Evangelical churches accused of illegal political activities

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-22/113740284260360.xml&storylist=cleveland

1/16/2006, 4:07 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Local clergy from nine mainstream denominations have accused two evangelical churches of illegal political activities involving an Ohio candidate for governor and want the Internal Revenue Service to investigate, The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday.

The 31 religious leaders met Sunday night and signed a letter asking the IRS to determine if the churches should lose tax-exempt status over what they claim to be improper campaigning for Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican.

The Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church in Columbus and the Rev. Russell Johnson of Fairfield Christian Church in Lancaster improperly used their churches and affiliated entities for partisan politics, according to the complaint to be faxed to IRS Commissioner Mark Everson...


The complaint alleges that Blackwell was the only gubernatorial candidate showcased in church-sponsored events conducted by Parsley and Johnson. It also alleges that the evangelists' voter-registration campaign was done to support Blackwell and "biased" voter education materials were distributed by the churches for Blackwell's candidacy...

Churches could face IRS probe
Pastors Parsley, Johnson exploited pulpits to play politics, ministers’ complaint alleges

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/01/16/20060116-A1-00.html

Monday, January 16, 2006
Mike Harden and Joe Hallett
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

ADAM CAIRNS | DISPATCH

More than 30 local pastors last night officially accused two evangelical megachurches of illegal political activities.

In a rare and potentially explosive action, the moderate ministers signed a complaint asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate World Harvest Church of Columbus and Fairfield Christian Church of Lancaster and determine if their tax-exempt status should be revoked.

The grievance claims that the Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church and the Rev. Russell Johnson of Fairfield Christian Church improperly used their churches and affiliated entities — the Center for Moral Clarity, Ohio Restoration Project and Reformation Ohio — for partisan politics, including supporting the Republican gubernatorial candidacy of Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell.

The complaint asks the IRS to seek a court injunction "if these churches’ flagrant political campaign activities do not cease immediately." It was signed by 31 pastors from nine denominations during a meeting last night at the North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus and was to be faxed late last night to IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson...


Group Seeks I.R.S. Inquiry of Two Ohio Churches

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/national/16church.html

By STEPHANIE STROM

Published: January 16, 2006

A group of religious leaders has sent a complaint to the Internal Revenue Service requesting an investigation of two large churches in Ohio that they say are improperly campaigning on behalf of a conservative Republican running for governor.

In their complaint, the clergy members contend that the two Columbus-area churches, Fairfield Christian Church and the World Harvest Church, which were widely credited with getting out the Ohio vote for President Bush in 2004, have allowed their facilities to be used by Republican organizations, promoted the candidate, J. Kenneth Blackwell, among their members and otherwise violated prohibitions on political activity by tax-exempt groups.

They are asking the I.R.S. to examine whether the churches' tax exemptions should be revoked and are requesting that Mark W. Everson, the federal tax commissioner, seek an injunction to stop what they consider improper activities.

Both churches denied that any of their activities violated limitations on nonprofit political activity. "We endorse values, but not candidates," said the Rev. Russell Johnson, Fairfield's leader...

[ixion]

1. any church that campaigns for anything

should lose it's tax exempt status, including but not limited to Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and the rest of the sleaze.

[brer cat]

17. but but but...IRS is really busy trying to keep the working poor

from getting their earned income tax credits. Surely they don't have time to take on Falwell, Robertson, et al. for mixing a little politics in with their religion. After all, these guys have the money and clout to fight back. Nah, much better to use their time busting the working class. :sarcasm:

[KDLarsen]

42. Aren't some of them already back to paying taxes?

I thought I heard something about the 700 Club having giving up its tax exempt status, so they could continue to spout their hatred of Democrats?

[ClintonTyree]

2. NO!

I'm shocked!

Yeah, shocked that they've gotten away with this horse-shit so long before someone called them on it. Each and every one of these churches gave up their tax-free status when they started preaching from the pulpit. They'll try to hide their political activities better from now on, but they'll never stop. They want the church to BE the state and they're dangerously close. bush has been their champion in this regard, with "faith based" this and "faith based" that. Our founding fathers wanted separation of church and state for a reason.

[KitchenWitch]

3. I sure hope these churches are investigated

and found guilty of illegal political activities. This stuff has gone on long enough, with the government totally looking the other way.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Not looking the other way.........

encouraging it! No wonder they love bush so much, he's aided and abetted in dissolving the line between church and state.

