Posted on 08/18/2007 10:54:00 AM PDT by wagglebee
WICHITA, Kan. — The pastor of a conservative Christian church being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service said the threat of losing its tax-exempt status will not stop the church from fighting abortion.
“We will continue regardless of what the IRS does,” said Rev. Mark Holick, pastor of Spirit One Christian Center. “We will continue to obey the Lord.”
Holick told reporters Aug. 16 that the church, which has about 150 members, is being investigated for political involvement simply because it speaks against abortion. He called the investigation a violation of the church’s First Amendment rights.
Under federal tax law, churches can discuss politics but can lose their tax-exempt status if they endorse candidates or parties.
A letter from the IRS released by the church showed the agency was specifically concerned about signs in front of the church that criticized Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Paul Morrison during their 2006 campaigns. The letter also noted Holick’s involvement in distributing voter guides with candidate endorsements outside various churches.
Other items of concern included a message sent by Holick on the church e-mail account regarding last year’s attorney general’s race between Morrison and then-attorney General Phill Kline and an article posted on the church Web site opposing Hillary Clinton’s election as president. The IRS also extensively questioned visits made by Kline to the church.
Holick’s comments were made during a news conference in front of abortion provider George Tiller’s clinic, one of the nation’s few remaining late-term abortion providers. Holick blamed Tiller and his supporters for using the IRS to go after the church.
“They are using it as a bullying tactic to silence the church, to silence freedom of speech,” Holick said.
Tiller did not respond to a message left at his clinic. But Julie Burkhart, a lobbyist for ProKanDo, a political action committee Tiller formed, said her group did not file the IRS complaint against the church.
“We have other people in this community who are concerned about the church overstepping its tax-exempt bounds,” she said. “We cannot take credit for that.”
Doug Ittner, an abortion-rights supporter affiliated with an informal group calling itself the Maggot Punks, told the Associated Press that he filed two complaints as a private citizen with the IRS regarding the church’s signs during the elections.
“It is just one more tool,” Ittner said of the IRS. “Might as well get the government to do our work for us, and Spirit One helps by breaking the law.”
The IRS did not immediately return a call for comment.
The church, which was formed in 1991, has responded to a lengthy questionnaire from the agency and now is facing an audit, Holick said. The agency wants to examine financial and accounting records. A meeting is planned between church officials and IRS agents.
During the tumultuous race for attorney general, Kline formulated a “church effort” to take full advantage of his support among conservative Christians. In an internal memo to his staff, Kline discussed political receptions held after services, directing his staff to get friendly pastors to invite “money people.” Someone leaked the memo to reporters.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State said during the elections that Kline’s campaign was leading churches and pastors onto dangerous legal ground, possibly jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.
Holick said Kline preached at the church in 2003 and 2004, but his sermons were not political.
Kline did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Holick hosted a fundraiser for Kline at his home in October, an e-mail released by the church showed. He also participated in an effort distributing voter guides outside churches that highlighted anti-abortion candidates.
“In essence because I got involved politically outside the church, they are now investigating my church,” Holick said. “What they are saying is that as a Christian you can’t get involved politically.”
Months before November’s midterm elections, the IRS warned that it would be scrutinizing churches to make sure they do not violate their tax-exempt status. Both liberal and conservative groups have responded by lodging numerous complaints against churches.
Last year, the IRS revoked the tax-exempt status of the Wichita-based Operation Rescue West for prohibited political activity during the 2004 election. The group, now known as Operation Rescue, relinquished its charitable status and reorganized more than a year ago.
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Tiller owns the RAT politicians in KS. This church won’t get any help from the governor or AG.
Why don’t they go after the Phred Phelps Phreaks???
The shape of things to come.
I look forward to the IRS probing the mainline black churches across the country who support getting out the vote for Defeaocrats.
Not.
You are right. If this is happening under the Bush admin. imagine the harassment and investigations conservative churches will have to endure when the Dems take power again.
Abolish the IRS Fair Tax ping.
There is a very simple solution here.
Churches must drop their 501c3 tax exempt status and come out from under the control of the government. When a church signs up for tax exempt status they agree to a certain set of rules some of which include limits on what they can and cannot say and do. Unfortunately most pastors today want the government ‘benefit’ without the strings that always accompany that largesse.
There is no reason why a local fellowship of Christian believers needs a tax exemption from the government. Pastor - No man can serve two masters - choose ye this day whom you will serve - renounce your 501c3 status and obey the Lord
If Churches only understood they are not required to get 501(c)(3) status to enjoy being a tex exempt entity they could avoid these hassles. The IRS code and booklets state this, but accountants and MBA’s convince churches otherwise because they like to have a piece of paper which clearly states their tax exempt status. But Churches are automatically tax-exempt under the law.
One of those two worthies surely dropped the dime on Holick. We have to think that Ittner is nothing more than a toady serving at the pleasure of Tiller, the AG, and the governor.
...or the Episco-baal-ians like V. Gene Robinson endorsing Obama and preaching about him in churches.
One of those two worthies surely dropped the dime on Holick. We have to think that Ittner is nothing more than a toady serving at the pleasure of Tiller, the AG, and the governor.
Get ready for more of this if the Hillary wins in 08’ and Pelosi and Reed control the congress.
I’m convinced they are going to want to dismantle as much of the Conservative base as they can while they run both ends of Penn Ave. They’ll use the IRS, FEC, FCC, etc., to get it done. They’ll go after talk radio too in full force. The trouble is the GOP and the so called Conservatives in Washington aren’t doing much to fight back.
“Under federal tax law, churches can discuss politics but can lose their tax-exempt status if they endorse candidates or parties.
....The letter also noted Holick’s involvement in distributing voter guides with candidate endorsements outside various churches.”
Life is Life but the law is the law. You cannot endorse candidates and keep your tax exemption. Everyone in this fight on the side of life should already know this.
How about going after those that peach violence, deprivation of civil rights, condemn freedom of religion, believe in slavery and are committed to the overthrow of our government and our way of life?
If one person can get the IRS to jump on this small church’s back, when is someone going to file a complaint against ROP and CAIR, etc?
Get me the papers and I’ll file the complaint (I’m not a lawyer).
Or the IRS should enforce the laws uniformly. All of these black churches which host Democrat party shindigs should also lose their tax exempt status.
Exactly. The Fair Tax would eliminate such harassment of churches.
Unfortunately, in real life it only takes one side to make an argument. Liberals politicize everything.
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