IRS: Churches can't pray for Bush victory

Wrld Net Daily ^ | 10-28-04 | Ron Strom

[hope]

This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows.
To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41145

Thursday, October 28, 2004

---

---

TESTING THE FAITH
IRS: Churches can't pray for Bush victory
Ruling says tax-exempt groups prohibited from asking God to intervene

---

Posted: October 28, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Ron Strom

---

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

In a letter of clarification requested by a traveling minister, the Internal Revenue Service has declared people gathered in tax-exempt churches can't pray for President Bush to win the election on Tuesday.

The ruling comes in response to a request by the Christian Defense Coalition, which is in the midst of a 15-day prayer tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the organization, had planned to lead in prayer for a Bush victory during evening services in each town. Though he had hoped to hold the services in churches, Mahoney says he has used American Legion halls, hotels and other venues pending a clarification from the IRS.

The American Center for Law and Justice wrote the letter to the IRS on behalf of the Mahoney's group, explaining that the pastor planned to "offer prayer during the evening services in the churches he visits that God grants President Bush four more years as president and that Senator Kerry does not become president."

"This is rank censorship," Mahoney told WND. "If churches felt compelled to pray for Senator Kerry, they should be able to do that, too.

"Now we have the IRS not only limiting what can said behind a pulpit in terms of electioneering, but churches aren't even allowed to pray the dictates of their consciences."

Mahoney said he would consider legal action against the IRS, saying churches that had considered hosting the tour were unable to do so. He also said he considers his First Amendment rights to have been violated.

Reaction to the IRS ruling, Mahoney predicts, will include "massive anger" in the Christian community.

"Our organization, along with the American Center for Law and Justice, is going to make this a major issue," he said.

Mahoney considers the ruling a "much greater leap into censorship" than the prohibition on endorsing candidates from church pulpits.

"You hear people talk about the separation of church and state," he said. "This is a massive violation of the separation of church and state from the standpoint of the government intruding on the private dictates of churches."

Under IRS regulations, churches that are tax-exempt organizations cannot openly advocate for candidates for office and can only use a small percentage of their budgets on political activity.

As WorldNetDaily reported, an concerted effort is under way to get the IRS to crack down on churches that might push certain candidates or parties. In July, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, headed by Barry Lynn, filed a complaint with the IRS against Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., accusing him of preaching a sermon promoting President Bush's re-election July 4.

Related stories:

Political snitches monitor sermons

Democrats back church IRS probe

---

If you'd like to sound off on this issue, please take part in the WorldNetDaily poll.

---

Ron Strom is a news editor for WorldNetDaily.com.

[Bogolyubski]

You seem to be forgetting one of the underlying principles of modern American society - some of us are more equal than others. Don't believe me? Just ask Her Royal Highness Sandra Day O'Connor.

[Quix]

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

THE DIMRATS HAVE BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH THIS DOUBLE STANDARD FROM AT LEAST JOHNSON'S YEARS.

Sigh.

[GeronL]

This is going way too far. We need to start off the next session of Congress with an email and phone campaign demanding that a law be passed giving [recognizing] churches the freedom of speech.

[Soul Seeker]

Way I look at it they have two choices-

1) Forego tax exemption and pray anyway.

2) Pray and force these people to take it to court.

Either way, we PRAY.

They can drag us away on knelt knees and clasped hands, but they aren't going to tell me when I can pray, with whom I share that prayer, on what location it is allowed nor the subject of that prayer.

[Jim Robinson]

"without tax exempt donations..."

There's a big price for that exemption. Liberty.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Yo! IRS! Do NOT mess with my Father! You won't like the end result....

[GeronL]

Yes that is the wave of the future. BUT the left will go after them too someday if it catches on.

I have always wished I had the money to start a church like that.

[intolerancewillNOTbetolerated]

...churches can't pray for President Bush to win the election on Tuesday."

The implication being that they CAN pray for sKerry to win???

[Mo1]

They are going to tell us who we can or cannot pray for??


This stunt will backfire on these JERKS BIG TIME

[diss-a-lib]

Senator "long face", he should marry Sarah Jessica Parker, both are long faced,like horses, their children would probably look like Seattle Slew. Just a little humor,sorry.

[ClancyJ]

We will pray for whatever we wish. The government does not have the option of telling us who or what we can pray about.

Do they remember anything about ......"religious freedom"?

[AlienCrossfirePlayer]

U.S. Constitution: First Amendment

First Amendment - Religion and Expression

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

---

BTW that stuff about separation of church and state is just another one of those SCOTUS rules which substantially alters the original intent of the First Amendment. Originally it meant that Congress could not interfere with the official religions "established" in some of the states.

[unspun]

We can fight and fight and fight in the courts. Or, we could abolish the IRS.

[grey_whiskers]

Aye.

But if they try to do a dumbass stunt like the ACLU wants, they are playing with fire.

[k2blader]

I will pray for my President and anything else, wherever. I'm sure millions of fellow Christians agree.

[hope]

I know what you're saying, but when it comes down to the IRS telling people what they can pray about, well, that's just plain sKerry.What next?

[broadsword]

Gee, what do we do with all those black churches that invited Kerry to speak from the pulpit? Is the IRS going to pull their tax exempt status too?

Not going to happen, my friend. The rule of breaking the law is: If you're a Democrat, YOU CAN!

[broadsword]

IRS: Churches can't pray for Bush victory ... but Satanists can certainly put out a hex for their man Kerry!

The CommieDemoLibs are the Impuritan zealots and brownshirts of our age.

[RockAgainsttheLeft04]

Now I can't be a Christian, and speak my mind,
IRS says I'm out of line.
they've tasted our blood and they want to destroy us,
for we stand in the way of "progress"
... as they see it,
As Marx saw it,
As Stalin saw it,
As Mao saw it,
So we must be made to see it too.
No room for God in our future, and forget about conservatism and truth.
What individual rights? Back to work, proletariat...
Patriotism, oh you must be mistaken;
you mean you support Multiculturalism,
It'll be better for you.
The Supreme Court says so.

The USA, my beloved land,
losing it's soul by the day.
Our courts, our beurocracy, our elites, our "betters",are

Ever so slowly,
Ever so carefully,
Ever so coldly...
building a dictatorship.

[EGPWS]

Can a prayer be led in church for a sKerry defeat?