Posted on 09/18/2003 2:15:26 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - A Sept. 14 political rally meant to criticize the recall effort aimed at booting California Democratic Gov. Gray Davis from office is the target of a liberal watchdog group's federal complaint because the rally was held at a Los Angeles church.
The event took place at the First African Methodist Church and featured Davis and former President Bill Clinton.
In its Sept. 16 letter to the Internal Revenue Service requesting an investigation, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) called the incident a clear violation of the church's tax-exempt status.
According to Fox News, Clinton took to the pulpit before a predominantly black congregation of nearly 1,000 people, mixing biblical quotes with his calls for voters to reject the Davis recall.
"The governor, he didn't make every single problem we had go away, right away. And so, he might have made a mistake or two, so let's just throw a stone at him. That'll make us feel much better. Just pick up a rock and throw it at him. That'll make us feel so much better," Fox quoted Clinton as saying. "Let he among you without sin cast the first stone."
Davis, who also appeared at the pulpit, said the recall "threatens the very fabric of democracy." He was soon joined by Rev. Cecil Murray, who referred to Davis as "our vital warrior" and said "we are his posse," according to the Washington Post. Murray did not return calls to CNSNews.com for this story.
However, a spokesman for Americans United did address the situation.
"This is an issue that we have been interested in for a long time," Rob Boston, AU assistant director of communications, told CNSNews.com. "We believe that partisan politicking has no place in America's houses of worship, and we don't care if the churches are endorsing Democrats, Republicans or third party candidates, they're not supposed to be doing that. The IRS law is pretty clear."
IRS regulations for Section 501(c)(3) organizations, which include charitable groups, schools, boys or girls clubs and churches, forbid political activity.
"If any of the activities (whether or not substantial) of your organization consist of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or opposition to) any candidate for public office, your organization will not qualify for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3)," the IRS regulation stipulates.
Boston said AU requested a similar investigation of the Church at Pierce Creek in Binghamton, N.Y., in 1992 for the church's sponsorship of full-page ads in USA Today and the Washington Times urging people not to vote for then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton.
Headlined "Christian Beware," the ads faulted Clinton for "promoting policies that are in rebellion to God's laws." The messages also included an appeal for tax-deductible donations to defray the cost of placing the ads.
"We had reported them, and it took some years, but they did eventually lose their tax-exempt status," Boston said. "Since then, we have turned in a number of houses of worship and religious non-profits for endorsing candidates from the pulpit."
Boston acknowledged that press coverage often paints AU as targeting exclusively conservative or Republican-leaning candidates or causes, but he recalled that in 2000, AU called for an IRS investigation of Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Queens, N.Y., after Rev. Floyd Flake invited then-presidential candidate Al Gore to address his congregation on Feb. 13. Flake then endorsed the candidate during Sunday morning worship services.
Boston said Flake eventually signed an agreement with the IRS promising to no longer use his pulpit for political purposes.
"It's about a 50-50 split between churches that have endorsed Republicans and churches that have endorsed Democrats," Boston explained. "Some of these incidents that we have turned in may have resulted in some type of a sanction or warning from the IRS, sometimes not."
IRS investigations are conducted "in confidence," Boston said, and AU often does not know their final result. However, he said the IRS always sends a letter acknowledging AU's initial complaint. The IRS had no comment for this story.
"The fact that the IRS has talked to some pastors about it, the fact that they did pull one church's tax-exempt status is a sign that they take it seriously," Boston said, adding that there are ways pastors and religious organizations can get involved in politics without violating tax regulations. "But having a candidate appear in the pulpit and running what is essentially a rally on his or her behalf is not one of them."
Boston explained that AU is not in the practice of just turning in the churches, noting that they often supply pastors with educational materials to help them from running afoul of the law.
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So the good reverend wants his flock to be cowboys? I thought Democrats hated cowboys.
As I tell my teenage son, "engage brain before opening mouth."
Karma: the liberal mad dogs now bite their master's hands.
Karma: the liberal mad dogs now bite their master's hands.
So the good reverend wants his flock to be cowboys? I thought Democrats hated cowboys.
Out in Texas, a posse may still refer to cowboys, but on the Left coast (particularly LA), the term has been co-opted by blacks & hispanics to refer to street gangs. So the "good" reverend is referring to his parishioners as gang members, and Davis as the gang's leader.
The rhetoric is not only inflammatory, but--as is often the case--uncomfortably close to the truth.
If you're a Democrat, or someone who will vote for a Democrat.
Social entrepreneur FAME Renaissance (FAME Assistance Corporation (FAC) is committed to improving the economic livelihood of Southern California communities through community, public, and private sector collaborations. The funding vehicle is FAME Assistance Corporation (FAC), a California nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, an affiliate of The First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME). The primary mission of FAME Renaissance is to create jobs and business opportunities, currently being accomplished by forming public and private partnerships such as the FAME Business Incubator.
"We're really looking forward to launching the incubator later this fall," notes Rev. Whitlock. "Now is the time to develop such a project to serve the Los Angeles area, and encourage enthusiastic technology and new media community support of the endeavor. The incubator will greatly enhance and expand the business assistance service that we offer to the communities we serve."
