DISCLOSURE LAW DEFEATED

The Massachusetts House has rejected a bill that would have required religious groups to provide annual financial reports to the state, according to The Boston Globe. The 147-3 vote, which came after an aggressive lobbying campaign against the legislation by numerous religious organizations, reflected concerns that the law would have blurred the separation of church and state, the paper says. The bill would have required all groups to file limited information about their finances and real-estate holdings; organizations with more than $500,000 would have been required to provide detailed financial reports. Supporters said the legislation was needed to make religious groups more accountable to the public.