Churches could face IRS probe

[kweerwolf]

More than 30 local pastors last night officially accused two evangelical megachurches of illegal political activities.

In a rare and potentially explosive action, the moderate ministers signed a complaint asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate World Harvest Church of Columbus and Fairfield Christian Church of Lancaster and determine if their tax-exempt status should be revoked.

The grievance claims that the Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church and the Rev. Russell Johnson of Fairfield Christian Church improperly used their churches and affiliated entities — the Center for Moral Clarity, Ohio Restoration Project and Reformation Ohio — for partisan politics, including supporting the Republican gubernatorial candidacy of Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell.

The complaint asks the IRS to seek a court injunction "if these churches’ flagrant political campaign activities do not cease immediately." It was signed by 31 pastors from nine denominations during a meeting last night at the North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus and was to be faxed late last night to IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson.

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/01/16/20060116-A1-00.html

[liberal N proud]

1. That belongs in the "It's about time" category

[f-bush]

2. Go get 'em

Bush and his morons have been after the mainline Churches for quite some time. If you want to see Seperation of Church and State violations just attend a moronic fundy mege church in early Novemeber of even numbered years!