Spring 2013  Vol. 5 – No. 2
News in Brief
UPDATES ON FINANCIAL AND LEG AL ISSUES OF INTEREST TO RELIGIOU S COMMUNITIES
RESOLVING INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN FORMS
I-94 AND I-797 FOR RELIGIOUS WORKERS
Ekaterina A. Kuznetsova and Nancy L. Marwin*
Contents of this Edition…
-Resolving Inconsistencies
between Forms I-94 and I-797 for
Immigration regulations governing religious workers have created a complex area Religious Workers ….. 1
of law that can be confusing in application. The reality that some parts of the
-A Message from Our RCRI Board
regulations came into effect later than others has created certain of Directors … 4
inconsistencies.1 For example, the frequent inconsistency between the duration -Position Opening, Departure,
of the I-129 Approval Notice2 (which is normally granted for thirty months) and
Welcome to Our Summer Intern 5
the duration of the Form I-943 (which may extend as long as three years) has
created a conflict of documents and resulting confusion for religious workers and -National Conference/OMRI … 6
-Canonist Corner … 7
their organizational sponsors.
-Financial Focus … 8
Under current immigration regulations, a sponsoring religious organization must
-Tax Updates and Reminders … 9
file a Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) with U.S. Citizenship and -Resource Still Available: Planning
Immigration Services (USCIS) if it wishes to bring a religious worker to the United for the Future … 10
States. Once the petition is approved, USCIS issues an I-129 Approval Notice, and
-Job Openings … 11
the religious worker may apply for an R-1 visa abroad. At the port of entry to the
U.S., the religious worker is issued a Form I-94, a required document for all -Upcoming Webinars and New
nonimmigrant visitors to the United States.4 The Form I-94 has long been the Online Resources … 12
-Notes on Record-Keeping … 13
- … 13
* Note: The authors are immigration attorneys for the Center for Religious Immigration and Protection at Catholic Legal
-Notes
on Record-Keeping
Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), in Washington, DC. They represent Catholic Dioceses
and Religious
Institutes in… 12
I.
Introduction
bringing foreign-born religious workers to serve the Catholic Church in the United States.
1
In November 2008, the religious worker regulations changed to require that a religious organization file an I-129 petition
with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for permission to bring a new religious worker into the U.S. Only
after approval of the I-129 petition can the foreign national abroad then apply for an R-1 visa. See U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Questions & Answers: USCIS Publishes Final Rule for Religious Worker Visa Classifications
(November 21, 2008); see 8 C.F.R. §214.2 (r).
2
For succinctness, the I-797 Notice of Action conveying the approval of the I-129 Petition is referred to as the “I-129
Approval Notice.”
3
The I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is shortened to “Form I-94,” again for succinctness.
4
Customs and Boarder Protection Agency (CBP) has introduced a new automated system beginning on April 30, 2013.
Nonimmigrants arriving by sea or air may receive only a stamp in their passports, with the option of retrieving an I-94 card
electronically from the CBP website, while all others will still receive a paper Form I-94.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 2
controlling document for determining the lawful status of nonimmigrants, yet it is now not always clear which is
the controlling document in certain contexts. Although the USCIS addressed this issue in a question and answer
session with religious stakeholders, questions remain.5 One approach is to follow the practice of honoring the I94 as the latest-in-time controlling document, as long as it does not exceed the five years that the religious
worker is allowed under current R-1 regulations6. In this article, we will examine and review this approach to the
current conflict of documents in religious immigration practice, in the hope that it may be helpful to other
practitioners struggling with this issue.
Examples of Actual Situations and Discussion
To clarify the types of situations that occur among religious workers, we will provide some examples, followed
by the types of questions that clients have asked us and the dilemmas they expose.
1. Diocese R applied for an I-129 petition to bring a new religious worker, Father Peter, to the United States.
The petition was approved, valid for 30 months, from October 15, 2010 through April 14, 2013. After
approval of the I-129 petition, Father Peter went through the process of applying for an R-1 visa at the U.S.
Consulate in Chennai, India, received his visa and bought a plane ticket to the U.S. By the time he arrived in
the U.S. on January 12, 2011, almost three months of his allotted 30 months were already over. Father
Peter received a visa to the end date of the I-129 Approval Notice, April 14, 2013. When he entered the
U.S., he was given a Form I-94 with an end date of three years, January 11, 2014.
a) How long is Father Peter’s legal R-1 status in the U.S.?
