JOURNAL OF THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE FOR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL RIGHTS⑧ - AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF FILED; CATHOLICS INA FRENZY - ST. LOUIS VICTORY

Sep 21, 2026

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Amicus curiae brief content describes the Catholic League’s response to a Pennsylvania grand jury report on offending priests, challenging aspects of the report released by Attorney General Josh Shapiro. It outlines legal support of Archbishop Robert Carlson in St. Louis regarding an abortion-rights expansion bill, the resulting anti-discrimination penalties for Catholic institutions, and related court outcomes. It emphasizes due process, religious freedom, protection of minors, and warnings against politically motivated prosecution, including commentary from Pope Francis and Bill Donohue.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Overview and legal challenge

Pennsylvania grand jury report and amicus brief

St. Louis bill, protections, and court rulings

Religious liberty, due process, and protections for minors

Public commentary and warnings against politicized prosecution

Publication and notices

JOURNAL OF THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE FOR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL RIGHTS⑧ AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF FILED;CATHOLICS INA FRENZY ST.LOUISVICTORY impugn its moral integrity,but it ishis most egregious effort.We areasking the Pennsylvania SupremeCourt to take the necessary steps toensure a grand jury processgrounded in the Constitutional pro-tections of due process,reputationand religious freedom. In response to the Pennsylvaniagrand jury report on offendingpriests,the Catholic League filedan amicus curiae brief in theWestern District of the SupremeCourt of Pennsylvania.Representedby the Pittsburgh law firm PorterWright Morris &Arthur,the briefchallenges several aspects of thegrand jury report that was releasedby Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralJosh Shapiro. In January 2017,when a bill wasintroduced in St.Louis to expand abor-tion rights,the Catholic League sup-ported St.Louis Archbishop RobertCarlson in his effort to stop the bill.Welost that round but won in court inOctober. The bill added "pregnancy andreproductive health decisions asprotected classes"to an existinganti-discrimination ordinance.Itmeant that Catholic non-profits,such as schools and social serviceagencies,could be fined for main-taining their opposition to abor-tion in matters of employment andinsurance coverage. This grand jury probe hasinspired other states to conducttheir own investigations,all thewhile ignoring the abuse of minorsin other religions,never mind inthe public schools.It has also trig-gered a crazed reaction on the partof some lay Catholics,many ofwhom just want to bring down abishop,regardless of whether hedeserves to be unseated.CardinalDonald Wuerl is a prime exampleof this frenzy(see p.7). The report has damaged the rep-utation of several persons and insti-tutions,and has set the table forgovernment officials to misuse thefindings.A more complete render-ing of the Catholic League briefcan be found on pp.4-5. Archbishop Carlson feared thatthe bill could turn St.Louis into"a sanctuary city for abortion."His fears were not without meritAs soon as the law passed,Catholic institutions wereattacked,triggering a lawsuit. We believe that anyone whohurts a minor must be investigatedand,when appropriate,prosecutedto the fullest extent of the law.Such investigations and prosecu-tions must however be conductedin accordance with the protectionsrequired by the United StatesConstitution and,in this instance,the Pennsylvania Constitution. Pope Francis weighed inattempting to put this issue in per-spective."In olden times thesethings were covered up—but werecovered up also in families,whenan uncle abused his niece,or afather raped his child;it was cov-ered up because it was a very greatshame.That is how people thoughtin the last century."He asked usnot to use today's understanding ofthis issue to judge past decisions. On January 12,2017,BillDonohue wrote to Lewis Reed,the president of the Board ofAldermen in St.Louis,stating thatthe government "has no constitu-tional right to encroach on thereligious liberties of Catholicinstitutions,or those of any otherreligion." There is perhaps no greaterthreat to liberty than a politicallymotivated prosecutor.When thosemotivations extend beyond individ-uals who have engaged in criminalwrongdoing—targeting an entirereligion—the threat is cataclysmicto all faiths. The Catholic League will nevercondone wrongdoing,and wantsthe guilty to pay.But we are alsocommitted to defending the inno-cent;this is not an easy task intoday's overheated climate.Makingcritical distinctions is more impor-tant now than ever before. A federal judge ruled onOctober 4 that by not allowing fora religious exemption,the St.Louis ordinance violated the U.S.Constitution and Missouri law.Judge Audrey Fleissig said thelaw violated the First Amendmentrights of Catholic schools byrequiring them to employ or housepeople who are pro-abortion. This is not the first time thatAttorney General Shapiro has usedthe power of his office to single outthe C

FAQs

What is the Catholic League challenging in Pennsylvania?

The brief challenges several aspects of the Pennsylvania grand jury report released by Attorney General Josh Shapiro, focusing on process grounded in due process, reputation protections, and religious freedom.

How did the St. Louis bill change protections and affect Catholic institutions?

The bill added pregnancy and reproductive health decisions as protected classes, which could allow Catholic nonprofits to be fined for maintaining opposition to abortion in employment and insurance coverage matters.

What is emphasized about investigations involving minors?

The text states that anyone who hurts a minor must be investigated and, when appropriate, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, while ensuring investigations comply with constitutional protections.

Sep 21, 2026

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