IRS Warns Churches Against Campaigning

AP via Drudge ^ | Jul 18, 1:51 PM EDT

[Steve Van Doorn]

the government can't directly coerce them into saying or not saying anything.

Very good.

That means the rules can not abridge freedom of speech.

[freedumb2003]

Right. I think you don't understand (or didn't) my tax argument.

[Steve Van Doorn]

”There's a difference between telling your flock what Jesus said to the moneylenders, to Pilate, or to the faithful at the Sermon on the Mount, and telling your flock what candidate Jesus would oppose (today).”

And what is that difference?

[Steve Van Doorn]

It is a round about argument. You can not make rules that abridge the freedom of speach.

[lawdude]

"I went to sleep in America and woke up in the Soviet Union!"

Did you feel the same when Kennedy was being promoted by the RC's in 1960? This is the very reason for the First Amendment. IMHO

[Steve Van Doorn]

It is rather funny that i am the only one defending the Church's freedom of speech rights when I don't even believe in god.

[Steve Van Doorn]

what is the RC's?

[Just A Nobody]

Thanks for this very interesting ping Diana.

We have too many laws...enforce them or get them off the books.

[Just A Nobody]

This has NOTHING to do with free speech and EVERYTHING to do with tax exempt status.

Give up your tax exempt status, pay your taxes and say whatever you want.

[LiteKeeper]

It is not the Law! It exists as a result of an Executive Order issued by President Lyndon Johnson to silence his political rivals. There is NO law prohibiting churches from speaking out!

[lawdude]

"what is the RC's?"

Roman Catholics.

[Just A Nobody]

what is the RC's?

Roman Catholic's

[Just A Nobody]

what is the RC's?

Roman Catholic's

[greccogirl]

Oh poor babies. They don't want to see anyone voting Republican so they figure they can oust them this way. I'm sure this will hold true for minority churches as well?

[Gideon7]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, aside from prohibited activities; or abridging the freedom of speech

If the US govt wants to revoke the tax-free status of a church that elects to exercise its 1st amendment rights, be that as it may. But to slap an additional 10% tax "excise" penalty to punish a church's right to free speech is a direct violation of the 1st amendment.

[Cinnamon]

Black Churches exempted of course...

[Alex Murphy]

Ping to read later

[MEG33]

They are not prohibiting the speech..merely threatening their tax exempt status. BIG difference.

[GoLightly]

But for a Cardinal to tell people to break the law on supposed moral grounds is pure politics.

Breaking away from the British crown was once a pulpit issue, as was abolition.

[aceintx]

"You're wrong. If churches want to maintain their tax exceptions they need to stay out of politics. That's the law.

The difference now seems to be that for a change it's going to be enforced. This will cripple black churches if it's enforced evenly."

As inconvenient as it is for you kjo...you're wrong. The First Amendment was intended to keep the government out of our church not the church out of our government.

When the IRS is telling pastors that they can't tell the truth as they see it it's censorship whether it is a left wing, right wing or satanic church....PERIOD!