Probe clears church, its lawyer says

[whometense]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/13531521.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_local

Federal investigators are closing a probe of a Miami church visited by presidential hopeful John Kerry during his campaign, the church's attorney says.
BY ELAINE DE VALLE
[e-mail]

A Liberty City church investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for alleged political activity -- which would have put its nonprofit, tax-exempt status in jeopardy -- has been cleared, according to the church's attorney.

''They indicated last week that they would be closing the case and that it would be resolved favorably for the church,'' said Guy Lewis, a former U.S. attorney for South Florida, who represented Friendship Missionary Baptist Church pro bono.

The probe began after a Washington-based political action committee complained to the IRS about an October 2004 visit to the church in Miami by then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry and several black leaders, including U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The group called the visit a ``rally.''

[globalvillage]

1. It's like Bizarro World, isn't it?

I'm glad that's settled, but isn't that the craziest thing you've ever heard?

Santorum is going to be a speaker at Justice Sunday III. What say we call the IRS on his ass?

[whometense]

2. Sounds like a plan to me.

Bizarro World is right, but I'm glad at least justice is coming down on the correct side.

I couldn't believe they even tried this shit, but as they are thoroughly shameless I shouldn't have been surprised.

[ProSense]

3. Yup! Bizarro world.

Yet, the wingnut preachers were integrating statements to vote for Bush into their sermons.

[karynnj]

4. and conservative Catholic Bishops were

telling parishioners that voting for a pro-choice candidate (and who would that be?) was a sin. Nice way to treat a believing Catholic.

I think the line is really pretty narrow though. Our Rabbi did toe the line - endorsing neither- but in a sermon at Holy Day service she talked about voting for the principles of Tikkun Olam (repair of the world) which is the Hebrew catch all for Social Action - which deals with feeding the hungry etc and things like protecting the environment and could be seen to cover diplomacy to heal the world. She asked which candidate is more likely to share our values on each item after mentioning it. (mentally - for me it was Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, ....Kerry).

But we had a seperate mail list for jewish anti war stuff and did not use the full synagogue membership list. This came about because there were people, who were against the war, who were adamant that we not use the synagogue email list because it could lead to these types of problems.

I know we complied with the letter of the law and (with the list) the spirit of the law.

[globalvillage]

5. Well, Ratzo said we could.

But that, of course, was buried. The Catholic Church is fast becoming far less liberal than it was when I grew up in the 60s and 70s. Shame, really. We are still the sheep, but I wonder if the Shepard has changed?

Catholics can vote for Kerry

"...When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons."

That was not written by some radical liberal Catholic theologian. It comes from the cardinal prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (once the Holy Office of the Inquisition), Joseph Ratzinger.

http://www.nydailynews.com/08-10-2004/news/politics/story/220736p-189544c.html

So, it was not a problem for Catholics to vote for Kerry unless they specifically voted for him because he supports choice. And if that were the case, their problem, according to the Church, goes much deeper than their vote.
The fact that Sen Kerry is not "in favor of abortion", but instead supports choice is ancillary and private. There was no reason for Catholics not to vote for Sen Kerry. Any priest, bishop or nun who said otherwise was making statements that conflicted with the teachings of the Church, and that's a no-no. They can have their own opinions, of course, regarding who to vote for, but nothing more.

Jesus wept, indeed. I truly believe He's ashamed of what's happened to His Church.

[Island Blue]

6. Why does it seem like the IRS only investigates churches

like this one or the one from a couple of weeks ago (sorry, I don't have a link) that was investigated because of it's anti-war stance? Aren't the "Justice Sunday" events held in a mega-church somewhere? Aren't those events crawling with politic ans who basically say you're going to hell if you don't vote Republican? Investigate that. Investigate the Assembly of God Church down the road from me that posted blatantly right-wing messages on their outdoor sign 24/7 in the weeks leading up to the '04 election. (And anytime the Supreme Court has a vacancy.) How do they draw the line so arbitrarily. (No one has to answer those questions by the way, I know the answers! :) )