Diocese R and Father Peter were not sure which immigration document controlled how long Father Peter is in
legal status in the United States. The view honoring the I-94 is that Father Peter is lawfully present in the U.S.
until the end date shown on his I-94 card. If Father Peter leaves the U.S. and reenters, his new I-94 card may
have a different end date. Thus, his immigration attorney needs to be notified each time he plans to leave and
reenter the U.S.
b) When should the Diocese apply for an extension of status for Father Peter?
In the fall of 2012, Diocese R decided that they would like Father Peter to stay longer and asked when the
Diocese should apply for his extension of status. Here, the conflict between the end date of the I-129 Approval
Notice and the Form I-94 came into play. Father Peter is in lawful status in the U.S. until his I-94 card expires.
Yet, according to the regulations, his second 30 months in R status should begin when the first 30 months (of
which he spent only 27 in the U.S.) allotted by the I-129 Petition Approval end. Following the practice of
honoring the I-94 card, Diocese R may want to apply for an extension of status for Father Peter no later than the
expiration date on his I-94 card.
c) What happens if Father Peter needs to travel outside the U.S. after April 15, 2013?
In December 2012, Father Peter called his immigration attorney to say that he would like to travel to India in
June 2013 to attend his niece’s wedding. He asked what he should do, since his visa was expiring in April 2013.
Now, the Diocese will need to file a new I-129 petition sooner, so that Father Peter can have access to a new
5
Although USCIS stated that an “I-94 card issued beyond the initial maximum period of 30 months as stipulated in the
Regulations … may have been issued in error by the CBP and should not be relied upon,” it further stated that “neither the
petitioner nor the beneficiary will be penalized for the error caused by the CBP officer” and cautions only that the
beneficiary's stay must not exceed the statutory maximum. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Questions &
Answers: Religious Worker National Stakeholder Engagement (July 14 & July 28, 2011), 1.
6
8 C.F.R. §214.2 (r)(6).
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 3
visa after his current I-129 Approval Notice expires. The Diocese may file a new I-129 petition six months or later
before his current I-129 Approval expires--but not earlier, or the petition may be denied. Upon approval of the
new I-129 petition, Father Peter can apply for a new R-1 visa while he is in India.
d) In certain countries, such as Mexico and Indonesia, U.S. consulates issue R-1 visas for only one year.7
If Father Peter had received an I-129 Approval Notice for 30 months but an R-1 visa for only a year, what would
happen if he needed to travel back to his country after the expiration of his visa but before the expiration of his
I-129 Approval Notice?
After Father Peter’s initial R-1 visa expires, he may apply for a new R-1 visa throughout the 30-month validity of
his current I-129 Approval Notice.
2. Father Peter’s R-1 status was later extended to October 14, 2015 by the timely filing of an I-129 Petition. If
Father Peter visits India in February 2014 and, upon his return to the U.S., he is issued an I-94 card for three
years, until February 2017, how long will Father Peter be in legal status in the U.S?
Father Peter needs to keep in mind that religious workers are allowed only five years in R status in the U.S.
during one consecutive period. When the five years end, Father Peter’s authorization to work in the U.S. ends.
The fact that he is given an I-94 card extending until February 2017 will prevent Father Peter from accruing bars
against future reentry due to unlawful presence,8 but it will not prevent him from violating his status through
working without authorization. Thus, it is important to keep track of the date that a religious worker first enters
the United States in R status.
II.
Conclusion
As the examples above illustrate, religious workers, organizational sponsors and attorneys are all challenged by
the dilemmas posed during the use of immigration documents under the current religious immigration
regulations. We hope that these examples will be helpful to other immigration practitioners in navigating the
complex area of religious immigration. Our purpose in this article has been to show how attorneys may deal
with the issues that commonly arise with regard to Form I-94 and the I-129 Approval Notice.
Recently, the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) announced that a new automated system will
replace the current paper Form I-94 at air and sea ports. The new system, which will save the government an
estimated $15.5 million per year, will go into effect on April 30, 2013.9 The new system will no doubt bring
some changes, some of which may relate to the issues discussed here. It is not clear how the new process will
affect religious workers entering the U.S. on R-1 visas, except that they will still need proof of work authorization
for future applications with USCIS. We look forward to guidance from both USCIS and CBP on this process in the
future.
7
The U.S. Department of State Reciprocity Tables is based on agreements between the U.S. and foreign countries and
determines the duration of visas issued to the nationals of each particular country. It also applies to visas from the foreign
country issued to U.S. citizens. See http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3272.html.
