http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/20/na...20CATH.html?th
Catholic Archdiocese Files Suit, Calling Church Network a Fraud
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TLANTA, Sept. 19 — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta has filed a lawsuit accusing a network of Spanish-speaking churches of falsely claiming to be Catholic, with priests celebrating Mass, hearing confessions and offering Communion to immigrants who mistakenly think the churches are tied to the Vatican.
"These men dress as priests and conduct services that appear to be a Catholic Mass," said a lawyer for the archdiocese, David Brown. "You cannot simply set up in whatever church and call yourself Roman Catholic. That's fraud."
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, seeks an injunction against Capilla de la Fe, or Chapel of the Faith, churches, barring them from calling themselves Catholic. It is also asks for unspecified damages for donations worshipers gave in the belief that the money would go to the Catholic Church.
The suit is thought to be the first of its kind filed by the American Catholic Church, Mr. Brown said.
Two Capilla de la Fe churches would not allow reporters inside this week. A secretary at one declined to comment except to say that the church was nondenominational.
The archdiocese argues that congregants, often new to the United States, are duped into believing they are in a Roman Catholic church.
The Capilla de la Fe priests "raise considerable funds" selling religious items, Mr. Brown said.
The archdiocese said it sent its own Hispanic priests to services to see what Capilla de la Fe priests were telling people. In July, Archbishop John F. Donoghue sent a letter to churches warning about phony Spanish-speaking priests.
"For months now, this group, Capilla de la Fe, has been creating confusion in the Hispanic community by pretending to be in communion with the Church," Archbishop Donoghue wrote. "Unfortunately many of our good Hispanic people are confused by their pretense and they are leading many away from the Catholic Church."
The archdiocese said it had first asked the chapels to stop using the phrase "Misión Católica," or Catholic Mission, in their names. Capilla de la Fe agreed, but the archdiocese argued in court papers that the churches still employed deceptive practices.
In downtown Atlanta, Capilla de la Fe holds services at a "Stop Suffering Center," where pamphlets in Spanish tout the cure-all effects of holy water available with a donation.
Some Capilla de la Fe services are unlike anything offered at Roman Catholic parishes, including one focusing on "strong prayer to destroy witchcraft, demon-possession, nightmares, curses, envy, bad luck or spiritual problems."
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