Bill Allows Mixing of Religion, Politics

[AmyStrange]

Bill Allows Mixing of Religion, Politics
Mon Jun 7, 7:59 PM ET
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer

FROM: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=548&ncid=548&e=5&u=/ap/20040607/ap_on_el_ge/church_politics
WASHINGTON - Churches that mistakenly mix religious and political activity would face reduced fines but keep their tax exempt status under a provision in a corporate tax bill the House is to consider this week.

The proposal, which could invalidate the strict separation of religion and politics in current tax laws, was introduced by House Republicans the same week President Bush (news - web sites)'s re-election campaign targeted 1,600 Pennsylvania congregations to recruit voters.

Critics fear it would give politicians a pass to flout the rules without putting religious organizations at risk.

The mammoth bill, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, would impose reduced fines against churches and other places of worship that inadvertently allow political activity on their properties more than twice a year. On the third violation, the religious organizations would lose their tax exemption for one year.

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