It is time we make a stand and put a end to this. A liberal church is about to loose it's tax exempt because it is anti-war.
http://hosted.ap.org/...
In his sermon, the Rev. George F. Regas did not urge parishioners at All Saints Episcopal Church to support either George Bush or his opponent, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. But he was sharply critical of the Iraq war and Bush's tax cuts.
The IRS in a June 9 letter warned the church that its tax-exempt status was in jeopardy because the federal tax code prohibits such organizations from intervening in political campaigns and elections. The church's current rector, J. Edwin Bacon, told his congregation about the problem on Sunday.
"It's important for everyone to understand that the IRS concerns are not supported by the facts," he told the congregation.
So a liberal church who speaks out against the war without supporting John Kerry or George W. Bush now has it's tax-Exempts in review. Let's take a look at Arnold.
http://www.cbsnews.com/...
(AP) Republicans promoting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's four ballot initiatives on Tuesday's special election are hoping a push by religious conservatives to promote the abortion measure could translate into support for the governor's "year of reform" agenda.
With support from religious groups and churches, backers of Schwarzenegger's abortion initiative plan a substantial push this weekend to motivate millions of Christian voters to the polls, as recent surveys indicate a majority of California voters are unlikely to support the governor for re-election next year.
This is ok because he's a Republican. Let's take a look at the Catholic.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/...
The Most Reverend Michael Sheridan, the bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Colorado Springs, CO announced in his 2004-MAY pastoral letter that anyone voting for a politician who supports same-sex marriage, access to abortion, some stem cell research or physician assisted suicide will be denied communion in the church. 1 He wrote:
"There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation. Any Catholics who vote for candidates who stand for abortion, illicit stem cell research or euthanasia suffer the same fateful consequences. It is for this reason that these Catholics, whether candidates for office or those who would vote for them, may not receive Holy Communion until they have recanted their positions and been reconciled with God and the Church in the Sacrament of Penance." 2
Later in his letter, he extended this prohibition to include politicians who support same-sex marriage.
Yet this is ok. Let's go even deeper. Remember this church?
http://www.truthout.org/...
Waynesville, N.C. - Some in Pastor Chan Chandler's flock wish he had a little less zeal for the GOP. Members of the small East Waynesville Baptist Church say Chandler led an effort to kick out congregants who didn't support President Bush. Nine members were voted out at a Monday church meeting in this mountain town, about 120 miles west of Charlotte.
"He's the kind of pastor who says do it my way or get out," said Selma Morris, the church treasurer who was among those voted out. "He's real negative all the time."
Chandler didn't return a message left by The Associated Press at his home Friday, and several calls to the church went unanswered. He told WLOS-TV in Asheville that the actions were not politically motivated.
The station also reported that 40 others in the 100-member congregation resigned in protest after Monday's vote.
Did that church lose it's tax-exempt. What about Dobson and all the other right-wing nut jobs? Have they lost their tax-exampts? Here are some more articles on this church.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/...
http://www.latimes.com/...
If they want to make it a issue with liberal church's I say we take a stand on all CHURCHS. This is a door that the republicans will loose on cause remember Blackwell in Ohio is also planning on using the Religous right. I say we hit hard if they are going down this path.
