Churches That Violate Law On Pulpit Politicking Will Be Reported To The IRS, Vows Americans United

[struggle4progress]

Churches That Violate Law On Pulpit Politicking Will Be Reported To The IRS, Vows Americans United
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Church-State Watchdog Group Condemns Religious Right Plan To Politicize Pulpits This Sunday

Houses of worship that flagrantly violate federal tax law by taking part in a Religious Right-led effort to politicize America’s pulpits this Sunday will be promptly reported to the Internal Revenue Service, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group based in Arizona, is urging pastors to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit on Sept. 28, even though IRS regulations forbid tax-exempt groups from intervening in political campaigns. Reportedly, about 30 churches will participate.

“Taking part in this reckless stunt is a one-way ticket to loss of tax exemption,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “We’ll be watching, and pastors who violate the law can expect their churches to be reported to the IRS the first thing Monday morning” ... http://www.au.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr001=p61safsyk6.app5b&abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=10051&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1241

IRS Will Review Complaint Concerning ADF's Pulpit Freedom Sunday

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has agreed to review a complaint by three former top IRS officials that the Alliance Defense Fund's (ADF) "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" violates federal tax law. Pulpit Freedom Sunday is part of an initiative asking churches to defy the IRS's prohibition against partisan politicking by preaching sermons that support or oppose a candidate for political office.

ADF distributed information about "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" at the Value Voters Summit 2008, which was held on September, 20.

BNA reported ($$) that a letter from Michael Chessman, director of the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility, acknowledges receiving the complaint from Marcus Owens, an attorney with Caplin & Drysdale, and a former IRS director. In the letter, the IRS has agreed to "review this information carefully and give it all due consideration" ... http://www.ombwatch.org/article/blogs/entry/5396/53

Religious Leaders Oppose Political Pulpit Initiative
Monday, September 8, 2008 3:21 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A group of central Ohio religious leaders have joined three former Internal Revenue Service agents in an effort to stop clergy from endorsing or attacking candidates from the pulpit.

The effort came as the conservative Alliance Defense Fund recruited several dozen pastors across the nation to talk about candidates during their sermons on Sept. 28, a day the group recognized as Pulpit Freedom Sunday ...

Forty-five central Ohio ministers and rabbis signed the letter of complaint to the IRS ... http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/09/08/story_pulpit.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=102

Ohio Pastors Leading Group to Counter ADF's "Pulpit Freedom Sunday"

... In response to this initiative, two Ohio pastors, the Rev. Eric Williams and the Rev. Robert Molsberry, are asking clergy to preach about the benefit of the separation between church and state on September 21.

The Ohio pastors are leading a group of 55 religious leaders who filed a complaint with the IRS asking them to force ADF to stop encouraging pastors to violate federal tax law on "Pulpit Freedom Sunday."

According to the Washington Post, the clergy stated in the claim that, "as religious leaders, we have grave concerns about the ethical implications of soliciting and organizing churches to violate core principles of our society."

According to the Associated Press, the complaint "asks the IRS to stop the Alliance Defense Fund from signing up churches to violate the federal restriction." They also want the IRS to investigate if the pulpit initiative itself violates the law and jeopardizes ADF's tax-exempt status ... http://www.ombwatch.org/article/blogs/entry/5348/30

Warroad pastor may get in hot water with IRS over endorsement
By Stephen J. Lee
Grand Forks Herald
Article Last Updated: 09/26/2008 10:41:24 AM CDT

WARROAD — It appears that a Warroad pastor is going to be in the national spotlight Sunday, when he plans to endorse Sen. John McCain for president from his pulpit as part of his challenge to federal rules against churches engaging in political campaigns.

The Rev. Gus Booth, pastor of Warroad Community Church, said he heard from about 20 media organizations across the nation just Thursday.

Booth garners attention because of his .. stand .. last spring to .. loudly flout rules of the Internal Revenue Service .. proscribing politicking by churches and clergy, or other nonprofits enjoying tax-exempt status ...

http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_10566206?source=rss

[napi21]

1. That's their intent! They want the IRS rule to be ruled on by the SCOTUS!

The positive side of this is that it takes quite a while for any case to get to the SCOTUS, and by that time we will have a Dem President, and most likely 1, 2, or even 3 new justices.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. I read about this in the LA Times this morning.

You know, I should be shocked. I should be surprised. But, really, I'm not. This is just another example of the Radical Right trying to take America hostage and shred the Constitution. It is really a disgrace, but these American Terrorists will be cheerleaded by those so beaten down, they vote against their own economic self-interest and allow themselves to be distracted by the wedge issues of gay people and abortions.

Here are links to the two LA Times pieces, a column and an editorial. Beware the bully pulpit and Preaching politics

[jwirr]

3. It is about time. This should have been done long ago. However, when

you have the fox guarding the hen house then it does not matter what you report to the fox unless it helps the fox.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Cowards one and all, cowardice is a conservative value

Why don't people who make money on the bible give up their tax exempt status in the land of the free? I'm all for it. Why do the right wing trash who make a living on the radio fear the fairness doctrine?

Because conservatives are pussy assed cowards.

I speak my mind and pay taxes. I have no fear of my "opinions" being challenged on the radio. I'm not a fucking pussy ass whose programmed response is "buy your own radio station."

YO LURKERS, why are your "leaders" fucking pussys?

[struggle4progress]

7. Yep: yellow-bellies won't even release names of pastors doing this so-called "civil disobedience"

:rofl:

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Good news!!!

[cloudythescribbler]

6. Obama should make a STRONG statement AGAINST preachers endorsing him from pulpit

or anything else that violates the letter especially but also the spirit (he needs to be reasonably specific about what violates the spirit) of the proper separation of church and state.

[rug]

8. What about the opposite?

[cloudythescribbler]

9. opposite being what -- that politicians shouldn't speak in churches???????

that is not customarily seen as the spirit and CERTAINLY isn't the letter of the law

[rug]

10. No, I don't think they should.