Catholics Lose Appeal of Ruling in Abortion Suit

NEW YORK — A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a contempt of court ruling against the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops for refusing to release records demanded in a suit by a pro-abortion group.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a May, 1986, ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Carter that held the U.S. Catholic Conference and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in civil contempt.

Carter found the groups in contempt and threatened them with $100,000-a-day fines when they balked at submitting records about their political activities and relationship with the Internal Revenue Service.

Lawyers for the groups, which oversee much of the spiritual and civil activities of the church in this country, appealed Carter’s ruling.

A spokesman for the U.S. Catholic Conference in Washington said the organization had not seen the appeals court’s ruling and would not comment.

Mark E. Chopko, an attorney for the church groups, said he did not know if the issue would be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Circuit Judge Richard J. Cardamone dissented in the decision, saying Carter lacked jurisdiction.