State lawmaker Andrew McDonald is used to controversy as the co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee. But it’s unlikely even McDonald has dealt with many issues that caused such swift reaction as the proposed legislation that would have forced the Catholic Church to change its management structure.
McDonald’s committee was poised to hold a hearing on the plan, which would have created councils of lay people to run churches and blocked priests from having a vote on church financial matters.
The bill was pulled after strong negative reaction from church leaders and Catholics who view it as an unconstitutional intrusion into their business.
