LEWISTON – Bishop Richard Malone announced Thursday his opposition to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

“It is no easy task to sift through the mountains of data and opinions on this subject before us,” Malone wrote in an advisory sent to Maine’s Catholic churches. “Reflecting on this issue, I find that I personally have too many doubts and concerns about the short- and long-term effects on the people of the state of Maine and therefore must vote no.”

In his communication, Malone also said that “others can in good faith come to a different conclusion.”

The opinion is not official church policy, said Marc Mutty of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, and individual churches are not required to distribute it although the bishop hopes they will.

Citing the works of Pope John Paul II, Malone wrote that taxation issues should be judged by the effect they have on the human community.

“He speaks about economic policy as a tool, and not as an end in itself, that can serve to liberate us from the constraints that deny us our ability to fully participate in society, seek meaningful work, support our families, obtain needed health care, and the like,” Malone wrote.

Mary Adams, the activist who has led the charge to enact TABOR, said she was surprised that the bishop has become involved in the election.

“I’ve got all kinds of respect for the bishop,” Adams said. “But I’m not sure this is his area of expertise.”

Malone urged the estimated 234,000 Catholics in the state to think carefully about TABOR and its moral and ethical consequences.

“I understand clearly that the tax burden for many working families in our state is creating serious hardship, particularly for the elderly who struggle to make ends meet and stay in the family homestead. Relief for them and others who struggle unfairly is long overdue,” Malone wrote. “I do not, however, feel comfortable that TABOR is the best vehicle for redressing the flaws in our system.”

In TABOR’s defense, Adams said that the proposal has drawn support from the progressive movement because it has a strong social justice component.

TABOR “is the only way that the poor have to have any power over what government is doing to them,” Adams said.

TABOR will appear on the November ballot as Question 1. If enacted, it would place strict limits on government spending and revenue collection, and require a two-stage process for those limits to be overridden. It would require a two-thirds, super-majority vote by the governing body proposing the increase and then a referendum.

Dennis Bailey, a spokesmen for the anti-TABOR group Citizens United to Protect Our Public Safety, Schools and Communities, said that Malone could have an effect on the election.

“We know that people are struggling, that they’re confused by the 14-pages of this,” Bailey said. “They’re looking for leadership, and I think he will provide some guidance for a lot of people.”

Because he’s out of the TABOR fray, Bailey said, his words can elevate the debate.

Roy Lenardson, a campaign consultant working for TABOR, said the bishop was elegant in his writing, but came to the wrong conclusion.

Lenardson said that the entire goal of TABOR is to reinvigorate the economy and get people to stay in Maine, which would help a church dealing with a shrinking congregation.

Malone also issued an advisory framework to pastors for analyzing political issues and candidates, called “Elections 2006 and the Catholic Voter.”

“Make every effort to educate yourself about the candidates and other issues in order to make the best judgment possible for our state and our nation,” Malone wrote.