Minneapolis church cancels secretary’s address

Published 11:35 am Wednesday, August 1, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Catholic church in Minneapolis has canceled an address by Minnesota’s outspoken top elections official.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie was invited to speak at St. Joan of Arc Church on Aug. 12. He’s been a high-profile target of recent criticism relating to constitutional amendment changes on this fall’s ballot. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis spokesman Jim Accurso says Ritchie was not expected to address the constitutional amendments in his speech, but nonetheless his appearance isn’t appropriate.

Ritchie, a Democrat, is a defendant in three lawsuits before the state Supreme Court after substituting his own ballot amendment titles for the ones approved by the Legislature.

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The St. Paul Pioneer Press (http://bit.ly/OAd0Zm ) reports Archdiocese policy allows local churches to invite political candidates or government officials at their discretion. Ritchie could not immediately be reached for