Dane County Church Facing Electioneering Accusations After Pastor Told Congregation Not to Vote for "Her"

Tuesday, April 4th, 2023 -- 12:01 PM

(By Evan Casey, Wisconsin Public Radio) A Dane County Catholic Church is facing criticism from national groups after a bulletin from its pastor urged the congregation not to vote for "her" in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election, referring to Janet Protasiewicz. 

According to Evan Casey with Wisconsin Public Radio, in doing so, the Freedom From Religion Foundation said the church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cottage Grove, engaged in illegal electioneering.

The foundation sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service notifying them of the incident. Federal law says churches, which are exempt from paying taxes, are not allowed to endorse or oppose any political candidate for public office.

Rev. Brian Dulli posted the message in the church's bulletin on Sunday. In it, Duli said it was a "mortal sin to render aid to the cause of abortion." "As a Catholic, I urge you, for the salvation of your soul; do not vote for her in the Supreme Court race on April 4," the bulletin said.

Dulli didn't mention Protasiewicz by name in the message, but she is facing Dan Kelly in Tuesday's election and is the only woman in the highly-publicized election, in which the candidates' differing views on abortion have been a central issue.

Protasiewicz has been a vocal supporter of abortion rights during the campaign, while Kelly is endorsed by the state's three anti-abortion groups.  Dulli didn't respond to a request for comment. A 2022 poll from the Pew Research Center found that about three-quarters of U.S.

Catholics say abortion should be illegal in some cases but legal in others.The letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation was sent on March 28 after the group said it was contacted by a "concerned citizen." 

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