[wakeme2008]

5. This is the part I love

Local clergy from nine mainstream denominations have accused two evangelical churches of illegal political activities involving an Ohio candidate for governor and want the Internal Revenue Service to investigate, The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday.


There is no way the Repug spin machine can spin it those evil Dems...... :)

[atreides1]

8. You Forget

The Repukes own the media, and they will spin this, just like they've started attacking Congressman
Murtha, and just like they attacked Max Cleland.

They will figure it out.

[leesa]

20. I agree. This is the only way these nasty GOP Fundies can be fought is

by other Christians. Once normal Christians realize, in large numbers, that Freakie Fundies hate them and they begin to tell them they are going to hell too for their beliefs like my freaky Fundie family has told my normal Christian family members for twenty years now, these Freakie Fundies are going to feel the wrath of the rest of normal Christians for their wrongheadedness. It's well past time real Christians stood up and took a stand.

[Thor_MN]

40. "Other Christians?"

I recently saw a bumper sticker that said "The Christian Right is neither." My opinion is that the GOP fundies should be denounced as the slime that they are by Christians. Period. The fundies are not Christians - they are motivated by hate and greed. They no more represent Christianity than Islamic extremists represent Islam.

Take the bile that the fundies spew, translate it to Arabic, replacing Christian with Islam and vice versa, and it would be indistinguishable from jihadist decrees...

[Voltaire99]

50. "Real Christians"

I'm all for your sect going after the fundies, Leesa.

But it remains the case that the fundies draw their authority from the same text you do. And in many respects, your more moderate version of Christianity is a fairly modern invention; theirs is actually closer to the strict and violent creed present in the puritan pilgrims (though twisted through the centuries into a quasi-materialist mutation).

So I'm not sure who is the more "real" Christian. But as I say, don't turn the other cheek. :-)

P.S. Here's a delicious essay on the evolution of American Christianity--"The End of Innocence," by Richard Lichtman--a seminal read:
http://counterpunch.org/lichtman07102004.html

[rman]

52. "fundies draw their authority from the same text"

doesn't have to do so much with the text, but with interpretation thereof.

...Bush draws his authority from the same text (the law) as other presidents do...

I think that being christian or not, real or otherwise, drawing authority from one text or another isn't really the point - what matters is the fruit of people's labor; the effects of their actions.

[xchrom]

6. well, conservative christians asked for a culture war

and now they getting it.

[Ganja Ninja]

7. Bring it on!

I just couldn't resist using that line.
These people have had this coming for the last 30 years.

[MADem]

12. They didn't count on it being an internal war, though!

Fine, let the bastards eat their own...once they start flinging shit at each other, they'll all end up covered in it.

Works for me!

[xchrom]

16. i think they want war with whomever they see as a threat

to their inclinations --

see, they are in a state of crisis -- the rapture hasn't come, the temple in jerusalem hasn't been rebuilt, the {second}coming of the messiah hasn't happened -- and we are well into the new millenium -- with every day more so -- they NEED an external enemy.

they've been building this enemy in an ''out of the closet'' fashion since reagan.

it's just not entirely up them what the out come is.

[ebdarcy]

9. Good.

I don't know anything about Rev. Johnson, but I live 15 minutes away from World Harvest. Rod Parsley is the poster boy for right wing religious whack-jobs. He's a conman, plain and simple.

My sister worked with a girl who belonged to World Harvest. The girl asked her to attend a service. And my sister, who's a tad bit naive, agreed to go. She came home freaked out. She said it reminded her of a cult.

A few tidbits about World Harvest. They have an ATM in the lobby. I don't know if that's common elsewhere, but I've never heard of that before. Their sports teams are called the warriors. (Jesus would be proud, I'm sure.) And the illustrious John Ashcroft spoke there last month.

[UpInArms]

11. Welcome to DU ebdarcy!

Glad to have you here :hi:

I don't believe that I've ever seen an ATM in a church before :shakeshead:

[mtnester]

14. Jeez you must live close to my end of town...I went to SCHOOL

with that idiot..he is worse than a con man

[Joe Chi Minh]

31. Love that... An ATM in their lobby! Start plaiting the cords of

that whip!

