WP: Religious Groups Resist Change in Tax Laws

[kskiska]

A proposed change in tax laws that was intended to give religious leaders more freedom to engage in partisan politics appeared to be losing support in Congress yesterday after it came under fire from both liberal and conservative religious groups.

The Southern Baptist Convention, which supports the broad goal of the legislation, sent House members a letter opposing the specific language that House Republican leaders last week tacked onto a major tax bill, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

The Rev. Richard D. Land, head of the convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said the language is "loose enough that it could be interpreted to broaden the restrictions" on political speech by clergy members, rather than loosening them. "This is a case in which the cure is worse than the disease," Land said.

The provision also was attacked by the Interfaith Alliance, a coalition of liberal church groups, and by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. They said it appeared to be an attempt to help President Bush's election campaign and to chip away at the First Amendment's prohibition on an establishment of religion.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29543-2004Jun9.html

[havocmom]

1. They wanna stay tax exempt, fine, make them stop handing out voter guides

I have waited outside several fundamental churches the Sundays before elections and have seen congregation members carrying voter guides they had been given in church. That would be a definate NO NO.

And when they take busloads of people to harass Planned Parenthood clients, taunt them, take photos and put them up on bulletin boards, they are exercising political pressure to advance their adgendas, not practicing private spiritual activities.

They wanna play in the political arena, make them pay taxes.

They wanna keep their exemptions, make them keep their noses in their congregations and leave policy making alone.

[struggle4progress]

2. Agree 100%

[dusty64]

3. I can't figure out how

they get away with it over and over. I guess no one has the guts to enforce the law.

[PartyPooper]

8. Thank you, for echoing my sentiments exactly!

:hi:

[struggle4progress]

4. Participating in political activities is still illegal for charities ...

churches and other nonprofit institutions, the Internal Revenue Service says.

Tax exempt groups can lose that status, be subject to an excise tax or receive both penalties if they participate in political campaigns either for or against any candidate, the IRS reminded parties in a letter sent Thursday.

Earlier this week, House Republicans introduced a proposal that would invalidate the separation of religion and politics by giving such groups reduced fines when they mistakenly participate in political activity. If groups inadvertently allow political activity on their properties three times in one year, they would lose their tax exemption for one year.

Last week, President Bush's re-election campaign targeted 1,600 Pennsylvania congregations to recruit voters.
<snip: one more sentence>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4191495,00.html
(scroll down for story)

[DainBramaged]

5. The Presidential Prayer Team should be investigated by IRS

These scumbags formed "Following the contentious election of November 2000, a man in Scottsdale, Arizona felt concerned enough to encourage his adult Sunday School class to pray for the newly elected president.

Why did they decide that Bush needed prayers? What's worse, they have handouts to put in the church bulletins as to who to pray for;

Promotional Resources
to Order for Your Church or Organization
The Presidential Prayer Team is a nationwide effort to seek the commitment of Americans to pray for our President, his Cabinet and the nation. This effort could radically alter the future of our country as our national officials are prayed for daily!

And here is the list who should be prayed for:

Government Leaders to Pray For:

President: George W. Bush

Vice President: Dick Cheney

Cabinet Members: Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld, John Snow, John Ashcroft, Gale Norton, Ann Veneman, Don Evans, Elaine Chao, Norman Mineta, Spencer Abraham, Rod Paige, Anthony Principi, Tommy Thompson, Mel Martinez, and Tom Ridge.

Other Cabinet Level Leaders: Andrew Card, Michael Leavitt, Robert Zoellick, Joshua Bolten, JohnWalters, and Richard B. Myers.

Members of the Congress in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

All Branches of the Armed Forces.

The U.S. Supreme Court, Federal, and Appellate Courts.

Take a GOOD look at this list and notice who is missing. I think you will be surprised.

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/

[crossroads]

10. I recieved an email asking me to pray for the president and the country...

about a month ago. This was from a conservative friend of mine...
It was in circulation on the net... pray for the pres and the country "in this hour of need"... meaning the war and torture scandal.
I was praying to keep the heat on shrub...lol.
}(

[bemildred]

6. Revealed religion is fundamentally undemocratic.

If you have revealed truth given you by the Deity,
then how can you vote on it too? Can the voters be
allowed to reject the expressed will of the Deity?

[struggle4progress]

7. kick

:kick:

[crossroads]

9. Problem is churches have influenced politics in N.O. for a long time...

...to the detriment of the city, IMO. It has badly hurt the educational system, as a few power hungry individuals are running the show... the church influence has been strongly used to influence the vote since the civil rights movement...
:eyes: