abortion-infanticide; Pope Francis and Fatima
Matt C. Abbott
There's been some interesting news in the last several days involving
the Internal Revenue Service (under fire for targeting conservative
groups), abortion-infanticide (the trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell),
and breast cancer (an announcement by Hollywood actress Angelina
Jolie).
Pro-life, pro-family groups targeted by the tyrannical IRS include the following (information courtesy of press releases):
Thankfully, abortionist Kermit Gosnell will be spending the rest of his miserable life behind bars. Good riddance. Too bad his fellow abortionists nationwide – and worldwide, for that matter – won't be joining him.
In an unrelated story, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie announced via a May 14 op-ed in The New York Times that she opted for a double mastectomy, writing:
I've heard nothing about Jolie ever having had an abortion, but there is an abortion-breast cancer connection that the media have largely ignored over the years.
Angela Lanfranchi, M.D., FACS, wrote (click here for the article in its entirety):
Click here for the website of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer.
On May 13, Pope Francis consecrated his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima. Click here for the story.
The following is the prayer of consecration lead by Cardinal Jose Policarpo, president of the bishops' conference of Portugal (with an allusion to the third part of the secret of Fatima):
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Read more here: http://www.renewamerica.com/
Pro-life, pro-family groups targeted by the tyrannical IRS include the following (information courtesy of press releases):
- In one case, the IRS withheld approval of an application for tax exempt status for Coalition for Life of Iowa.
In a phone call to Coalition for Life of Iowa leaders on June 6, 2009,
the IRS agent 'Ms. Richards' told the group to send a letter to the IRS
with the entire board's signatures stating that, under perjury of the
law, they do not picket/protest or organize groups to picket or protest
outside of Planned Parenthood. Once the IRS received this letter, their
application would be approved. After a series of letters following a
request for more invasive information, Thomas More Society special
counsel Sally Wagenmaker sent a letter to the IRS demanding the tax
exempt status be issued immediately....
- In another similar case, the IRS withheld approval of an application for charitable tax-exempt recognition of Christian Voices for Life,
questioning the group's involvement with 40 Days for Life and Life
Chain events. The Fort Bend County, Texas, organization was subjected to
repeated and lengthy unconstitutional requests for information about
the viewpoint and content of its educational communications, volunteer
prayer vigils, and other protected activities....
- In July 2009, the Chicago IRS office threatened the CatholicVote.org
Education Fund. As a part of our [CatholicVote.org's] response, we
cited the IRS code, which explicitly states that charities like ours are
permitted to reach the public with a 'pure issue message.' Nothing in
the law prohibits organizations like ours from informing voters about
the positions taken by candidates for public office. Our 501(c)3 entity
has never endorsed, supported or expressly advocated the election or
defeat of ANY political candidate. We argued that the IRS code is vague
and standardless, and that no objective standard exists to regulate what
might or might not constitute political intervention – thus opening the
door to abuse. We told the IRS that groups like ours should not be
subjected to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement....
- Also in 2009, 'Catholic Answers
filed suit in federal court against the Internal Revenue Service for
violating our [Catholic Answers'] right to free speech. Yes, you read
that correctly. We're standing up to the IRS. Not just for ourselves,
but on behalf of non-profit organizations and churches all across the
country that are constantly harassed, threatened, intimidated, and
persecuted by the IRS....'
Thankfully, abortionist Kermit Gosnell will be spending the rest of his miserable life behind bars. Good riddance. Too bad his fellow abortionists nationwide – and worldwide, for that matter – won't be joining him.
In an unrelated story, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie announced via a May 14 op-ed in The New York Times that she opted for a double mastectomy, writing:
I've heard nothing about Jolie ever having had an abortion, but there is an abortion-breast cancer connection that the media have largely ignored over the years.
Angela Lanfranchi, M.D., FACS, wrote (click here for the article in its entirety):
Click here for the website of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer.
On May 13, Pope Francis consecrated his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima. Click here for the story.
The following is the prayer of consecration lead by Cardinal Jose Policarpo, president of the bishops' conference of Portugal (with an allusion to the third part of the secret of Fatima):
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Read more here: http://www.renewamerica.com/
Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic columnist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Media and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management from Triton College in River Grove, Ill. He has worked in the right-to-life movement and is a published writer focused on Catholic and social issues. He can be reached at mattcabbott@gmail.com.
© Copyright 2013 by Matt C. Abbott
