'Blatant electioneering': Wisconsin group calls for IRS investigation into Cottage Grove church

[RandySF]

The St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cottage Grove engaged in potentially illegal political campaigning when its pastor posted a bulletin calling for parishioners not to vote for "her" in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, an atheist group told the Internal Revenue Service.

The church flyer that the Freedom From Religion Foundation called for the IRS to investigate doesn't refer to the candidates — liberal Janet Protasiewicz and conservative Dan Kelly — by name. But the pastor's use of pronouns and embrace of anti-abortion ideology make it clear that he's seeking to bolster support for Kelly.

"As a Catholic, I urge you, for the salvation of your soul; do not vote for her in the Supreme Court race on April 4," the pamphlet states.

The bulletin highlights the stakes of the race to advocates on both sides of the abortion debate. It also exemplifies just how heated Wisconsin Supreme Court elections have become in recent years, seeping into corners that in the past remained at a distance from what's now a heated political affair.



https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/blatant-electioneering-wisconsin-group-calls-for-irs-investigation-into-cottage-grove-church/article_1e9849b9-75bb-5b6d-87a9-4af24613a464.html

[TheRealNorth]

1. They will continue to break the law....

Until the laws are enforced.

[mopinko]

2. or until there's no one left in the pews

except the real mouth breathers.

[Sky Jewels]

3. Church-goers are a dying breed.

Literally.

[mopinko]

4. yup.

[flying_wahini]

5. Most of the churches are just there for the money. Or the adulation... TAX all churches.

[NullTuples]

6. The IRS should go back & review the actions of many Catholic Bishops over the last decade or so

They posted YouTube videos, took out full page ads on editorial pages of newspapers, and sent home church bulletins claiming a vote for [Dem Candidate] would "risk your eternal soul". It became a matter of pride for them starting in 2010 & they dared the IRS to stop them. They were clear violations of the Johnson Amendment prohibiting endorsement of candidates from the pulpit.

Only one problem: There hasn't been such an investigation into a church since 2007, thanks to Republican maneuverings ranging from defunding to judges setting up mandatory structures in the IRS to initiate such investigations, but not mandating that the positions be filled.