Guidelines Governing the Use of Archdiocesan and Parish Facilities
Approved June 5, 2000
1. Every pastor or administrator of an archdiocesan entity, guided by the Church’s moral teaching and mindful of relevant federal requirements, has the duty to determine the manner, time and extent of use of archdiocesan or parish facilities by groups or organizations of any kind. A “certificate of insurance” applies in all cases.
2. Always guided by the Church’s moral doctrine, pastors and administrators will permit the use of archdiocesan or parish facilities for charitable purposes whenever possible.
3. As the occasion permits, archdiocesan or parish facilities may be used for the effective promotion of closer bonds of faith and charity between the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations as well as harmony with members of other world religions.
4. No group or organization shall use archdiocesan or parish facilities for purposes which contradict the teaching and practices of the Catholic Church.
5. No archdiocesan or parish facilities shall be used by groups or organizations for the purpose of planning or committing any violation of the law.
6. No archdiocesan or parish facilities shall be used for partisan political activity or to support or to oppose any candidate for public office. However, non-partisan political activities, such as voter registration drives, are to be encouraged.
7. Discussions on particular issues are helpful tools to educate the faithful. All candidates for a specific office are to be afforded an equal opportunity to participate. At such an event, there shall be no expression of preference for the candidates/candidates’ designees.
8. Elected officials and other public figures may be invited by the pastor or administrator to speak at an archdiocesan or parish facility as experts or consultants on a particular issue, assuming that the speaker is not strongly identified with a subject or an expert in — nor speaking about — a subject that is inconsistent with Church teaching. They shall not be invited if the primary purpose of their visit is to advance the official’s/candidate’s election. In general, candidates for office should not be invited to speak on any issue during the final weeks of a political campaign (i.e., usually sixty days prior to a primary or general election).
9. Elected officials and other public figures whose previous personal conduct, voting record or public statements are contrary to the teachings of the Church shall not be given an award or honor from a parish or archdiocesan entity.
10. Questions regarding these guidelines may be directed to the Archdiocesan Office for Communications at 215-587-3747.