Hartford, Conn., Mar 10, 2009 / 15:53 pm
Following a deluge of phone calls and emails, the bill introduced in the Connecticut Senate to reorganize the financial and pastoral structure of the Catholic Church has been pulled and tabled for the rest of the legislative session.
Meanwhile, Sen. Andrew MacDonald and Rep. Michael Lawlor, the sponsors of the bill, have sent it to the state Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, to determine if it passes constitutional muster. The two lawmakers also canceled a hearing on the bill set to take place tomorrow at noon.
Despite the bill being pulled, the Diocese of Bridgeport is telling its members that the bill is still a possibility and that they are planning on proceeding with plans to rally against the proposed legislation.
"Furthermore," says a statement from the diocese, "we are deeply concerned about statements made by elected officials suggesting that Connecticut's existing religious corporation statutes, including those applicable to the Roman Catholic Church, are unconstitutional and should be amended. These statements are misinformed."