preaching anti-war messages
An Episcopal church in Pasadena is being investigated by the IRS after an anti-war sermon.
Apparently, churches are allowed to take stands on issues but not individual candidates if they want to retain their tax-exempt status. This particular sermon in question happened on the eve of the 2004 election, so the government claims that it was anti-Bush.
Yikes.
I agree with the letter of the law. I'm glad that the IRS cracked down in 1995 on a church in Pierce Creek, NY that took out a full-page ad in USA TODAY claiming that voting for Bill Clinton was a sin. This case is different. It's in the best interests of ALL religious organizations and all nonprofits that anti-war messages are permitted.
posted by Jessica @ 12:52 PM
4 Comments:
Wow! I agree with the law as well, but I think this is a little much. I think the Bush administration useds absolutely everything it can to quelch any kind of resistance. I did a piece on Fascism last year that everyone freaked out about, but I think it may be time to revisit it. Thi sis how that kind of government control begins, with the little things that not many people notice.
do you think they would have been investigated if they had made a Pro War statement?
I recall Catholic priests telling their members not to vote for Kerry because he was pro-choice. For some reason that wasn't investigated.
Mallory,
Of course they wouldn't be investigated. The would be commended nationally by Pat Robertson.
Jessica,
You're right. Not one chuch lost their tax exempt status.
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