8
Unlawful presence in the United States of more than 180 days results in a bar to future reentry of three years; unlawful
presence of more than one year results in a bar to future reentry of five years. See INA §§212 (a)(9)(i) and 212(a)(9)(ii).
9
CBP announced the upcoming automation process in March 2013. The change will replace the paper I-94 card with an
electronic one, with the possibility of the printing out the paper I-94 card from the CBP website. For more information,
please see http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/i94_rollout.xml.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 4
A Message from the RCRI Board of Directors
After 14 years at LRCR and RCRI, Father Dan Ward, OSB, has announced that he is leaving the position
of executive director effective December 31, 2013. Fr. Dan believes that now is the time to pass on the
leadership of RCRI: the merger of LRCR and NATRI has successfully been completed, knowledgeable
and dedicated staff members are in place to carry on the work of the organization, and a direction has
been set for member services.
Father Dan also believes that it is time to slow down and take a sabbatical.
We, the Board of Directors, are extremely grateful for the years of service and visionary leadership
Father Dan has provided for RCRI.
Father Dan has been the creative force behind many new offerings and member services such as the
monthly webinars and the leadership resource, Planning for the Future, currently in
development. Father Dan has generously shared his gift of teaching, as evidenced by the numerous
excellent workshops and seminars he has presented at our annual conferences. Father Dan is always
current on proposed changes in the legislative environment affecting religious institutes, and he has
provided advocacy as well as sound counsel. In addition to his leadership role at RCRI, Father Dan has
extended himself personally and professionally to assist many religious institutes with specific legal
issues. Finally, Father Dan has always been able to bring a great perspective to some very challenging
situations with his Irish wit and good humor.
Please join us in blessing Fr. Dan:
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
The Board of Directors of RCRI will shortly announce a search for a new executive director.
S. Hertha Longo, CSA
Chair of the Board of Directors
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 5
Position Opening
Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the Resource Center for Religious Institutes is seeking a qualified person to be
executive director beginning January 1, 2014. RCRI is located in Silver Spring, MD and is housed in the same
building as CMSM and LCWR. For more information please visit RCRI website at www.trcri.org
Departure
Amy Strickland’s last day at RCRI was May 29, 2013. We are grateful for her service as Associate Director for
Canon Law during the last two and a half years. She led the drive to attract new members and was always ready
to respond with advice when called upon. We wish Amy well in her future endeavors. Amy’s projects and
telephone inquiries will be handled by Fr. Dan Ward and Donna Miller.
Welcome to Our Summer Intern
On June 3, RCRI will welcome its summer intern, Sister Karla Felix-Rivera, VDMF. A perpetually professed
member of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, Sister Karla has been with her community for fourteen years.
She holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of San Francisco, a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of
Theology, and a Licentiate in Canon Law (J.C.L.) from the Catholic University of America.
Since 2008, Sister Karla has been a counselor on her community’s Provincial Council and a
member of the formation team. Her ministry experiences, canonical background and
leadership roles within her community continue to fuel Sister Karla’s interest in the role of
consecrated life in the Church today, as well as governance structures in new forms of
consecrated life. A recent article on the online edition of The Catholic Voice features a
tribute to her religious community.
You can view a recent reflection delivered by Sister Karla at Holy Spirit Church in San Verbum Dei Missionary Sister
Karla Felix-Rivera, with her World
Francisco at this YouTube link.
We are very excited to welcome Sister Karla to Cameron Street!
Youth Day 2011 pilgrimage group
of students in Madrid, Spain.
Picture in public domain at
http://www.vocationnetwork.org/arti
cles/show/258.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 6
National Conference Preparation under Way
Now that we are about to enter the hazy days of summer, RCRI is actively planning to bring you a little sunshine
later this year – in the form of our national conference, scheduled to be held in beautiful Anaheim, California,
from October 22-25, 2013. The program schedule is nearing completion, and you will receive an e-mail when it is
available on our website. In the interim, we want to alert you to our special pre- and post-conference
workshops.
On Tuesday, October 22, a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services will be offering a
workshop from 9a-4p on the Affordable Care Act and its implications for religious institutes and Catholic
employers. At the same time, there will be a workshop on civil law and canon law issues of particular interest to
persons in leadership. This workshop will also introduce the new RCRI website.
The ACA workshop will have a nominal fee attached for attendance, while the leadership workshop will be free
of cost, due to a generous grant from the GHR Foundation.
