Becket

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Becket, formerly the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute which states its mission as to "protect the free expression of all faiths."[1] The Washington D.C. based organization was founded in 1994 by Kevin Hasson. Becket has been called "one of the most successful litigators seeking to curtail LGBTQ rights and abortion access."[2]

Becket is an associate member of the State Policy Network (SPN), a web of state pressure groups and "Think Tanks" that drive a right-wing agenda in statehouses nationwide.

News and Controversies

LGTBQ Adoption

Since 2018, in Sharonell Fulton, et al. v. City of Philadelphia Becket has represented the plaintiff, Catholic Social Services, in a case about adoptions. Becket argues that "the City then abruptly barred Catholic Social Services ... from placing any children ... simply because the City disagrees with Catholic Social Services’ longstanding beliefs about marriage."[3] Those on the side of the defendant argues that Catholic Social Services' actions are discriminatory against LGBTQ people, not allowing them to adopt children using their services. City officials cut some ties with Catholic Social Services upon hearing of these practices, prompting a suit on the grounds of religious discrimination.[4]

Trump Administration

Donald Trump appointed Roger Severino to head the department’s Office of Civil Rights, in 2018. Severino was previously chief operations officer and legal counsel for Becket.[2]

Ties to the Bradley Foundation

The Bradley Foundation has contributed $1,435,000 to Becket since 1998, mostly for general operations.[5]

Bradley Files

In 2017, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publishers of SourceWatch, launched a series of articles on the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, exposing the inner-workings of one of America's largest right-wing foundations. 56,000 previously undisclosed documents laid bare the Bradley Foundation's highly politicized agenda. CMD detailed Bradley's efforts to map and measure right wing infrastructure nationwide, including by dismantling and defunding unions to impact state elections; bankrolling discredited spin doctor Richard Berman and his many front groups; and more.

Find the series here at ExposedbyCMD.org.

Ties to the Koch Family Foundation

In 2009, The Koch Family Foundation gave $6,644 for "Educational Programs" to Becket and $20,538 in 2012. [6]

Koch Wiki

The Koch brothers -- David and Charles -- are the right-wing billionaire co-owners of Koch Industries. As two of the richest people in the world, they are key funders of the right-wing infrastructure, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN). In SourceWatch, key articles on the Kochs include: Koch Brothers, Koch Industries, Americans for Prosperity, American Encore, and Freedom Partners.

Ties to the State Policy Network

Becket is an associate member of the State Policy Network. [7]

SPN exposed red.jpg

Learn more about how the State Policy Network aids ALEC and spins disinformation in the states.

Funding

Becket receives grants from the following groups:

Core Financials

2014[12]

  • Total Revenue: $6,396,572
  • Total Expenses: $5,708,752
  • Net Assets: $12,161,828
    • Gave $1,600,000 to Stanford Law School for the Religous Libery Clinic

2013[12]

  • Total Revenue: $5,016,058
  • Total Expenses: $4,552,542
  • Net Assets: $1,474,470

2012[12]

  • Total Revenue: $4,752,560
  • Total Expenses: $4,672,475
  • Net Assets: $1,521,591
    • Gave $432,000 to Stanford University for its law center

2011[12]

  • Total Revenue: $4,268,119
  • Total Expenses: $3,628,662
  • Net Assets: $908,465

2010[12]

  • Total Revenue: $2,684,403
  • Total Expenses: $2,463,660
  • Net Assets: $1,070,718

2009[12]

  • Total Revenue: $2,684,403
  • Total Expenses: $2,684,050
  • Net Assets: $850,354

2008[12]

  • Total Revenue: $2,430,891
  • Total Expenses: $2,281,041
  • Net Assets: $841,413

2007[12]

  • Total Revenue: $2,060,872
  • Total Expenses: $1,957,105
  • Net Assets: $691,544

2006[12]

  • Total Revenue: $1,800,797
  • Total Expenses: $1,969,995
  • Net Assets: $58,7777

2005[12]

  • Total Revenue: $2,574,235
  • Total Expenses: $2,535,820
  • Net Assets: $756,975

2004[12]

