Anti-war sermon imperils tax status
The Internal Revenue Service has warned a prominent liberal church it could lose its tax-exempt status because of an anti-war sermon a guest preacher gave on the eve of the 2004 presidential election, church officials say.
The Rev. George F. Regas did not urge parishioners at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena to support either President Bush or John Kerry, but he was critical of the Iraq war and Bush's tax cuts.
The IRS warned the church in June that its tax-exempt status was in jeopardy because such organizations are prohibited from intervening in political campaigns and elections.
...so what the hell did the IRS consider 'Just Us' Sunday, 'Just US Sunday II', and 'Porn Sunday'? I mean, they even had congressmen, right-wing nutcase congressmen, as their guest speakers, whining and moaning about... politics!Does the IRS revoke or threaten to revoke the tax exempt status of those churches? Nooooo....
But a liberal one? Can't have that. Apparently the Iraq War and Tax Cuts for the rich are political topics. Senatorial proceedings aren't.
Seriously, how many of you think this isn't politically motivated, and the IRS is acting as a non-partisan group, and is not acting on a politcally motivated agenda?
Just one more sign that the conservative have changed the tone in Washington... for the worse.
Posts
3 comments:
I definately agree with you that this IS politicaly motivated. I think the IRS affraid to revoke the tax-exempt staus of right wing supporting churches because they make up the base of the current quasi-facist regime in power.
Motivated by the IRS gustapo!
And, yes, "right wing' churches have been targeted as well. They just shut one down last month in Fla.
Of course some "right-wing" churches may have lost their tax-exempt status, but the question is how many have not? There are so many cases of blatant partisan advocacy and campaigning - but I think that government officials may be more restrained in going after violators who support a right-wing cause or candidate, fearing for their careers.
The questions are: 1) should churches be engaged in such activity? There shouldn't be anything wrong with espousing one's values - but one churches begin the endorsement of candidates or a single political party - they have stepped beyond the bounds of their tax-exempted charitable institution status.
2) Shouldn't the IRS have a clear cut policy of enforcement, that has equal standards whether institutions lean right or left?
Post a Comment