Question on reporting a church (has picture of Jesus smiling down on GWB)

[wildflower]

DUers,

I'm posting this question from someone who can't post yet (jgardner):

<<A friend told me over the weekend that a Baptist church in our conservative town has a picture hanging in their entryway that depicts Jesus Christ smiling down on George Bush. If this is true, I would like to turn them in so that their tax exempt status will be pulled. Does anyone know how I would go about this?>>

Can anyone help jgardner?

-wildflower

[jgardner]

1. Thank you!

This is my punishment for lurking all of those months and not actually participating in discussions!

[wildflower]

9. Bad! Bad!

:spank:

Just kidding...I actually lurked here for years before taking the plunge. So I should be punished right along with you. :hi:

-wildflower

[LDS Jock]

15. I have to ask.. do you go to this church?

[jgardner]

18. Nope! n/t

[The Spirit of JFK]

2. Maybe start with the state attorney general?

I woult take a picture, too...just in case they take it down.

I would also call the IRS as, supposedly, they have to investigate anybody who is reported.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Normally...

This is something you would turn over to the IRS and, perhaps, state taxation officials, if that state levies any taxes that would apply to the entity, like property taxes. Start there. The local officials will be a far tougher nut to crack.

[goclark]

4. ACLU website - email them nt

[Jo March]

5. Call the kinder, friendlier IRS

I'm telling you, they'd be happy to help. :)

[kcwayne]

6. Unless the IRS representative that handles the complaint is a fundie

in which case the complaint will be ignored.

[Patiod]

16. Tell them the NAACP posted that picture

They'll have an agent there the next day.

[Jo March]

20. LOL!

If it was a fundie, you'd just have to whisper the words "black church" and they'd be all over it. Stupid bigots.

[JudyM]

7. I saw a thread about someone who was collecting this info

Don't recall which forum, but it was late last week.

[Drifter]

8. Go Directly to the media ...

Our minister openly urged the congregation to vote for AWOL. He mentioned the issues (abortion, etc), then said the following. "I can't tell you who to vote for (vote for bush) but ...". The vote for bush part was said under his breath like the subliminal guy on SNL.

A co-worker and I contacted a local TV station. they were VERY interested in this, and began interviewing people including the minister (this appeared on TV). This minister said that the statement was meant to be a joke. If he said "Vote for Perot", it would have been funny.

I have stopped going to church, and not longer support them financially.

Cheers
Drifter

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. Can anyone help jgardner?

This may not be the help you are looking for.... but... do check it out, it will make you smile.... broadly I hope. :)

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/1/prweb97880.htm
REPENT AMERICA, an evangelistic ministry based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Columbia Christians for Life in Columbia, South Carolina have released a new website calling Christians across the nation to re-think voting for George W. Bush in the upcoming presidential election. BushRevealed.com was launched on the world-wide-web today to provide Christians with articles, information, and commentaries on Bush’s pattern of anti-Christian behavior in the last several years, and is challenging them not to remain in bondage to the two-party system.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32946
Methodist leaders to Bush: Repent
Clergy claim president's policies 'incompatible' with church teachings

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=25260
I just don't see George Bush's track record as as one of his talents.
--Father Charles Fiore
Putin's government also maintains close links with virtually every regime identified with terrorist activities, including Iraq, which recently has been identified as operating a training base for terrorists, including Osama bin Laden's network.

[wickywom]

11. Sounds like a picketing is in order.

[wickywom]

12. Sounds like a picketing is in order.

[wickywom]

13. Sounds like a picketing is in order.

[wickywom]

14. Sounds like a picketing is in order.

[Eloriel]

17. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State

http://www.au.org

Fine organization, worthy of our support big time.

HOWEVER, a picture like that is not likely to be considered an infraction. After all, he IS the "president" (cough, sputter) -- what IS a violation of tax code is specifically advocating FOR or AGAINST any candidate or party. If you have evidence of that, then you've got something.

[jgardner]

19. I just stepped over to the IRS website

and they're encouraging anyone who even suspects tax fraud to report it. Maybe a visit from our local tax agent would at least scare them. I just got so ANGRY when I heard about this, especially after what happened last week.