Stepping up its probe of allegedly improper campaigning by churches, the Internal Revenue Service on Friday ordered a liberal Pasadena parish to turn over all the documents and e-mails it produced during the 2004 election year with references to political candidates.All Saints
Episcopal Church and its rector, the Rev. Ed Bacon, have until Sept. 29 to present the sermons, newsletters and electronic communications.
The IRS investigation was triggered by an antiwar sermon delivered by its former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, at the church two days before the 2004 presidential election. The summons even requests utility bills to establish costs associated with hosting Regas' speech.
Bacon was ordered to testify before IRS officials Oct. 11.The tax code bars nonprofits, including churches, from endorsing or campaigning against candidates in an election.
This should be a no-brainer. The responsibility of a church is to bring people closer to God. It is not supposed to gather support for a particular political party or candidate.
Let's face it these people are going to go along with their congregations desires. They are told how to think and what to believe. It is not much of a stretch to then tell them who they want to voe for in an election. The Christian zombie voting block is a powerful tool and it is completely un-American.
Seperation of church and state is real, look it up!
From the Fourteen Characteristics of Fascism:
ReplyDelete8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
These congregations/pastors simply aren't playing by the neocon playbook. I don't see the Dobson/Falwell crowd being audited or harassed. Law enforcement is apparently a one-way street.