From the period of 1995-2001, the pastor of St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois, donated a total of $1,500 to the political campaigns of Barack Obama. In 2001, then-state senator Obama directed a State of Illinois taxpayer-funded earmark for $250,000 to St. Sabina Catholic Parish. During the 2008 Democratic primary campaign season, "Father" Pfleger stood on the altar of Trinity Christian Community Church, also in Chicago and Obama's place of worship for over 20 years, and mocked his political opponent, Hillary Clinton.
This is just one example of the "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" relationship between the state and federal government of the United States and the Roman Catholic Church. As possibly the wealthiest institution on earth, the Catholic Church has always enjoyed tax-exempt status in the United States. Yet, Catholic bishops and other clergy have also taken advantage of the Church's wealth and political power by trying to influence political campaigns and legislation. At the same time, members of the Catholic hierarchy and their lawyers cry "Separation of Church and State" while they withhold court-ordered documents in criminal or civil investigations into childhood sexual abuse cases which occurred within their walls and under their watch.
Read below for a list of some of the federal earmarks paid by American taxpayers to the Roman Catholic Church with absolutely no accountability as to how the money is really spent or what the left hand is doing while the right hand is grabbing taxpayers' funds.
- $1.5 million for faith-based education program that includes "Catholic Community Services" in Alaska - HR 1268; 109th Congress (2005-2007)*;
- $1.25 million grant for an early childhood education program that includes "Catholic Community Services" in Alaska - Report 109-72; 109th Congress*;
- Amended grant of funds for "Catholic Charities", Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL - Report 109-307*;
- Amended grant of funds for "Catholic Charities", Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL - Report 109-307*;
- $200,000 for "Catholic Charities Services Corporation", Parma, Ohio for Parmadale's land and site acquisition, demolition, site preparedness and facilities construction - Report 109-307*;
- $100,000 for Catholic University "Anti-Domestic Violence Program" in Puerto Rico - 108th Congress; Report 108-792*;
- $400,000 to "Catholic Community Services", Juneau, Alaska, to continue operations at its Family Resource Center for child abuse prevention and treatment - Report 108-401*;
- $400,000 for "Catholic Community Services" in Juneau, Alaska, to continue operations at its Family Resource Center for child abuse prevention and treatment - 108-792*;
- $250,000 to "Catholic Community Services/Juneau Family Resource Center in Alaska to address child abuse prevention issues - Report 108-10*;
- $2 million to "Catholic Community Services" in Alaska for the reconstruction of a homeless shelter and to acquire new housing for battered women - Report 108-988*;
- $1.25 million for an Alaska program that includes "Catholic Community Services" - Report 108-792*;
- Approved financing repairs to historic Catholic missions in California - 108th Congress; HR1446*.
- $400,000 to the Spanish Catholic Center in Washington, D.C.- Report 108-792*;
- $375,000 to St. Petersburg, FL, for construction and renovation for the "Catholic Charities Mercy House" - Report 108-792*;
- $500,000 for "Catholic Housing" of Wyandotte County, Kansas, for the Bethany Redevelopment Project in Wyandotte County, Kansas - Report 108-792*;
- $2 million to "Catholic Housing" of Wyandotte County, Kansas, for the St. Peter/Waterway/Strawberry Hill Redevelopment Project - Report 108-401*;
- $500,000 for Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans for costs associated with construction for the West Bank Senior Services Continuum - Report 108-792*;
- Gave $250,000 for "Associated Catholic Charities, Inc." in Baltimore to build facilities for Our Daily Bread Employment Center and My Sister's Place Women's Center - Report 108-792*;
- $250,000 for the "Catholic Charities of Maine" Rapid Response Program - Report 108-401*;
- $150,000 for the "Catholic Charities of Maine" Rapid Response Program for at-risk youth - Report 108-10*;
- $500,000 to the "Catholic Health Systems" in Buffalo for Our Lady of Victory neighborhood - Report 108-10*;
- $202,500 to "Catholic Health Systems" for construction activities of the Our Lady of Victory neighborhood for "Seniors Project" in Lackawanna, N.Y. - Report 108-10*;
- $150,000 to the St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers for a Primary Care Out-patient Center in Stapleton, N.Y. - Report 108-792*;
- $150,000 to the St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in Stapleton, N.Y. - Report 108-792*;
- $300,000 for "Catholic Social Services" in Springfield, Ohio, for renovation of a facility to house the Second Harvest Food bank - Report 108-401*;
- $180,000 for "Catholic Social Services" in Springfield, Ohio, for renovation of a facility to house the Second Harvest Food bank - Report 108-10*;
- $46,000 in 2005 to "Catholic Social Services", The Bridge, Wilkes Barre, Pal, for abstinence education and related services - Report 108-792*;
- $46,000 to "Catholic Social Services", The Bridge, Wilkes Barre, Pa., for abstinence education and related services - Report 108-401*;
- $46,000 in 2003 to "Catholic Social Services", The Bridge, Wilkes Barre, Pa., for abstinence education and related services - Report 108-10*;
- Amended terms of a grant to "Catholic homeless shelter" in Olympia, Washington - HR 4818, Enr.*;
- Amended an earlier earmark to direct funds to "Catholic Community Services" in Olympia, Wash. for construction of a homeless shelter - Report 108-792*;
- $350,000 to Catholic Charities for renovation of a facility - 107th Congress (2001-2003); Report 107-593*;
- $990,000 for "Catholic Community Services" for its Adult Day Care facility in Juneau, Alaska, to provide day care for the elderly - Report 107-272*;
- $150,000 for "Catholic Urban Programs" of East St. Louis, IL, to expand its emergency housing facility - Report 107-272*;
- $350,000 to "Catholic Charities" in Louisville, KY - HR 4775.Enr.*;
- $115,000 to the Staten Island "Catholic Youth Organization Community Center" of New York - Report 107-272*;
- Gave Catholic University "special rights to bid on military retirement home site" - S 1059.Enr.*;
- $41,000 to "Catholic Youth Organization, Inc.", Staten Island, NY, for an after-school program - 106th Congress (1999-2001); Report 106-1033*;
- Gave federal charter to Catholic War Veterans group based in New York - 105th Congress (1997-1999); HR 1085.Enr.*;
- Waived Medicaid rules for specific "Catholic health services" - 104th Congress (1995-1997); HR 3871.Enr.*;
- Waived Congressional review for bonds sold by Catholic University, Washington, D.C. - 102nd Congress (1991-1993); HR 5623.Enr.*;
- Provided money for bridge project at Catholic University, Washington, D.C. - HR 2950.Enr.;*
- $4.2 million in relief aid to Catholic Church in Nicaragua - 101st Congress (1989-1991); HR 1750;*
- Ordered park service in Arizona to note historic role of Catholic missionary - 101st Congress; HR 2843;*
*Information obtained from New York Times report using the Library of Congress' web site on the Congressional Record.
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