Americans United Urges IRS To Take Action Against Six Churches That Joined Pulpit-Politicking Scheme

[and-justice-for-all]

Americans United Urges IRS To Take Action Against Six Churches That Joined Pulpit-Politicking Scheme.
http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=10055

Americans United Urges IRS To Take Action Against Six Churches That Joined Pulpit-Politicking Scheme
Monday, September 29, 2008

Church-State Watchdog Group Criticizes Religious Right Lawyers For Luring Congregations Into Intentional Violation Of Federal Tax Law

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about six churches whose pastors endorsed candidates from the pulpit during a mass defiance of federal tax law last Sunday.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group in Scottsdale, Ariz., urged pastors to defy federal tax law by endorsing or opposing candidates during a so-called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” Sept. 28. Under the IRS Code, churches and other 501(c)(3) tax-exempt groups may not intervene in elections.

“These pastors flagrantly violated the law and now must deal with the consequences,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United.

Continued Lynn, “This is one of the most appalling Religious Right gambits I’ve ever seen. Church leaders are supposed to tend to Americans’ spiritual needs, not behave like partisan political hacks. I urge the IRS to act swiftly in these cases.”

Lynn also scored the ministers who took part in the ADF gambit.

“A pastor who knowingly violates federal tax law is setting a poor example for his or her congregation,” Lynn said. “Every pastor who took part in this stunt ought to be ashamed.”

The ADF overture has been roundly criticized. Many pastors refused to take part, arguing that America’s pulpits should not be politicized. In addition, three former IRS officials have filed a complaint asserting that the ADF has violated ethics standards governing tax attorneys by urging clients to violate the law.

The six churches reported to the IRS by Americans United today are:

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Bethlehem, Ga.: According to press accounts, Pastor Jody Hice “urged his congregation to vote for Sen. John McCain and to not vote for Sen. Barack Obama.”

Fairview Baptist Church, Fairview, Okla.: The Associated Press reported that Pastor Paul Blair “says he told his congregation that as a Christian and as an American citizen, he would be voting for John McCain.”

Warroad Community Church, Warroad, Minn.: Pastor Gus Booth told his congregation, “We need to vote for the most righteous of candidates. And it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out. The most righteous is John McCain.”

Calvary Chapel, Philadelphia, Pa.: The Rev. Francis Pultro told the congregation, “As Christians it’s clear we should vote for John McCain. He is the only candidate I believe a Christian can vote for.”

First Southern Baptist Church, Buena Park, Calif.: The Rev. Wiley Drake said, “I am angry because the government and the IRS and some Christians have taken away the rights of pastors. I have a right to endorse anybody I doggone well please. And if they don’t like that, too bad….According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Mr. Obama is not standing up for anything that is tradition in America.”

New Life Church, West Bend, Wisc.: Speaking from the pulpit, Pastor Luke Emrich said, “I’m telling you straight up I would choose life. I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

Said AU’s Lynn, “When five of the six pastors choose to endorse John McCain, it’s hard not to see the ADF scheme as partisan in character.”

http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=10055

[Nevernose]

1. They gave away their first amendment rights

Or, more specifically, they traded their first amendment rights for a tax-exempt status. Sold them.

Abortion isn't even in the Bible, but I seem to remember something about "blessed are the peacemakers." How come none of these quasi-Christian assholes ever mention the peacemakers? That is, unless the peacemakers they're referring to are MX missiles and they're engaging in the usual right-wing masturbatory fantasies involving Ronald Reagan, a guy with long hair, and lots of phallic symbols.

[and-justice-for-all]

3. Because they are not xtian conservatives...

they are Social Dominators and Right-Wing Authoritarians

[billyoc]

2. An illegal in-kind campaign contribution.

Seize their assets.

[readmoreoften]

4. Here's a bailout solution: tax these fuckers.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. The churches are claiming their right to "free speech".

Well free speech is limited both by the IRS regulations which the churches have agreed to prior hereto. They have enjoyed a windfall of donations without taxation. Now the IRS may either remove their tax exempt status, remove the tax exempt status of their donors, or both.

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment supersedes the Free Speech Clause as the former protects freedom of belief, freedom of thought. Without protection of the Establishment Clause, a particular religion would be able to grow and use the government to impose its dogma and beliefs on nonmembers as well as "penalize" those who protest the imposition of their policies on those "nonbelievers".

Letting a church direct its congregation for whom to vote is allowing religions to become one more organized lobby with our tax dollars. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional. Individuals may do as they please, but not using their church to get blocks of votes.

[1776Forever]

6. Pastors & Churches like this are why I quit my church back in 1960!

My Bible Church railed against JFK from the pulpit and handed out flyer's that told that the Pope would rule the U.S. if JFK was elected. I was turned off by this and left this and all religious orders for good after that as a 15 year old who was disgusted with such idiocy! Oil and water don't mix and Church Pastor's who think they are doing "God's will" by spewing hatred as these people did, and especially like the following, don't mix either:

First Southern Baptist Church, Buena Park, Calif.: The Rev. Wiley Drake said, “I am angry because the government and the IRS and some Christians have taken away the rights of pastors. I have a right to endorse anybody I doggone well please. And if they don’t like that, too bad….According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Mr. Obama is not standing up for anything that is tradition in America.”

............

Then we need to scream this at the top of our lungs - This is a Democracy NOT a Theocracy! And we are set up to protect our Churches so they don't have to pay taxes because of that! If you want to bring Caesar into the Church then pay baby pay!

Mark 12:17. "And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him."

[ChoralScholar]

7. Sure - they can endorse anyone they want

Just let them pay taxes on the billions (collectively) they bring in per year.

The money is twice-over again tax exempt. Not only do the churches pay no taxes on its income, the people who tithe write it off on their taxes.

People talk about double-taxation (used cars) - but this is double tax exemption!

[ciking724]

8. These are fake Christians and fake churches

They do not represent the interests of Christ, but their own biased and hypocritical ideals. They pretend to have so much compassion for aborted babies, but they are not concerned in the least for the 1,267,401 Iraqi civilians that have been murdered as a result of the judgment of their candidate. Christ spoke of them in Matthew 23: "hypocrites!" . . . "outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity!"