Nuns' Account Frozen By Patriot Act

February 9, 2006

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Thu, 09 Feb 2006 11:04:06 -0500

United Press International

Nuns of Holy Name Monastery say ridiculous Patriot Act scrutiny led

their bank to freeze the St. Leo, Fla., religious order's main

account. I think the Patriot Act is unwise, said Sister Jean Abbott,

the Benedictine order's business manager.

" If it happened to us, it can happen to anybody, " she told the Tampa

(Fla.) Tribune. " I think people need to know that nobody is safe from,

in some cases, really ridiculous scrutiny. "

The order said its account was frozen without explanation or

notification for a week in November, causing checks to bounce and

taking three months to straighten out.

Abbott said she was told the trouble began because an 80-year-old nun,

a signatory on the account, did not have her Social Security number or

photo identification on file.

" Clearly an international spy, " Abbott wryly told the newspaper.

A Wachovia bank spokesman, citing privacy concerns, declined comment.

The order vowed to lobby Congress to overturn the anti-terrorism law.

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