Bill Allows Mixing of Religion, Politics

[Snellius]

WASHINGTON - Churches that mistakenly mix religious and political activity would face reduced fines but keep their tax exempt status under a provision in a corporate tax bill the House is to consider this week.

The proposal, which could invalidate the strict separation of religion and politics in current tax laws, was introduced by House Republicans the same week President Bush (news - web sites)'s re-election campaign targeted 1,600 Pennsylvania congregations to recruit voters.

Critics fear it would give politicians a pass to flout the rules without putting religious organizations at risk.

The mammoth bill, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, would impose reduced fines against churches and other places of worship that inadvertently allow political activity on their properties more than twice a year. On the third violation, the religious organizations would lose their tax exemption for one year.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=548&ncid=703&e=7&u=/ap/20040607/ap_on_el_ge/church_politics

[FlashHarry]

1. All in all, it's another crack in the wall...

I guess the Establishment Clause means nothing to these creeps.

[struggle4progress]

2. Attempt to consolidate fundie support for *&co.

[phantom power]

3. by "mistake"?

How do you do this by mistake? And how are we supposed to tell the difference between mistake and intentional?

[robcon]

4. There has never been separation of church and politics...

nor should there be any such separation. The separation is between church and state.

The history of church and politics is mixed: the combination of church and politics brought about, for example, state-by-state, then national Prohibition, and was a critical part of the Civil Rights Era.

Church and politics does not equal church and state. Churches, like any other group. have a right to act in the political arena.

[crossroads]

8. Churches in N.O., La. do play a big role in politics...

wielding tremendous influence on the local political scene... yet I don't approve...this is a bad bill, IMO!
:shrug:

[Kagemusha]

20. Not on the taxpayer's charity, that's all!

If they want to be political fundraising organizations then they should be taxed as such. Simple as that.

[bluestateguy]

5. Fine

Let's see how much they like it when Islamic mosques, Scientology churches, pagan churches, liberal Jewish synagogues and liberal Christian churches start using their organizations to mobilize on behalf of liberal political causes and Democratic candidates.

They'll change their tune real quick.

[loudsue]

6. Bingo!!!

And I think we need to call all the republican senators and reps. next week, and let them know that we intend to help those churches & mosques & synagogues get out voters as well.

The gloves are off.

:kick::kick::kick:

[crossroads]

9. Great idea!!! n/t

:dem:

[crossroads]

10. Great idea!!! n/t

:dem:

[CHIMO]

7. How Many

People are required to establish a church?

[Skip Intro]

11. And do churches have to meet?

Does attendance matter? Does there have to be a physical building that would be referred to as "the church?" Can there be an internet church? Maybe the church of DU - First DU.

And if the government forbids me from declaring myself my own church, then why is the government restricting my religious freedom? That separation of church and state works both ways, at least.

I don't think the radical right realizes the pandora's box they are so willing and eager to open, but do they ever? The number of churches would multiply at a wild pace. It will be a church boom, because now there are earthly gains to be made - and a constitution to try to re-write. These pious jerks don't realize that in the end - their influence will have reverted back to its constant level - about as much as 30% of the population would have in a democracy.

on edit:

I just feel like screaming, "get your damned hands off my Constitution" when I read stuff like this.

[CHIMO]

14. I Raise

The point because some might say that 3 people could establish a church. I am sure that it has already been established for tax purposes. However, I do not know what the numbers are.

[DBoon]

24. No they won't

They'll just declare these not to be religions. Note the recent ruling in Texas against the Unitarian Church, depriving it of tax exempt status because it didn't possess a doctrine.

[FleshCartoon]

12. I say let's remove tax-exempt status from all of them. (n/t)

[Democat]

13. If Democrats don't fight this, they are fucking worthless

Democrats cannot let Republicans change laws that they don't like.

One week ago, Bush gets busted for breaking the law.

Instead of making Bush obey the law, Republicans want to change the law so that Bush isn't breaking it.

This is worth going to war over for the Democrats.

Bush has to be exposed for not following the law.

[jus_the_facts]

17. This reminds me of a Robert Heinlein short story...'If This Goes On..."

...written in 1940....about a future America...which is ruled by Theocracy! :scared: :wow: :scared:

[peterh]

18. When Democrats lined the steps of Congress….

Denouncing the 9th Circuit decision on the Pledge they became fucking worthless…..imho, of course….

That’s also the same day I told the State of California to change my registry from Democrat to Natural Law…..

[Eye and Monkey]

19. rePub Congress is forwarding bills with no intention to pass them -

Remember, it was a lukewarm topic a week or so ago. The strategy - raise issues-related bills, not act on them, then in the Fall campaigns, say that the Dems blocked it.

I'm not downplaying the danger - this is yet another example that rePubs are ever interested in circumventing basic principles of the Constitution. Nonetheless, I'm confident that this isn't the only "two-fer" in this bill and that there are other bills just as malicious. And chances are, none of them will be acted upon. They seem to be grist for the mill that grinds out that ubiquitous, pernicious lie that the Dems are being obstructionist.

[Democat]

22. Thanks for the comments

I hope you are right!

Better the right wing is wasting time with political bullshit, than actually screwing the country over.

[nolabels]

15. "the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004"

VOTE BUSH OUT

[JDPriestly]

16. Faith Based Government Funds

This is especially troubling in the context of government funding of faith-based projects with little oversight and no enforcement of certain discrimination laws. Allowing churches to sponsor or advertise for political parties and then giving those churches grants for their "social service" projects would be a handy tool for politicians prone to graft and could result in outright vote-buying. Vote for W. and you'll be saved, and we'll give you free groceries from our homeless food bank. You know how grocery stores sell discount coupons through non-profits -- churches and schools. A political party could hand out grants to supportive religious organizations. This is a very bad idea.

[young_at_heart]

21. And.......which churches will be picked?

You know that the deck will be stacked and I can just see loads of infighting to get the funds. The whole idea is unAmerican!

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. This bill will help Republicans, and Republicans only.

It does nothing to follow the Constitution as our American forefathers expected us to do.

[dusty64]

25. These extremists will NOT

stop until they are thrown from power or have implemented their "christian reconstructionist" Taliban government over the Country. Which shall it be?