Catholic World News News Feature

Diocesan lawyer steps aside after CWN story October 28, 2004

The attorney for the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, has recused himself from involvement in any future decisions regarding the tax-exempt status, after being criticized in a CWN story for recommending against the distribution of a popular voting guide.

In a press release issued on Thursday night-- just hours after the CWN story appeared-- the diocese announced that James Birnbaum had made the decision himself, in order "to avoid even the appearance of even the appearance of a conflict of interest and to end any controversy" about his decisions.

CWN had reported that Birnbaum-- who advised against the distribution of a voter's guide that emphasized pro-life issues-- has contributed to several political candidates who favor legal abortion. Birnbaum explained his decision by saying that distribution of the guide could endanger the tax-exempt status of the Wisconsin diocese.

Father Richard Gilles, the administrator of the La Crosse diocese (which is temporarily without a bishop), emphasized that Birnbaum had "served three bishops and now the diocesan administrator with competence and distinction." Birnbaum will continue to serve the diocese on other legal matters. He stressed that Birnbaum himself had made the decision to end his involvement in questions about the diocese's tax-exempt status.

In his October 28 statement, Father Gilles said that the La Crosse diocese would continue to abide by its decision, and would not distribute the Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics prepared by the lay group Catholic Answers. But in the future, his statement continued, "the Wisconsin Catholic Conference has agreed to study and review its guidelines and voter education to address some of the issues raised."