[lazarus]

49. ATM in the lobby

Hmm. I seem to recall Jesus doing something with moneychangers in a temple a while back. These folks don't even know their own scripture.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. k&r

[mtnester]

13. I knew it and called it with a prayer...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=147792&mesg_id=148113

Also note, went to school with Rod...scammer then, scammer now, among other things

[catmandu57]

15. This is the way to take them down

It has to come from inside, anything else won't work. Religion, especially Christianity is so divided into sects, I don't think that one branch could ever really take power, they've got 57 varieties and nobody is going to truly dominate.

[davsand]

18. What about Progressive churches? Do they ever advocate politically?

I am not defending or criticizing here--but I have to ask:

Do the progressive churches ever advocate for their views? Will we still celebrate when they are harassed by other churches? We feel a legitimate (I think it is legitimate, anyhow) discomfort in this country with any linkage between church and government, but, I have a really hard time getting too enthusiastic when I see this kind of stuff beginning.

Churches hold a 501C3 IRS status and that is what allows them to be exempt from federal taxes. That same 501C3 status precludes them doing any political work.

Property tax exemption is a local matter, and that falls to the states and municipalities to determine status. Depending on the local standards, certain activities are allowed while others are not. You have GOT to keep that in mind as you read my comments--OK?

A lot of 501C3 holders are religious based organizations. Along with the churches you also have organizations that provide several different types of activities including stuff like local consumer advocacy groups, social service groups, human rights/social justice groups, and even organizations like community access radio and television stations.

We are unhappy to see certain churches out there featuring conservative candidates. Are we equally unhappy to hear the local community access radio station put progressive candidates on the airwaves?

While I understand (and share in) the frustration with fundy groups that are politically active yet protected by that Federal tax exemption, I also see a lot of other groups that will come under fire along with those fundy churches. This is a slippery slope, and it scares hell outta me to think about who all is gonna come under attack next.

------

THAT preceding section was based on the Federal IRS exemption. Now, let's look at the local exemption issues:

Local tax exemption is just that--locally driven and locally controlled. (By local, I mean state level or lower.) Property tax exemptions are local. When you think about churches getting all those "tax breaks" you are most likely thinking about that big building and all the grounds that they don't pay property taxes on.

My personal feeling is that the groups that are openly doing political work in spaces that are given public subsidies (property tax exemptions) need to be monitored at a local level, not at a Federal one.

I'll guarantee that those groups are gonna be a lot less likely to ignore the rules about political activity if they feel that somebody locally is watching it. Many religious institutions are struggling to make ends meet anyhow--and the threat of paying local property taxes might just be enough to keep them on the "straight and narrow."

Just my two cents...


Laura

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

28. I'd hardly count "gays are people too" or "help the poor" or "be tolerant"

as political campaigning.

[davsand]

34. I wouldn't either.

We are not disagreeing here.

I seriously feel that local tax exemptions need to be addressed as well for these groups. One article mentioned that the local GOP had used the church for meetings--yet they never paid rent. THAT is an issue, IMO, right along with the minister inviting the GOP candidates into that church to speak.

I also have extreme issues with any church--be they conservative or liberal--using the pulpit for political reasons. I understand that to many people, the church IS their moral center and a candidate that complies with the church is desirable. However, I feel the church violates a trust when they endorse anyone.

While I understand that these guys really don't CARE what the laws are, (or what Laura thinks) there IS a very serious cash incentive to at least TRY and comply with the law if they know they may have to pay property taxes on the building and the land.



Laura

[Joe Chi Minh]

19. If they blaspheme so demoniacally against the law of God, they

are certainly not going to respect the laws of men.

[baby_mouse]

21. Dog accused of licking own balls. nt.

[Bozita]

46. but now that dog's in the middle of the street ... under the streetlight

[ridgerunner]

22. It seems that too many of these folks missed this passage

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

[Joe Chi Minh]

30. .. and this one:

"And now, suppose that a man has the worldly goods he needs, and sees his brother go in want; if he steels his heart against his brother, how can we say that the love of God dwells in him? My little children, let us show our love by the true test of action, not by taking phrases on our lips. That proves to us that we take our character from the truth, and that we shall be able to satisfy our consciences before God." John I, 3, 17-19.

[eppur_se_muova]

23. Mr. Bush** -- rebuild this wall!

There's been a wall between church and state since the founding fathers, who knew best. It's a shame that it was up to the churches to file a complaint, the IRS should have been on this without any prompting needed.

