By Daoud Kuttab

 A  September 29^th court filing in Seryani v. The Holy See accuses attorney Rosa M.C. Cumare of orchestrating fraudulent tax filings that allowed a prominent Catholic charity to conceal millions in fundraising revenue.

The $427 million RICO case, in the Superior California County Court of San Bernardino, filed by Jordanian-American businessman Benjamin Seryani, raises questions about the financial and regulatory practices of Vatican-affiliated organizations operating in the United States.

The plaintiff, Seryani, alleges that attorney Cumare, serving as both legal consultant and governance officer for the Western Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem (WL), personally prepared and signed false tax exemption forms under penalty of perjury. Despite the IRS’s determination that WL was a public charity, not a church, Cumare allegedly reclassified it as a church to evade state registration and oversight.

Seryani, who invested millions between 2012 and 2015 to keep the American University of Madaba in Jordan afloat, claims the group used its religious status to evade oversight for decades. Court filings in Seryani v. The Holy See et al., before the San Bernardino Superior Court, detail alleged misrepresentations and conflicting tax filings that blocked repayment of Seryani’s investments.

According to the plaintiffs, this misclassification enabled WL to solicit over $1 million annually from donors without proper financial transparency. The filing includes IRS and California Franchise Tax Board letters confirming WL’s public charity status and Cumare’s signature on the disputed filings.

The plaintiffs argue that Cumare’s actions were not legal advocacy but direct participation in a cover-up that distorted official records and misled state regulators. They assert that her conduct compromised public trust and protected a network of entities posing as religious charities.

The court papers frame Cumare as a central figure in a broader nonprofit deception, accusing her of using her attorney status to shield WL and affiliated organizations, including the Queen of Peace Foundation and the Arab American Catholic Community, from scrutiny.

The plaintiffs argue her actions went beyond legal advocacy, amounting to direct participation in a scheme to distort official records and mislead regulators.

Cumare has filed a motion to dismiss the allegations, which plaintiffs oppose, arguing that her conduct was deliberate misrepresentation rather than protected speech.

If the claims are proven, the lawsuit could have civil and regulatory consequences for Cumare and the network of affiliated charitable entities.

The lawsuit alleges that Seryani was pressured to participate in controversial financial transactions, including what the court documents refer to as a “China Deal,” and that he was subsequently removed from his role overseeing the university after refusing. Seryani says he acted to uphold ethical standards, not to commit misconduct.

The amended complaint, filed in April 2025, includes thousands of pages of correspondence, sworn statements, and government records, marking the first time internal documents from the Western Lieutenancy and related Vatican-affiliated entities have been publicly disclosed. The filings accuse the Western Lieutenancy, affiliated with the Archbishop of Los Angeles, of operating a “disguised fundraising network” rather than a purely religious entity, shielding assets and transfers from ordinary oversight. Plaintiffs argue that these actions created the appearance of ecclesiastical immunity while directly harming Seryani financially.

Seryani’s lawyer Bob Spitz submitted an affidavit (see PDF above) attesting that in previous court depositions, Rosa Cumera appeared as counsel to senior WL officers Margaret Romano and Bradley Sharp, who testified under oath that the WL had “no congregation, no bishop, and conducted no mass or sacrament.” He stated in his affidavit that the WL of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem “was not a church but a donor coordination group.”

Seryani’s advocate Spitz further stated, under oath, that he reviewed the FTB form 3500 (Submission for Exemptions Request) filed by Ms. Cumera on behalf of the WL, claimed that the WL is a “church,” thus further contradicting earlier testimony.

Neither the Holy See nor the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has issued a public statement. A prior meeting between Seryani and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, now Latin Patriarch, reportedly ended with the prelate acknowledging the dispute but saying he was “acting under higher Vatican authority,” according to court documents.

Legal observers say the case could test the boundaries of church-state oversight and transparency for Vatican-linked organizations operating in the U.S.

Seryani’s lawyer, Bob Spitz, submitted an affidavit executed on September 29 attesting that in previous court depositions, attorney Rosa Cumare represented senior WL officers Margaret Romano and Bradley Sharp, who testified under oath that the WL had “no congregation, no bishop, and conducted no mass or sacrament.” Spitz stated that the WL “was not a church but a donor coordination group.” He further noted that he reviewed FTB Form 3500 (Submission for Exemptions Request) filed by Cumare on behalf of the WL, which claimed the WL was a “church,” contradicting earlier testimony.

Neither the Holy See nor the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has issued a public statement. A prior meeting between Seryani and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, now Latin Patriarch, reportedly ended with the prelate acknowledging the dispute but stating he was “acting under higher Vatican authority,” according to court documents.