IRS Warns Churches to Avoid Campaigning

[Swede]

Which is a good thing,but funny the only example they could come up with is this:

Two days before the 2004 presidential election, the Rev. George F. Regas, the church's former rector, delivered a guest sermon that pictured Jesus in a debate with George W. Bush and John Kerry. Although Regas didn't endorse a candidate, he said Jesus would have told Bush that his pre-emptive war policy "has led to disaster."



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CA_IRS_CHURCHES?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-18-07-36-43

[Warpy]

1. Yep, it's time to start hitting churches with our cameras

and recorders. Any church that crosses the line needs to face the tax man.

All liberal churches need to do is preach the words of Jesus. The conservative/wingnut/theocon churches have a bit of a problem. Either they preach against their political interest, or they start to break the law.

[Sydnie]

2. I couldn't agree more

The only way to stop it is to expose it.

[noonwitch]

3. As long as the IRS is also targeting anti-abortion activities at churches

I don't really care about political activities in churches, unless one side is being targeted for investigation. Liberal and conservative churches cross the line frequently, too frequently to keep up with, really.

But I don't think churches should lose their tax exemption if the pastor gives a politically charged sermon, or if the Christian Coalition distributes voter guides, or if the church arranges peace rallies or sponsors an AIDS walk (my church has done both of these things). I say only go after the voter guides if liberal churches are being targeted for similar activities with a different perspective.

[dusty64]

4. I notice they are

only mentioning a church that supported the DEMOCRAT, I think I know where this one is going.....