[madeline_con]

24. Get out the PROBE!

It's about damn time! :evilgrin:

[tabasco]

25. Like the criminal enterprises that they are ...

these churches will never pay a dime in taxes.

If found taxable by the IRS, they would disband and reform under another banner.

[HuffleClaw]

26. also, did they receive any 'faith-based' funding?

or were HOPING for some as a result of their campaigning?

[me b zola]

48. I've always felt that 'faith-based' money = illegal campaign contributions

Funnel $$$ to churches looking for the quid pro quo of preaching the gospel according to gop. Preacher man knows his $$$ is linked to him preaching for or against the political issues/candidates as dictated by the gop. How can it be any more transparent?

[Bandit]

27. The whole Republican party is nothing but lawbreakers

These Mega Churches are nothing more than fronts for the GOP and their illegal acts are becoming as common as snow in January...

[donkeyotay]

29. That's great that its the clergy calling for this inquiry

because that was one of the reasons for separation of church and state - that political partisanship would make the people lose faith in the church as a religious institution.

They should also look into the churches revealed in the Abramoff memos, where they were directing the pastors to turn out their congregations to do bidness for Abramoff. Pretty disgusting. IMO, pastors who knowing direct their congregations as political action groups definitely deserve to lose their tax exemption.

[Pacifist Patriot]

32. Sweet! My church is hosting a Separation of Church & State seminar

in April. I'll be keeping my eyes on this!

[PatsFan2004]

33. Fair is fair. A number of black churches were similarly "tattled"

on for showcasing DEM candidates only. It is only fair that these churches be looked at.

[Judi Lynn]

47. Thanks for looking out for the "moral" aspects.

Sometimes we forget to blame everyone who might have it coming, right?

It would be good to learn more about the "tattling" on black churches you feel need a good long investigation, instead. Do you have any links?

On edit:

Which Republican candidates do you think they should have showcased? Which Republicans are noted for their pro-integration views? It wouldn't be Trent Lott, would it? Strom Thurmond? All the rest of them?

[Daftly]

35. More mixed feelings

What about when Jesse Jackson goes on a campaign tour through Southern Churches. Black (mostly Democrat leaning) churches have held a good deal of political influence for a long time in many communities. Do we now ban every political candidate from speaking in churches, or even making a tour of the largest ones in a swing county? Be very careful what we wish for because this could jump up and bite us. Even in heavy blue areas, many churches hold a good deal of political clout. When you swing that bat, watch out for the rebound.

[Charlie Brown]

45. Jackson is an ordained minister

and no one is saying he can't talk about social problems or positions, just that he can't endorse candidates.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

36. Is anybody surprise by this

kind of thing anymore? I must tip my had to the christians who contact the IRS. I saw some body said one of these Church's has a ATM machine in the lobby, that's pretty crazy there. I once went to a friend's church where they had on the back of the program a breakdown on a graph the cost of operating the Church monthly and I thought that was tacky!

[4dsc]

37. Same thing happens in Iowa

I heard that members of a Baptist reform church resign after the last election because the preacher advocated voting for AWOLbush during mass.

I was thinking of joining the church for the next election cycle to spy on them(legally).. I would like nothing better than to have their tax exempt status revoked if true..

[mod mom]

38. "PIMPS IN THE PULPIT" is what an African American Pastor called them at a

Freepress voters right event .

[JudyM]

39. Any tactic to ruin Blackwell is fine with me. He was largely responsible

for Bush taking Ohio in '04, remember... as OH Sec of State, he straightjacketed the democratic voting process in OH a number of significant ways. Filthy beyond description.

[lovuian]

41. It shows Bush used the Churches and the ministers to get the

votes!!!

[NMMNG]

43. Bravo!

:applause:

And it is wonderful that the charges are coming from other churches, as this makes the charges more likely to stick than if they came from non-religious people. It's about time these underhanded a$$wipes were held to account for their crimes.

[Iris]

44. It's about damn time. n/t

[Voltaire99]

51. Fight the American Taliban!

The fundies are the enemies of our ancient liberties, and they are, as Jane Smiley observed last year in Slate, virtually unteachable.

I see no reason to kowtow to them, or to sit by why they pull down the Jeffersonian wall and foist their hideous anti-science upon our schools or their grisly social strictures upon our lives.

This is the American Taliban we're up against. They will impose a savage medievalism upon us if left unchecked. Fight!