Anti-War sermons now put churches on the IRS watch list
Today's sign of the end of democracy:
The Internal Revenue Service has warned one of Southern California's largest and most liberal churches that it is at risk of losing its tax-exempt status because of an antiwar sermon two days before the 2004 presidential election.
Rector J. Edwin Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena told many congregants during morning services Sunday that a guest sermon by the church's former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, on Oct. 31, 2004, had prompted a letter from the IRS." ... "On June 9, the church received a letter from the IRS stating that "a reasonable belief exists that you may not be tax-exempt as a church … " The federal tax code prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from intervening in political campaigns and elections."
Just so we're clear. Asking church members to recruit volunteers from the ranks of their congregations = good. Actually talking about the issues = bad.
One more step taken away from a free country.
Antiwar Sermon Brings IRS Warning:
"All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena risks losing its tax-exempt status because of a former rector's remarks in 2004.The Internal Revenue Service has warned one of Southern California's largest and most liberal churches that it is at risk of losing its tax-exempt status because of an antiwar sermon two days before the 2004 presidential election.
Rector J. Edwin Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena told many congregants during morning services Sunday that a guest sermon by the church's former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, on Oct. 31, 2004, had prompted a letter from the IRS." ... "On June 9, the church received a letter from the IRS stating that "a reasonable belief exists that you may not be tax-exempt as a church … " The federal tax code prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from intervening in political campaigns and elections."
Just so we're clear. Asking church members to recruit volunteers from the ranks of their congregations = good. Actually talking about the issues = bad.
One more step taken away from a free country.
Posted by K.A.S. at 4:50 PM::
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2 Comments:
Wow....so the churches that preach about the evil of abortion, etc. (basically all Republican beliefs, etc.) are OK, but the churches that preach otherwise are not?
America is a scary place now....
My Dh told me that! Can you believe it? Like peace is not a New Testament thought? Christ was a pacifist revolutionary. Someone better reaquaint Bush with that fact.
Grrr... Hearing that makes my blood boil.
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