About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Notre Dame High School Plays a Little Politics

Notre Dame High School, a Catholic school located in Bethlehem Township, has linked to a radio program hosted by state representative candidate Ron Shegda. "Our Speech & Debate Moderator, Mr. Sal Rizzo, appeared on "The Two Things We Don't Talk About Show" hosted by Ron Shegda on WGPA (1100 AM). If you missed the live broadcast you may find it at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8692201." That video link, which can also be found here, not only features a political candidate, but contains four signs endorsing his house race.

By linking to this program, Notre Dame High School is unwittingly helping Shegda's campaign in violation of IRS rules against endorsements, contributions and bias.

I've contacted the Diocese of Allentown, and if they have anything to say, I'll pass it along.

Midnight Update: I never heard back from the Diocese of Allentown. They must be too busy praying. But Notre Dame High School did remove the Shegda link soon after this blog was published.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now you exposed yourself, not only do you not like Irish politicians (Callahan) you're going after the Catholics too...

Anonymous said...

Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame,
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send a volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky.
What though the odds be great or small
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory

The IRS never challenges Notre Dame.
They are smart.
They fear God.

Wayne said...

I don't see the link on the ND site, have they yanked it?

Really don't see how a freaking link to something their debate moderator appeared on is a violation.

The site you linked to for IRS rules says:
"The IRS will also consider the nature of the link, the directness of the link, and the reason for the link"
I think any reasonable person will see that the reason for the link was not to show support or otherwise endorse a candidate.

Anonymous said...

Church employees and members may participate in political campaigns in their private capacity. They may not be compensated by the church for any expenses they might incur from their political activity. While a person's church membership or employment may be disclosed at political functions, there should be no indication that his or her views represent the church or religious body's views. Personal endorsements of candidates may not be published in any church publication or announced using church resources.
Shegda has a right to post any sign he wants to as long as Rizzo did not come out and endorse him in the upcoming election !!

Thanks for the mention of WGPA great local programming at it's best , it caught your attention ! : )

Wayne said...

Anonymous 10:33 PM said...
...Shegda has a right to post any sign he wants to as long as Rizzo did not come out and endorse him in the upcoming election !!
______________________________

Umm, did you see the stickers on Rizzo's shirt?

I'm not sure if it violated the IRS regs, but is was kind of tacky...

Hey Bernie, maybe you tripled the radio webcast viewership!!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

" Personal endorsements of candidates may not be published in any church publication or announced using church resources."

That's basically what happened. A Notre Dame Internet publication, using church resources, linked to a site that not only features a candidate for the state house, but includes four campaign signs endorsing hi,/

Anonymous said...

What a piece of shit. You said nothing about Obama's filthy money because you pretend to have black offspring. It's easy to pick on a little Catholic school. Well done. Go back to drinking and stealing from the indigent. You really are a cypher.

Anonymous said...

Now that you've exposed the Catholic school, how about some research into public schools. There are teachers wearing Obama shirts, signs in classrooms and open support for all candidates democrat.

Anonymous said...

It's all about opposition to the liberal holy sacrament of abortion and opposition to Bob "I swear I'm Not Dead -- Really!" Freeman. Bernie's just doing what he's told.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you have no credibility whatsoever. Attacking a person running for office because he has a family memeber with a disability. Attacking a coach who works at a Catholic school who is trying to promote a very valuable extra-curricular activity. What next, attacking Santa Claus?

Unknown said...

Bernie,

I have to say I disagree here. I don't like Shegda, think Bob's great, and am critical of church groups for being overly political, but I just don't see this as rising to the level where the IRS would step in.

Anonymous said...

As an Alum of NDHS please don't ever say that Sal Rizzo represents the school in anyway. The good news is that he is the type of person that supports Shegda who has no value at all. I find that he is just shy of being mentally deficient. He doesn't have a prayer of winning any seat let alone against Freeman.

Anonymous said...

"I find that he is just shy of being mentally deficient."

Yet, NDHS and the Allentown Diocese allows him to "Coach", this is appalling. He has had numerous complaints made against him.

Anonymous said...

While I agree with the argument that the blogger is making, let it be said that everyone who is attacking Obama is also making a fair point. This disgrace of a president we have now is being shamelessly promoted in high schools across the nation (as well as, from my personal experience as a student there, at NDHS). Before we persecute any schools for supporting some small-time Republican candidate, we should focus on the incredibly large amount of people who are supporting Barack and his incredibly corrupt and selfish regime. Also, it should be said that Sal Rizzo is in no way a proper representative of Notre Dame, as the average faculty member of that school is much more intelligent/polite/competent.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bernie,

Did the Allentown Diocese ever respond??

Bernie O'Hare said...

Nope. They must still be praying.

Anonymous said...

Sal Rizzo is a sexy man and who loves Hillary Clinton. And great underwear