The general sessions of the conference will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday, October 25,
will be focused on the new TRENDS software. From 8:30a-12:30p, presenters will introduce TRENDS, point out
the features that have been updated and demonstrate the new user interface. It is strongly recommended that
everyone who plans to utilize TRENDS attend this session. The afternoon (2-4p) will be geared towards new
users of TRENDS and persons who may benefit from a refresher course.
Pricing information for the post-conference workshop (which will include the purchase of the new TRENDS) will
be available in June when we post the conference information to our website.
OMRI Success
The 2013 Orientation to Management of Religious Institutes (OMRI) was
held during the week of May 13-17 at Techny Towers and Conference
Center in Northbrook, Illinois. Twenty-seven (27) eager participants took
part in the week’s activities. The five days of learning and interaction
provided an opportunity for participants to engage in dialogue and in-depth
consultation with RCRI staff and other experts, and in general networking
with each other. One of the more frequent comments heard from
participants by the RCRI staff was: It’s nice to know we’re not alone and that
we have somewhere to turn for all the issues that arise in the business office
and leadership.
The OMRI is an annual week-long event that originated with NATRI and was
maintained by RCRI to help educate new business office personnel and
leadership.
Attorney Michael Airdo of Kopon Airdo, LLC,
spoke on liability, asset protection, and
insurance coverage for religious institutes.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 7
CANONIST CORNER
In a recent issue of News in Brief, we shared a decision by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life
and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL) in which the Congregation decided that a major superior of a religious
institute of women may not issue a penal precept. The reason given was that the issuance of a penal precept
requires that the major superior have the power of governance (i.e. jurisdiction). Canonically, only an ordained
man can have the canonical power of governance. Therefore, due to the lack of such power on the part of the
major superior, the penal precept that the woman major superior had issued to a member was invalid.
The penal precept that was issued contained directives of behavior to be observed in community, especially
community meetings. If the member violated the directives of behavior she would be subject to the canonical
penalties stated in the precept. Some of the norms of behavior were: to cease disruptive behavior during
community meetings; to cease speaking when commanded by the chair of the community meeting; to speak
respectfully regarding the opinions and positions of others; to cease making efforts covertly to influence the
opinions of the members in order to gain support for her own ideas; and to refrain from any involvement in or
attempts to interfere with the processes of election.
After receiving the response from CICLSAL regarding the penal precept, the major superior issued the same
directives and stated that if they were violated, the member would lose certain rights within the community.
However, these directives were issued as a precept of obedience
The member again appealed to CICLSAL. After due consideration of the appeal, CICLSAL did not find that the
directives as a precept of obedience were directly or indirectly in violation of the universal law of the Church,
the proper law of the institute or the rights of the member. CICLSAL denied the recourse by the member and
confirmed the directives by the major superior.
The importance of this case is that while the leadership in a religious institute of women may not issue a penal
precept, they may reach the desired outcome by using the vow of obedience. The caution is that the directives
contained in the precept of obedience cannot violate canon law, proper law or the rights of the member.
This case should be helpful both for women’s and men’s institutes because in both cases there is a means to
deal with a member who is disruptive within the community, particularly in community meetings and elections.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 8
As portfolios become more diversified, it can become difficult for an investment committee to provide
comprehensive oversight. Many committees only meet a few times a year, and the committee
members may be faced with other responsibilities, as well as having minimal experience with more
sophisticated investment styles.
There are three principal levels to the fiduciary responsibility for portfolios:



governing – mission and objectives;
managing – portfolio implementation; and
operating – administration and execution.
Once an investment committee has adopted a portfolio policy and chosen a suitable asset allocation
model, there is still an ongoing need for selection of managers or funds, evaluation of managers/funds
and review of overall performance.
Investment Consultants & Oversight
Most religious institutes will outsource management of some fiduciary duties. The advisory firm will
provide increased oversight of the assets, more flexible decision making, clear accountability for
performance and better allocation of the governing fiduciaries’ time.
Because advisory firms deal with many clients and have large research staffs, they can perform due
diligence on hundreds, if not thousands, of managers. These firms also can provide quarterly reports
to the investment committee and more closely monitor performance and changes in managers or
style. They can make recommendations to the investment committee on a timely basis. These firms
can also monitor fees paid to custodian banks, brokers and mutual funds and make recommendations
for more efficient operations.
RCRI has a number of service providers in this field, and members can become more familiar with them
through their advertisements in our print directory, their exhibits at our annual conference and/or by
speaking with other member communities about their own experiences.
