Fast I NEED YOUR HELP>>> I need you to call the right people

[greenbriar]

at my church today they had reminders to vote and the website

ivotevalues.com listed.

Then after church, they had people in the parking lot handing out voters guides

you guessed right...for bush.

I tore mine up right in their face.



I can't call because my husband works video for them. But I will talk to the pastor.


I am asking you all to call the IRS on them. The more the merrier

MEssiah Baptist Church
Wichita Kansas

[greenbriar]

1. please help

I think that was a cheap trick, I told them so

now my husband is pissed at me...and he is a Kerry backer...he said I acted childish

[molly]

2. Childish - I would not have been as nice as you were

tell your husband to relax - Kerry is going to win.

[greenbriar]

8. I truly believe that,

however I thought this was utter bullshit

[marew]

4. No, you were NOT childish!!!!!! He'll get over it.

[Hepburn]

14. Any email addies for the church/pastor?

I am sure we will all act like ladies and gentlemen and IMO that pastor should know how deeply offensive conduct is like this. It is just plain wrong and can damage his tax exempt status.

So....just a thought, they did something up close and personal to a person going to their church and IMO it was down right insulting to do this and totally tacky.

Let them know up close and personal and THEN call the IRS, too.

[greenbriar]

21. here is the web page

http://www.messiahbaptist.org/

[Bossy Monkey]

3. Nobody needs to call the church; call the IRS n/t

[greenbriar]

7. whats the number

:::

[Bossy Monkey]

17. Working on it; here's the story:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRS_CHARITIES?SITE=SCCOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Quote:
An IRS "fact sheet" provided by the agency Friday noted, "Even activities that encourage people to vote for or against a particular candidate on the basis of nonpartisan criteria violate the political campaign prohibition."

I'll give a phone number on edit if I can find one at the IRS' site.

[phish420]

9. Bullshit...call both! Whats the number?!?

[greenbriar]

10. thank you

that is what I thought.

[phish420]

33. In fact, Id notify the FEC as well, and any Dem congressmen/women in your

area

[greenbriar]

34. Good Idea

thanks

[AmerDem]

5. this is personal issue

I don't see where we have the right to interfere in your church. If I were you I would raise hell with the pastor, minister whoever. If I were also you I would think deeply as to why I would belong to such a place. I hope you can get some answers and make some progress. this sort of thing doesn't belong in a church setting...imo. Best of Luck

[greenbriar]

6. where is the outrage

everyone is so upset over all the little things and I feel this is major.

YOu can bet I am going to talk with my pastor, but I need more help than that



I am asking for you all to help me call the IRS>>>not my church, I will take care of that

[molly]

11. Calm down and get a logical plan

write down what you would like to say to your pastor - then call the church. If noone answers leave your message on their answering machine with a call back number. A little suggestion would be to remind him/her that G-d is not political and this just does not belong in church. Remind him/her that this is one of the reasons that * has divided this country.

[greenbriar]

13. I have written down my points

and I will wait and cool off before I call,


however a message needs to be sent and sent loud and clear.


Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this church. It is not stiff and unbending

I even thought the pastor was a Kerry man...UNTIL TODAY

[AmerDem]

15. Miss, It is outrageous

But it's not our church. We aren't the ones making donations to help support this church, we aren't ones volunteering for various fund raisers. Not all churches do what your church has decided to do. It sounds to me you should raise hell not only with the pastor but make your feelings known to the congregation. Many churches have weekly bulletins that are handed out, perhaps a lengthy article directed to them by you would be appropriate.

[greenbriar]

16. I am not asking you to call my church

I am asking for IRS calls

[AmerDem]

23. well you just edited in the IRS request

I based all of my comments on your original post. Next question to you is, what part under IRS law is the church breaking. I'm guessing tax exempt status laws but i'm no attorney so provide what it is that this church has done that breaks the law and I will be more then happy to contact the IRS and your church.

[greenbriar]

25. they posted on the Imax screens vote NOv 2 then...

they posted the website www.ivotevalues.com

(for platform comparison)

then after church, they had people passing out VOTERS GUIDES for Tuesday

With Bush as the first person to vote for


then listed T-hart and brown back and all down the line.

[sandnsea]

22. It's a Constitutional Issue

And I believe it IS everyone's issue. They don't respect the lines between church and state, but because we do, they keep walking all over us. Same with the media, we believe in freedom of speech so they get away with hate radio and 24/7 propaganda channels. They aren't exercising their legitimate rights, they're violating the Constitution. There's a big difference and we've got to start fighting it.

[AmerDem]

27. the original post...before editing

asked us to contact her church. This is why I wrote it's a personal issue. The IRS angle has now been brought into it. Which is a totally different matter.

[greenbriar]

29. thats what I meant...In my anger and haste to post, I realize

it didn't read right.

