IRS Asked To Investigate RI Diocese Because of Anti-Giuliani Editorial

Americans United for Separation of Church and State yesterday announced that it had sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service asking it to investigate whether the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, R.I. had become improperly involved in electoral politics in violation of restrictions on Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. In a May 31 editorial, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, writing in the Rhode Island Catholic, attacked Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani's views on abortion rights, and saying that he is therefore turning down an invitation he received to a Giuliani fundraiser.