Can a body take any more of this? YES, BY GOD, I CAN and I will do my best to FIGHT the Sons-a-bitches every time I see how. Here’s one thing I know how to do: FILE AN IRS COMPLAINT when a church goes a-politickin’.
Montanans are hanging their head in SHAME at the size of the crowd that streamed in and hooted and hollered for, as our beloved Showercap calls him, “the Tangelo Taint Tumor” (among many other well-aimed slights) at the campaign wingding July 5 in Great Falls (so sorry, Great Falls!).
However, the notable fashions of the day weren’t just plaid shirts with shiny fake mother of pearl snaps and red caps. Among the poison parade were four people whose crisp white collars stood out as a real statement. From the Montana Standard:
Two of the priests, Father Garrett Nelson and Father Ryan Erlenbush, serve in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. The other two, Father Kevin Christofferson and Father Christopher Lebsock, serve in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena.
They sat up front in the VIP section. And from A Scandal in Montana (at patheos.com), it appears they weren’t shy, laughing and cheering at all the dirty jokes and lies about Hillary Clinton, immigrants, etc.:
When the president said something that was wrong, they had a duty not to approve. They could have walked out. They could have shaken their heads, frowned or given some other sign of disapproval – instead they choose to applaud, laugh, and listen attentively to his every word. That’s scandal. That has to be condemned.
Now all of this is their right as individuals, and even in their collars, they certainly were allowed to show up and listen. But not cover themselves in Trump Pence buttons and carry MAGA signs! This constitutes partisan campaigning, strictly forbidden for a church or other 501 c 3 non-profit to maintain its non-taxable status. In the IRS’ own words :
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
So gitchyer complaint filed here! www.irs.gov/… or go directly to the form cued up right here: www.irs.gov/…
Here are the other poses captured by some great soul on that infamous day of poisonous grift. The middle one is not from this day’s event but from a page that excoriates Fr. Ryan Erlenbush at www.catholicplanet.org/…
Now, if yer an IRS agent and you can tell me I’m wrong about this, please tell me and I’ll withdraw this post. If I don’t hear from ya, this Form 13909 beauty is on its WAY, baby.