Rebalancing
With the S&P 500 up by 13.4% in 2012 and about 11% through late April 2013, it may be time to rebalance the investment portfolio. Some religious institutes rebalance incrementally and others
quarterly or annually. The RCRI web site has a report on investment policies with a checklist and
sample policies for large and small religious institutes, available at www.trcri.org/members/invest.php.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 9
Tax Updates and Reminders
2013 Standard Mileage Rates Increases
We are five months into 2013, but several individuals have noted that the mileage rate for 2013 has increased a
cent for the three categories that the IRS sets.
 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven.
 24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes.
 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.
Private employers do NOT have to reimburse employees at this rate. Employees can take a business deduction
for the difference if the employee pays less.
IRS Forms Due
(1) The deadline for filing the Form 5578 (tax-exempt private schools annual certification of racial
nondiscrimination) is the 15th day of the 5th month following the end of the organization’s calendar year or fiscal
period. If your fiscal period is the calendar year, the form was due May 15.
(2) Form 990 is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after the organization’s accounting period ends. Religious
institutes do not have to file Form 990 for their “exclusively religious activities.” Sponsored ministries that
qualify as an “integrated auxiliary of a church” are also not required to file.
(2) The deadline for filing the 2012 FBAR is June 30, 2013. Remember that there is a requirement for U.S. citizens
or corporate owners of foreign bank accounts to file, and there is an additional requirement for U.S. citizens
with signature authority on a foreign bank account to file, if the aggregate in all foreign accounts totals at least
$10,000 at any given point in time in 2012. Many U.S. religious institutes are required to file and/or have
members in foreign countries who are required to file. We have written about this requirement consistently for
the last five years. (See, e.g., the 2009 Update in our Taxes Notebook.) Be sure to read the information on the
IRS website to ascertain whether your religious institute or any of its members is required to file. There are
severe penalties for non-filing when required to do so.
Internet Sales Tax
Earlier in May, the Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act, which purports to level the playing field for
vendors with fixed locations as they compete with internet sales that generally are not required to collect sales
taxes on their sales. The House of Representatives is not as keen on the bill as was the Senate. The bill’s future
remains to be determined. But in the event that the bill becomes law, this website contains resources with
which anyone selling goods over the internet will have to become familiar. That may include goods sold by
religious institutes. This website (http://www.taxrates.com/resources/) has links to the 50 different sales tax
codes, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico. Internet sellers will have to remit sales tax to any state (and some local
governments) into which they ship a product.
Visit us on Facebook!
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 10
RESOURCE STILL AVAILABLE!
Planning for the Future: Covenant Relationships
Last year RCRI introduced the DVD project called “Planning for the Future: Covenant Relationships.” The twoDVD set and accompanying documents are designed to assist religious institutes in planning as they look to the
future and contemplate the completion of the institute’s life journey. The packet consists of two DVDs that
include printable guides for study and discussion.
Disk One focuses on financial aspects of planning, legal options for mission completion, and an example of how a
finance office can be involved in a covenant relationship.
Disk Two presents the stories of three “completing” religious institutes who have chosen to enter into covenant
relationships with “accompanying” institutes. The two-DVD set may be purchased for $150 on our website:
http://www.trcri.org/members/legacy.php. On the same webpage, you will find a link to the Fall 2012 Legal
Bulletin, which contains related articles that can be used to spark reflection and conversation among community
members.
Even if the covenant relationship is not the model that your own community is considering, these DVDs provide
excellent openings for conversations among members about institutional future planning, especially around
end-of-life issues.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 11
Job Openings
On our RCRI website, we occasionally post job openings at the request of a one of our member organizations.
Other national organizations and service providers sometimes ask that we post their openings also. The most
recent ones are posted below. Check the “Job Openings” page of our website if you have members seeking
employment.
The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) is seeking a full-time Associate Director with experiential
knowledge of religious life and a well-grounded operational theology of apostolic religious life in the 21st
century. This key staff person will work collaboratively with the Executive Director, engage with readiness and
creativity in day-to-day leadership of national office activities, and continuously work to advance the mission of
RFC with unwavering energy and passion. In addition, this individual will facilitate ongoing communication with
current and future members of RFC, as well as partnering organizations.
Qualifications include a Master’s degree in theology or the equivalent. The successful candidate must be a
member of a religious congregation and have administrative experience, including a working knowledge of
finances and technology. Please see http://www.relforcon.org for additional information.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and three letters of reference to Sister Violet Grennan, mfic,
Executive Director, at [email protected], no later than May 31, 2013.
