Posted on 05/11/2008 5:28:02 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
A conservative legal-advocacy group is enlisting ministers to use their pulpits to preach about election candidates this September, defying a tax law that bars churches from engaging in politics.
Alliance Defense Fund, a Scottsdale, Ariz., nonprofit, is hoping at least one sermon will prompt the Internal Revenue Service to investigate, sparking a court battle that could get the tax provision declared unconstitutional. Alliance lawyers represent churches in disputes with the IRS over alleged partisan activity.
The action marks the latest attempt by a conservative organization to help clergy harness their congregations to sway elections. The protest is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, a little more than a month before the general election, in a year when religious concerns and preachers have been a regular part of the political debate.
It also comes as the IRS has increased its investigations of churches accused of engaging in politics. Sen. Barack Obama's denomination, the United Church of Christ, has said it was under investigation after it allowed the Democratic presidential candidate to address 10,000 church members last year. Last summer, the tax agency said it was reviewing complaints against 44 churches for activities in the 2006 election cycle. Churches found to be in violation can be fined or lose their tax exemptions.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Gummint can’t put up with churches talking about politics.
Can’t stand the competition.
Or the moral authority.
I expect the Saudi funders of Wahhabi American mosques would agree that unlimited political activity by tax exempt religious institutions is a fine idea.
Yes, it was that scum, LBJ, the Clinton of his generation, who pulled that and many other various stunts that Americans are still left holding the bag on today.
Except that there is NO LAW barring churches from political activity.
In an effort to silence political opposition, Lyndon Johnson was able to attach an amendment to a bill that put an end to that.
Isn't it interesting that only "religious" 501(c)3 organizations are silenced. All others are able to say whatever they want. And isn't it interesting that only white churches are investigated...particularly those of the conservative, or republican persuasion. Black churches, and those associated with dimoRATS have free reign to say what they want.
The reason I agree with this law is because I don’t think leftist churches should be getting a free ride tax-wise while promoting anti-USA BS. I do think that the selective enforcement of this law merits it being struck down because it violates the equal abuse under the law provisions of the 14th Amendment.
You know, the funny thing about freedom, and free speech, is that it has to apply to all, or it applies to none. What you are advocating in “view point” discrimination. As detestable as the liberal/leftist churches are, I have to grant them the same rights that I want to enjoy, or no one can enjoy them. That is the hard reality of the situation.
Can anyone imagine Thomas Jefferson enacting fines on a church if it were preaching against his rival? In fact, does anyone think that Jefferson would have supported the federal government pointing a gun at the head of any citizen who refused to pay tribute to the federal government? Refuse to pay your taxes, resist the arrest, the federal government will kill you. This is not freedom, it’s tyranny.
pnh102, It’s obvious you don’t fully understand the 1st Amendment. This is a clear violation of the 1st.
How so? In practice, the First Amendment only applies to anyone who doesn't mouth off a conservative viewpoint. Why is it only these churches that are persecuted for getting into politics? Either enforce the law for everyone or strike it down.
I can't imagine T.J. condoning an income tax, let alone an IRS, and all of the "voluntary" filing of private information involved.
There ya go!
I file electronically...does the paper flier thingy still insult our intelligence with the opening statement. "Our voluntary system of blah blah is greatest in the world"
?
I imagine it does, but I haven’t used paper for a while, either.
If we discover that the Wahabees like the 2nd Amendment, you wanna repeal that one too?
That said, the Scriptures do teach that we should pray for all our leaders and to "render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." I submit that one can legitimately proclaim from pulpit that a conscientious believer would examine the positions of the available candidates, comparing them to what is taught in the Scriptures. One should then cast one's ballot accordingly.
I do not agree with the law, and I strongly dislike the unbalanced enforcement that allows liberal and/or minority preachers being allowed to campaign from the pulpit while conservatives are required to obey the law.
???
A conservative legal-advocacy group is enlisting ministers to use their pulpits to preach about election candidates this September, defying a tax law that bars churches from engaging in politics.
The IRS law does not bar churches from engaging in politics. It only bars 501c3 non-profit organizations from engaging in politics. Churches need to decide if they want to be churches or 501c3 organizations, they can’t be both.
I haven't heard or seen you around in what seems like forever! Nice to see you're still here!
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