  • Total Revenue: $2,450,230
  • Total Expenses: $2,551,200
  • Net Assets: $716,160

2003[12]

  • Total Revenue: $2,638,261
  • Total Expenses: $2,198,778
  • Net Assets: $817,130

2002[12]

  • Total Revenue: $1,734,967
  • Total Expenses: $1,681,367
  • Net Assets: $400,714

2001[12]

  • Total Revenue: $1,536,626
  • Total Expenses: $1,685,147
  • Net Assets: $347,114

2000[12]

  • Total Revenue: $1,543,651
  • Total Expenses: $1,244,446
  • Net Assets: $495,635

Personnel

As of July 2018:

Management

  • William P. Mumma, CEO & Board Chairman
  • Montse Alvarado, VP & Executive Director
  • Mark Rienzi, President
  • Dermaine Isaacs, Director of Finance
  • Kevin “Seamus” Hasson, Founder & President Emeritus

Counsel

  • Luke Goodrich, VP & Senior Counsel
  • Eric Rassbach, VP & Senior Counsel
  • Eric Baxter, VP & Senior Counsel
  • Lori Windham, Senior Counsel
  • Daniel Blomberg, Senior Counsel
  • Stephanie Barclay, Counsel
  • Joe Davis, Counsel
  • Adèle Keim, Counsel
  • Nick Reaves, Counsel
  • Diana Verm, Counsel
  • Daniel Ortner, Constitutional Law Fellow

Governent Affairs

  • Amy Vitale, Government Affairs Counsel

Communications

  • Melinda Skea, Communications Director
  • Stephanie Keenan, Communications Associate
  • Ryan Colby, Media Relations Associate
  • Caleb Lyman, Graphic Designer
  • Katie Geary, Canterbury Fellow

Operations

  • Hyewon Kraemer, Director of Development
  • Julie Riggs, Director of External Relations
  • Eric Hines, Major Gifts Officer
  • Lucy Nolan, Development Associate
  • Marina Golovkina, Development Associate
  • Darlene Calandra, Senior Paralegal
  • Chelise Fox, Legal Assistant
  • Marie Peralta, Legal and Operations Manager
  • Derringer Dick, Strategic Research Associate
  • Matthew Lang, Executive Assistant

Fellows

  • Kristina Arriaga, Senior Advisor to the Board
  • Emily Hardman, Canterbury Fellow
  • Angela Wu Howard, International Law Fellow
  • Ashley McGuire, Neuhaus Fellow
  • Hannah Smith, Senior Fellow

Board

  • Clayton Christensen
  • Sean Fieler
  • John H. Garvey
  • Robert P. George
  • Mary Ann Glendon
  • Kevin J. “Seamus” Hasson
  • Leonard Leo
  • Russell D. Moore
  • Robert Neal
  • William P. Mumma
  • David N. Weidman
  • Elder Lance Wickman

Contact Information

Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
1200 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202.955.0095 Fax: 202.955.0090
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BecketLaw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becketlaw/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becketlaw/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BecketFundVideo
Media and Website Inquires- Ryan Colby
Email: rcolby@becketlaw.org
Phone: (202)-349-7219

References

  1. Becket Our Mission organization website, accessed June 2018
  2. 2.0 2.1 Abby Scher "No Healthcare for You" The Progressive, June 1, 2018
  3. Becket Sharonell Fulton, et al. v. City of Philadelphia Becket Fund for Religous Liberty] accessed June 2018
  4. Dana Liebelson Adoption, Foster Care Agencies That Shun LGBTQ People Get Millions From Taxpayers HuffPost News, June 10, 2018
  5. Sourcewatch Contributions of the Bradley Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June of 2018
  6. Sourcewatch Contributions of the Koch Family Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June of 2018
  7. SPN Directory organizational website, accessed June 2018
  8. Sourcewatch Contributions of the Koch Family Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
  9. Sourcewatch Contributions of the Randolph Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
  10. Sourcewatch DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant Recipients Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
  11. Sourcewatch Atlas Network Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
  12. 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 Nonprofit Explorer, 990s ProPublica accessed June 2018.