Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has advised the Office of State Ethics to drop its investigation of whether activities of the Bridgeport Diocese require it to register as a lobbyist. The state ethics office wrote the Diocese raising questions after the Diocese took part in a rally in March opposing Raised Bill 1098 that would have forced reorganization of financial oversight in Catholic parishes. The Diocese then sued in federal court to stop state action to force it to register. (See prior posting.) Yesterday's Hartford Courant reports that Blumenthal believes the investigation and enforcement activities against the Diocese may raise church-state concerns, and says the legislature needs to narrow and clarify the statute. While the ethics agency can still proceed, Blumenthal's office is refusing to defend its actions. Individual agency officials might face damage claims.
UPDATE: The Hartford Courant reports that on Wednesday afternoon, the Office of State Ethics dropped it investigation of the Bridgeport Catholic Diocese.
UPDATE 2: On Thursday afternoon, the Bridgeport Diocese announced it was dropping its federal lawsuit. (Connecticut Post.)
