Question, re: Focus on the Family

[journalist3072]

Does anyone know if Focus on the Family is a tax-exempt organization?

I'm on their website know to see if I could find out, but so far I don't see anything.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I dunno. I would think it would be hard for the to qualify.. they seem

pretty outspoken politically and all.

[KingFlorez]

2. Yes

It's a special type that allows them to endorse candidates

[journalist3072]

3. Are you serious?

You can be tax-exempt and still endore candidates, and not just issues?

[KingFlorez]

4. He has a wing of the organization that is tax exempt

It's not the actual organization, but they are allowed to have another wing of their politcal bidding and still be exempt.

[journalist3072]

6. Oh, I see. Thanks for that clarification

The reason I ask is because I was listening to As It Happens (CBC/Radio Canada Intl) on my shortwave radio tonight.

And they covered the story of a church out west (I forget their name) who is having their tax exempt status being threatened by the IRS.

The IRS is looking into a sermon given at the church last year, when a pastor asked the congregation to vote their Christian values.

And the pastor when on to say that Jesus was a lover of PEACE, not war, and so to vote your Christian values.

Apparently the IRS got a hold of that, and they are interpreting that sermon as being anti-Bush, and thus threatenign the church's tax-exempt status.

And I immediately wondered why some of these right-leaning Christian organizations (i.e. 700 Club, James Dobson, et al) don't get investigated.

[Perky]

8. Wow that's creates an interesting dilemma..

Do we say kudos to the efty pastor for subtely sticking it to W and argure that is it a free speech arguement.

But if we do that can we legitmately push the argument that right wing pastors should lose theirs.

[journalist3072]

9. I propose another question

Do we ask the IRS why they seem to consistently be going after left-leaning organizations, and not right-wing ones?

Remember also last year, it was announced that they were investigating the NAACP's tax exempt status as well.

So it seems that they are only looking into left-of-center organizations.

Meanwhile, Pat Robertson is free to say that he thinks George Bush was divinely chosen by God to lead this country.

By the way, Ed Shultz talked about this church briefly today on his show as well.

And on As It Happens, they interviewed the Rector at the church. And the Rector said there was absolutely nothing wrong with the sermon the pastor gave. He never came out and said "vote for this person." In fact, he was very explicit in saying he could not or would not tell the congregation who to vote for, but just to vote your Christian values.

[jody]

5. See link below

http://blog.au.org/2005/02/focus_on_politi.html

[journalist3072]

7. Thanks for that

Very informative!

[Perky]

10. Does anyone know what church is was

or at least denomination?

[journalist3072]

11. For the life of me.....I can't remember

If As It Happens puts up the audio from today's programming, I will listen to the show again.