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Whitlock, executive director of the FAME Renaissance Business Incubator, announces the continuing development of a commercial office building located at 1968 West Adams Boulevard. The 22,000 square-foot, four-storeyed building is now being transformed into a 48,000 square-foot state-of-the-art new media and entertainment business incubator and training center. The building will serve as a hub for South Central Los Angeles' multimedia, sound, production and video businesses, by supporting fledgling new media companies as they advance through the various stages of economic development.
The FAME Renaissance Business Incubator provides shared resources, business mentoring, network opportunities, in an executive suite environment offering central reception, meeting rooms, and marketing support and training. Renovations are currently underway. The project is a joint effort of the Community Development Department of Los Angeles, the Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce and State Farm Insurance Company.
FAME-Los Angeles was founded by escaped slave Biddy Mason in 1872, is the oldest black congregation in the city of Los Angeles and housed the city's first black school. The congregation currently boasts some 18,000 members under the stewardship of the renowned Dr. Cecil L. "Chip" Murray, a leader in the Southern California community.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest black denomination in North America, founded in 1787 when a group of slaves and free persons led by Richard Allen walked out of St. George's Methodist Church, Philadelphia, purchased an old blacksmith's shop and started worship there. Their first pulpit was an anvil. The first preacher -- and later the first bishop -- was Richard Allen, a born slave who taught himself to read and write, and subsequently bought the freedom of his brother and himself. The infant church grew, and established a dozen colleges, a hospital, the first black corporation, the first black newspaper (the A.M.E. Christian Recorder), and a strong reputation for taking care of social concerns. Its doors are open to every color and race, with more than two million members throughout America, Africa, the Caribbean, England, and Canada.
Dr. Cecil L. "Chip" Murray
Dr. Murray’s drive and passion to serve was evident early in his life. As he matured, he served 10 years of active duty on flying status with the United States Air Force as a Jet Radar Intercept Officer (Air Defense Command), and a navigator (Air Transport Command). He was decorated with the Soldier’s Medal of Valor in 1958 following an aircraft explosion in his two-seated fighter. He retired as a reserve Major with the United States Air Force.
Dr. Murray is a native Floridian with an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University. He received his Doctorate in Religion from The School of Theology at Claremont. He has lectured and been adjunct professor of Iliff University, Seattle University, School of Theology Claremont, Fuller Seminary, and Northwest Theological Seminary.He has been featured in Time Magazine, Ebony Magazine, CNN, Network News, religious periodicals, The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles 900, and other print and television media.
The members of Dr. Murray’s family begin with his devoted wife, Bermardine, and their one son, Drew David Murray, enrolled of Fuller Theological Seminary.
In 1977 Dr. Murray was assigned to First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest black church in Los Angeles. His new church family had 300 active members in 1977. They received his vision to set a fire in the hearts of his members to be a church that extends beyond the walls. The fire and spirit of love spread, and the congregation grew to 17,300 members. The ministry of the church fills the sanctuary with an awe-inspiring spiritual worship service and spills beyond the walls of the church with some 40 task forces that include health, substance abuse, homelessness, emergency food and clothing, general and specialized housing, tutoring, entrepreneurial training, employment services and the like.
Each member joins a task force to help make the effort to take the church beyond its walls. Notable among the membership are Senator Art Torres, the late Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, Mayor Judge Roosevelt Dorn, Judge Irma Brown-Dillon, Arsenio Hall, former Community College Chancellor Dr. Donald Phelps, Dianne Reeves, Michael Warren, Stack Pierce, Dionne Warwick, Mary Wilson, Chauntel Westerman formerly of Good Morning America, Pat Harvey KCAL-TV, Warren Wilson of KTLA-TV, Jim Hill of KCBS-TV, and Beverly White NBC-TV.
The vision of the First AME is a manifestation of Rev. Murray’s 22 years of ministry and leadership to carry out God’s work. President George Bush named the First AME Church the 177th Point of Light for its courageous outreach in community services. The Hawthorne Shopping Plaza has included Dr. Murray in a sand sculpture as a tribute to African Americans who have overcome. George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, Phyllis Wheatley, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King. The story of struggles and triumphs of African Americans cannot be told without including the pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray.
Notable facets of programming include: · $4 million housing for physically handicapped · 12 dwelling units for general public low-income housing, totaling $35 million · 2 units to provide housing for HIV/AIDS infected persons, · $5 million transportation program for seniors and the handicapped · Cecil L. Murray Education Center, Grades K-8 · Health care, AIDS/Tobacco ministries · Free tutoring, legal aid, computer training · Job training/placement · $5 million micro-loan program, $500,000 economic development · Prison ministry · Oil recycling/environmental programs · Business incubator for multi-media production · Monthly feeding program-provides groceries for 600 families · 24 hour lock-in program for youth, focusing on God and youth issues · 600 voice choirs, 3 impacted services and other musical events (6 choirs) ·
Dr. Murray shares membership and support of the traditional civil rights groups and human rights organizations. His fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, named him Man of the Year in 1951.
I haven't read the IRS law on this. Heck, I have to force myself to read IRS stuff when it pertains to me. But Boston and I agree wholeheartedly that there should be a separation of church and politician.
As I have detailed before, whenever Clinton got/gets in his worst jams, he finds a reason to go to a black church, where he is treated like Jesus' illegitimate son.
Kattracks: If you're a Democrat, or someone who will vote for a Democrat.
Start with what you want for you know what is right.
Anything that gets you where you want and need to be is the good and the right thing.
Forget all else, it is irrelevant!
The DemocRAT Way!!!
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