Don't forget, the IRS is a political arm of the Republican Party too.

[myrna minx]

Remember these tales? Let us go through the way back machine...

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0916-01.htm
Published on Saturday, September 16, 2006 by the Los Angeles Times

IRS Orders All Saints to Yield Documents on '04 Political Races
Antiwar remarks at All Saints in Pasadena were made two days before the 2004 election. The church is ordered to hand over records.

by Louis Sahagun
Stepping up its probe of allegedly improper campaigning by churches, the Internal Revenue Service on Friday ordered a liberal Pasadena parish to turn over all the documents and e-mails it produced during the 2004 election year with references to political candidates.

All Saints Episcopal Church and its rector, the Rev. Ed Bacon, have until Sept. 29 to present the sermons, newsletters and electronic communications.

The IRS investigation was triggered by an antiwar sermon delivered by its former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, at the church two days before the 2004 presidential election. The summons even requests utility bills to establish costs associated with hosting Regas' speech. Bacon was ordered to testify before IRS officials Oct. 11.

The tax code bars nonprofits, including churches, from endorsing or campaigning against candidates in an election.

snip
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), who unsuccessfully tried to launch a Government Accountability Office investigation into the IRS' probes of churches nationwide last year, called the summons "a very disturbing escalation" of the agency's scrutiny of All Saints.

"I don't want religious organizations to become arms of campaigns," he said. "But they should be able to talk about issues of war and peace without fear of losing tax-exempt status. If they can't, they'll have little to say from the pulpit."


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/6/84353/67437

Now, does everyone remember Duer libnnc reporting this story from her community? "East Waynesville Baptist Church in NC expells all Dem members." from the church. From her thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3604552#3604716

My Mom just emailed me the news. There's no link yet.

She said WLOS tv just broke in to report that the East Waynesville Baptist church has officially excommunicated all its democratic members.

She said that before the election, the preacher told the congregation from the pulpit that if they didn't vote for * they had to come to the altar to confess their sins and repent. they couldn't be members. (My Mom doesn't attend that church--she's United Methodist, but I know of lots who do attend).

From Mom's email: "One of the local women who got excommunicated said on TV that it was like a cult. Another man who got excommunicated said that the rest of the congregation stood up and applauded as the Democrats were told to leave."

Okay, I'm officially freaked out.

libnnc

Sooo...the Pastor does resign, but is the Church's tax exempt status threatened like the liberal church? Well, in investigations *were* urged :eyes:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7769149/

snip
IRS investigation urged
Chandler’s resignation came a day after a national group that lobbies for church-state separation urged the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the tax-exempt status of the East Waynesville Baptist Church.

IRS rules bar clear-cut politicking by tax-exempt groups. Last October, days before Bush won a second term, the IRS said it was investigating about 60 charities and other tax-exempt groups — about a third of them churches — for potentially breaking rules that bar them from participating in political activity.

The outcome of those investigations is not known. The IRS is barred from naming the organizations it investigates or announcing case results.

So...If you are a Christian Pastor and you preach an anti-war Christian message, your files are raided and your tax exempt status is threatened. But if you are Republican Pastor who excommunicates *Democrats* from your church, investigations are "urged" and nothing is done.

There you go folks.

Below is just one of the many reasons that I am relieved that Reid and Pelosi are in charge...


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/05/16/MNGASCPR0F1.DTL


Debating politics in the pulpit
Bill would allow churches to back candidates, issues
Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, May 16, 2005
The Rev. Chan Chandler is an enthusiastic supporter of President Bush and wanted to make sure his North Carolina parishioners knew it. If they didn't agree with him -- and at least nine of them fit that category -- they were forced out, some congregants said.

Chandler himself resigned last week, a symbol to his detractors of the dangers of partisan preaching inside a church. But to supporters of a congressional bill that would "take the muzzle off" religious leaders, Chandler should have been free to issue endorsements from the bully pulpit -- if not bully the flock into leaving -- without endangering his Baptist church's tax-exempt status.

The case has reignited debate over the House of Worship Freedom of Speech Restoration Act, introduced earlier this year by North Carolina GOP Rep. Walter Jones. The measure, which Jones has proposed two other times, would amend the Internal Revenue Service tax code to enable church leaders to endorse candidates and campaigns in their sacred buildings. Though the IRS has rarely pulled a religious institution's tax exemption because of pulpit politicking, conservatives say even a threat of an investigation has a chilling effect on religious leaders.

more...

[MADem]

1. This is a lesson to anyone who says it doesn't MATTER who gets elected

US attorneys are chosen by the Pretzledunce.

Good ones prosecute fairly, bad ones don't.

[myrna minx]

2. I can't even imagine what our world would be like has we not won this last

election.

[kestrel91316]

3. I'm currently registered as a Republican to lower my risk of

harrassment and targeting by the RW. Not sure if it will help. But it could be good cover.

[myrna minx]

4. Heh. Randi said that the next time she's harassed at the airport, she's going to

flash her RNC card to see if she's waived through.