The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) is seeking an assistant director of retirement services. The
candidate should have experience in elder care delivery for religious institutes and/or religious institute
administration. A former leader of a religious institute with experience in retirement planning would be ideal.
Strong communication and pastoral skills are a must, and a vowed religious or someone with at least five years’
experience in working with religious institutes is strongly preferred. The position is available immediately but
the start date is negotiable. More information can be found at http://www.usccb.org/about/employment.
The Christian Brothers Foundation, located in New York, has an opening for a Director of Development,
responsible for carrying out development-related activities for the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North
America. The Director will be working collaboratively in goal-setting with the Treasurer.
Applicants should have experience in working with Catholic institutions in development and fundraising, and
he/she must possess strong organization, interpersonal, writing and communication skills. Experience with
Raiser’s Edge and MS Office Professional applications, including MS Access, is highly desirable.
The deadline for applications is July 31, 2013. Individuals interested in applying must mail a cover letter, resume
and three professional references to Brother Anthony Murphy, CFC, Christian Brothers Foundation Board of
Members, 260 Wilmot Road, New Rochelle, New York 10804. The requisite materials may also be sent via email: [email protected].
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 12
Upcoming Webinars
Now that we have our first year of webinars under our belts here at RCRI, we are more excited than ever at the
possibilities that this new way of communicating offers us for engaging with our members. We have received
positive feedback as the webinars have been conducted
All but one of the webinars conducted in 2012 is posted on our website on the Webinarchives page. This allows
our members to review a webinar and pertinent documents and handouts at their own convenience and to
share it with other members of their religious institutes.
A list of the webinar topics for 2013 that have been scheduled to date follows:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Debt and Vocations (Dan Ward and Donna Miller)
HHS Mandate and Related Litigation (Kyle Duncan, Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty)
Powers of Attorney and Wills for Members of Religious Institutes (Donna Miller)
Cleaning Up Your Articles and Bylaws (Dan Ward, OSB)
Internal Controls for a Religious Institute: Some Guidelines (Larry Lundin, SJ)
[The above webinars have been posted to our website. The following are yet to come.]
Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) (Linda Birochik)
Update on PPACA (Lisa Carr, Department of Health and Human Services)
Introduction to the New TRENDS (Hertha Longo, CSA)
Corporations and Trusts as Vehicles for Protecting Assets (Janet Hoehnen, Esq.)
No Webinar due to National Conference this month
NEW ONLINE RESOURCES
As we have mentioned in earlier communications, the Saint Luke Institute is offering practical tools for a health
life and effective ministry at www.sliconnect.org.
In addition, the National Catholic Council on Addiction (in conjunction with Guest House) has begun offering
online courses. These not only address addiction but a host of other issues, with hundreds of offerings. These
are available at https://guesthouse.cequick.com/.
News In Brief
Spring 2013 • Vol. 5 • No. 2
Page 13
Notes on Record-Keeping
On our RCRI website, we have a resource page devoted to record-keeping and the development of a record
retention policy. Recently, in the wake of several calamitous natural disasters, the IRS re-published a notice that
includes suggestions for businesses wishing to prepare for natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes,
in the context of safeguarding tax records. (See http://www.irs.gov/uac/Prepare-for-Hurricanes,-Disasters-bySafeguarding-Tax-Records-1.) In that notice, the IRS mentions Publication 583: Starting a Business and Keeping
Records, which contains important information about what records a business should keep and how long to
keep them. In addition, the IRS publishes a disaster loss workbook, Publication 584: Casualty, Disaster, and Theft
Loss Workbook, which can help individuals compile a room-by-room list of belongings in preparation for loss in
the event of a natural disaster. The material in these publications may also be useful to religious institutes and
their sponsored ministries for purposes of documenting possessions and ensuring proper record-keeping.
News In Brief
is a quarterly publication of the Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI) which
provides updates on financial and legal issues of interest to religious. Information contained in this newsletter
does not constitute legal or financial advice. For answers to specific questions, consult your attorney,
accountant or auditor.
RCRI Directors
Fr. Daniel J. Ward, OSB, JD, JCL
Br. Lawrence Lundin, S.J.
Donna Miller, JD, JCL
Executive Director
Director for Administration and Finance
Associate Director (Civil Law)
Support Staff
Bobbi Besley
Sabrina Hidalgo
Business Manager
Executive Assistant / Conference Coordinator
The Resource Center for Religious Institutes
8824 Cameron Street  Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-589-8143 (phone) • 301-589-2897 (fax) • [email protected] • www.trcri.org
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