[sam sarrha]

12. the IRS for one ..Get a flier for evidence.. or you can go to ...

a right wing organization started to attack Liberal churches...called

www.ratoutachurch.com

[PretzelWarrior]

18. who the f*ck cares what those creationist Kansans do?

God, I had to live in Kansas during 5 of my teenage years. Boy did THAT bite. Freaks. Just like when I lived in bible-thumping holy roller Southern Missouri.

of course, I hope their asses get in trouble with IRS...but at least we KNEW they were already going for Bush. Neanderthals! Oh wait. they don't believe in evolution. Demons!

[NMDemDist2]

19. To Report Suspected Tax Fraud , Call 1-800-829-0433.

The federal courts have upheld this prohibition on political campaign activity, most recently in Branch Ministries v. Rossotti, 211 F.3d 137 (D.C. Cir. 2000). The courts have held that it is not unconstitutional for the tax law to impose conditions, such as the political campaign prohibition, upon exemption from federal income tax.

If the IRS finds a section 501(c)(3) organization engaged in prohibited campaign activity, the organization could lose its tax-exempt status and it could be subject to an excise tax on the amount of money spent on that activity.

In cases of flagrant violation of the law, the IRS has specific statutory authority to make an immediate determination and assessment of tax. Also, the IRS can ask a federal district court to enjoin the organization from making further political expenditures.

In addition, contributions to organizations that lose their section 501(c)(3) status because of political activities are not deductible by the donors for federal income tax purposes.

The political campaign prohibition as it applies to churches is discussed in Publication 1828, Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations. This publication, along with other information about the political campaign prohibition, is available on IRS.gov at www.irs.gov/eo.

[sandnsea]

20. "I walked out of church" thread

We need one, where we can all share our stories. I did it several years ago and haven't been back. I'm feeling so much better now that I know others have done it over the years too! Seems to me it's an awful lot of women getting angry too, or maybe I've misjudged. Just get a flier and the pertinent information and mail it in anonymously. They'll either follow through or they won't, no matter where it comes from.

I don't know what it is with men, when they get mad they're being tough and strong. When we do, we're hysterical or childish. Ugh. My DH is the same way sometimes.

[greenbriar]

24. that is exactly how it is

he can get mad at the most utter childish things but I rarely get mad. I am spitting nails over this and I am being childish???

[greenbriar]

26. this is the comparrison they would have us view

http://www.ivotevalues.com/clientImages/27131/pdfs/ppc.pdf

[sandnsea]

32. Did you read it?

I think it's a pretty fair comparison. Unfortunately, the Republians lie about what they're really doing, but the information is taken straight from the party platforms of each party. I still think churches should stay out of elections altogether, but compared to some of the other crazy garbage I've seen churches hand out, I think this one is pretty good.

:shrug:

[greenbriar]

35. yea, and had it just been that I would not have been upset

however, the passing "voters" guides after church is what set me off.


Hed they been issues for both sides, I would not have been upset, but it was clearly PRO_BUSH

[DuaneBidoux]

28. It you were in Ohio or Florida I'd tell you to do something there

You need to do volunteer calling for (somebody help me on the org that sets this up) to get to Florida and Ohio.

Stuff like this distracts, and no offense, but being from a backwater location it won't amount to much for the effort spent.

(I was born in Wichita, graduated WSU in '82). Wichita is a great place to be FROM.

[Stephanie]

30. Pam, edit the part about your husband

You've identified yourself and the freepers will come after you.

[greenbriar]

36. not really...I didn't use any info that would give me away

Pam is not my real name and hubby doesn't work video...he does do something else

[shelley806]

31. See these 2 posts with similar topics--Might help

ttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1239675

Just Walked Out of Church... !!!

When our preacher told us how to vote! Forget him!
The preacher said, Kerry was for gay marriage and pro-choice.

He forgot to say that DICK CHENEY IS FOR GAY MARRIAGE AND HAS A GAY DAUGHTER!!!

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1240191

Republican Party just left a flyer on my car in the church parking lot. I found it on my windshield after attending mass today. They put one on the dozens of cars parked in the church's parking lot.
The colorful glossy card stock paper has a flattering photo of Bush* and a not so flattering one of Kerry.

This is what it says:

"Who Shares Your Values? You Decide"

It then lists these issues and two columns with "SUPPORTS" in the Bush column for each of these issues and "OPPOSES" in the Kerry column for each issue.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban
Defense of Marriage Act
Prohibit Distributing Morning After Pill to Children in Schools
Expanded Child Tax Credit
Parental Notification of Abortion
Prohibit Taxpayer Funding of Abortions
Appoint Pro-Life Judges

"This November 2nd, it is critical to support the candidate who works to strenghthen the family and the culture of life. We need a President who brings honor and integrity to the highest office of the land--who stands for our shared values."