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News elsewhere includes:

House rejects disclosure of religious funds | The Massachusetts House yesterday defeated legislation that would have required religious organizations to file financial reports with the state. (Boston Globe, January 26, 2006)

Reason for anger | While the measure was clearly aimed at the Catholic Church, a spectrum of religious groups banded together to shoot down the bill. (Boston Globe, January 26, 2006)

Is It Constitutional To Make Churches Disclose Their Finances? | Lawmakers will consider a bill this week that would require all religious organizations in the state to disclose their real estate holdings. (Bostonist, Aug. 8, 2005)

Bill would force church to disclose its finances | Attitude shifts on Beacon Hill (Boston Globe, Aug. 8, 2005)

The Economic Strain on the Church | Legal liabilities from the sex scandal threaten a U.S. Catholic Church already beset by systemic financial problems (Business Week, April 15,2002)

Let the sun shine in | Ultimately, sunlight protects constituents of an organization from breaches of trust. (Thomas P. O'neill Iii And Steven Krueger, Boston Globe, Aug. 8, 2005)

Checking out churches | Other than tradition, there is no clear reason why religious organizations should be exempt from the duty to disclose financial information. (Boston Globe August 10, 2005)

More background from the Boston Globe is available from a Google search.

In 2002, for Christian History editor Elisha Coffman described why churches shouldn't pay taxes.

Jan Masaoka piece in the Stanford Social Innovation Review is available from their website.

Wall Watchers and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability keep track of financial accountability for churches and ministries. The ECFA also has an article on whether to file form 990.

But some watchdogs need watching, according to David Middlebrook and Robert W. Rucker in Church Executive.

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March (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50