DOES MAYOR'S FALSE CAMPAIGN CLAIM OF CATHEDRAL PARISH PRIEST'S "ENDORSEMENT" AMOUNT TO FRAUD BY BOLES, IMPLYING VIOLATION OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE? YOU DECIDE.

Never before in St. Augustine history has an elected mayor implied an endorsement from the Roman Catholic Church.
In seeking an unprecedented fifth term, eight-year Mayor JOSEPH LESTER BOLES, JR. has offended the laws of God and man with his deceptive, materially false and misleading website and his campaign flyer.
See correspondence, below.

-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: bishopsoffice ; frtomstaug
Sent: Thu, Jul 24, 2014 2:55 pm
Subject: Fwd: Endorsement of Mayor Boles?

Any precedent for such an action since 1565 reflected in archives? Any documents reflecting permission for Fr. Tom to do this? Any letter to Mayor Boles advising him to cease and desist? Please send. Please let me hear from you by 5 PM today. Thank you.


-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: easlavin ; bishopsoffice
Cc: frtomstaug
Sent: Thu, Jul 24, 2014 12:33 pm
Subject: Re: Endorsement of Mayor Boles?

Please respond. I need a copy of the policy and an explanation, today, please. Has anyone written Mayor Boles about his material misrepresentation?


-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: bishopsoffice
Cc: frtomstaug
Sent: Wed, Jul 23, 2014 4:51 pm
Subject: Re: Endorsement of Mayor Boles?

Please respond. Thank you.


-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: bishopsoffice
Cc: frtomstaug
Sent: Wed, Jul 23, 2014 1:21 pm
Subject: Re: Endorsement of Mayor Boles?

Dear Bishop Estevez:
1. Would you please send me a copy of the policy on political endorsements by parish priests?
2. The campaign website of St. Augustine, Florida Mayor Joseph Lester Boles, Jr. still describes Fr. Thomas Willis' statement as an "endorsement." See below.
3. It has been a fortnight since I raised concerns about the ethics of this page with Fr. Willis, pastor of Cathedral Basilica Parish.
4. While not intended as an "endorsement," the Church's allowing it to remain described as such furthers a false impression. In the words of St. Thomas More, the ancient equitable maxim is "silence gives consent." This endorsement is now in the U.S. Mail and is appearing our mailboxes.
5. Please contact the Mayor and explain that Fr. Willis' letter should not be listed as an "endorsement."
6. Please read Article VI, cl. 3 of our U.S. Constitution, which forbids any "religious test" for public office.
7. By the way, Mr. J. Kenneth Bryan, who is running for Mayor, is an African-American and a Roman Catholic. If elected, he would be the first African American ever to serve as Mayor of St. Augustine. Ms. Nancy Shaver, who is also running, would be the first woman Mayor elected by the people of St. Augustine as such. Mayor Boles is a Presbyterian and has held the job for eight years. The "endorsement" is an embarrassment to our City and our Church. Please correct the record.
8. As a graduate of the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University, I believe that the Roman Catholic Church should not give the appearance of endorsing anyone. This is for reasons that JFK, RFK, EMK, Al Smith and Joe Biden well understood in their careers, as did Fr. Robert Drinan, S.J., a former Congressman, who was one of my mentors, with whom I served when he chaired the Council of our American Bar Association Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities.
9. As JFK said during the Cuban Missile Crisis, "there's always some poor (so-and-so) who doesn't get the word."
10. Please send me a copy of your letter to Mayor Boles on his false defamatory report of an "endorsement" by Fr. Willis.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
904-377-4998



-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: frtomstaug
Sent: Thu, Jul 10, 2014 11:24 am
Subject: Re: Endorsement of Mayor Boles?

Thank you.


-----Original Message-----
From: Fr. Tom Willis
To: easlavin
Sent: Thu, Jul 10, 2014 11:13 am
Subject: Re: Endorsement of Mayor Boles?

This is not an endorsement, rather it is a statement of a working relationship between him and me. You will note that no where do I say, "Re-elect Mayor Boles," or "Elect Joe Boles for Mayor," nor do I say "I endorse Joe Boles."

My statement has been cleared by my superiors as being totally in line with what a Catholic minister in my position may say (or not say) involving a political election.

Fr. Tom Willis

On Thursday, July 10, 2014, wrote:
Dear Fr. Willis:
Mayor Boles has a website that reports you have endorsed him for re-election?
http://www.joeboles.com/#!endorsements/c129n
Is this true?
Thank you for all you do.
WIth kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998




Here’s what active, civic-minded citizens of our community have to say about re-electing Joe Boles for Mayor…….


I enjoy working with Mayor Boles for the betterment of life in our beloved city. He understands what it takes to get the job fully done.
- Rev. Tom Willis



--
Fr. Thomas S. Willis
Pastor/Rector
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Augustine
35 Treasury Street
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-2806, ext. 303


Like the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Augustine on FaceBook --
facebook.com/thefirstparish

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord makes His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up His countenance upon you
and give you peace.
[Numbers 6: 24-26]