More than 1400 pastors stood up in their pulpits on Sunday and told the IRS, “We’re Mad as Hell and We’re not Going to take it Any More.” For nearly 60 years, the IRS and its liberal surrogates at the ACLU have threatened ministers with the lie that if they speak out on politics their church will lose its tax exempt status.
There are no constitutional prohibitions against churches speaking out on political issues or even endorsing candidates. We got into this mess when in 1954 a law was rammed through Congress by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson to restrict non-profit organizations (that IRS regulations would later include churches) from speaking freely on topics like politics and moral issues like abortion and homosexuality. The following is from the IRS:
“The ban on political campaign activity by charities and churches was created by Congress more than a half century ago. The Internal Revenue Service administers the tax laws written by Congress and has enforcement authority over tax-exempt organizations. Here is some background information on the political campaign activity ban and the latest IRS enforcement statistics regarding its administration of this congressional ban.
“In 1954, Congress approved an amendment by Sen. Lyndon Johnson to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations, which includes charities and churches, from engaging in any political campaign activity. To the extent Congress has revisited the ban over the years, it has in fact strengthened the ban. The most recent change came in 1987 when Congress amended the language to clarify that the prohibition also applies to statements opposing candidates.”
This so-called ban is a direct violation of the First Amendment, and it’s vague enough to mean what anybody needs it to mean. The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law . . . prohibiting the free exercise” of religion. This makes any prohibition null and void. The First Amendment also protects speech, press, and assembly, three things that churches do on a regular basis.
To threaten pastors, AU has mailed letters to churches claiming that the IRS “revoked the tax-exempt status of a Binghamton, N.Y. church for buying a full page ad in USA Today opposing a 1992 presidential candidate.” The letter goes on to claim that the federal courts upheld the revocation. These are lies.
Read More godfatherpolitics.com . By Gary DeMar.
Photo Credit: John H. Wright (Creative Commons)
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Jus wondering if any of these pastors were Catholic priests? Of all the churches that exist in this country, the Catholic Church by far and away has the most to lose in this battle and the priests need to be speaking out against this wicked government.
Yet I think I hear the sound of crickets chirping.
Yeah, the Catholic Clergy need to be speaking out against these tyrants in our government, especially Obama. Money shouldn’t be put above speaking the truth on the pulpit. It’s a lie that they will lose their tax exempt status if they name names during an election. Serving Christ means speaking up even in the face of threats. Christians don’t show much courage when they cave-in to the threats of the IRS or ACLU. Isn’t Christ more powerful than these government agencies? Do we lack faith in Jesus Christ?
What I found interesting about the number of Pastor’s that are defining the IRS, is that 1,400 years ago was when the Prophet Mohammad ruled the Muslin world. Pastor’s all have a responsibility to their delegation and that is to speak the truth to them at all times.
It appears that we have a bi-sexual, or homosexual president in the White House, that once belonged to Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s infamous “Down Low Club,” as clearly outlined on a released article by WND. There is little doubt as to Obama’s true religion since he has stated more than once that he is not a Christian, but a Muslim.
The Pastor’s in this country owe their flock to tell them the truth since the media won’t, now will our present government, so they are in reality the only source that will.
Are black churchs exempt? I’ve always wondered why pulpet politics are supposedly outlawed but politicians of both stripes (but especially Democrats) regularly campaign at their local AME church and black ministers regularly endorse, and-or berate candidates.
..And this is where the war begins. It came under the guise offending the “religious feelings” of “other faiths”.When in actuallity, it was an outright assualt on our 1st amendment rights. Then,it was the blantant assault on our faiths(Christianity,Judaism) attack with this hand, meanwhile, the other, has the real prize…that is an attack on the two faiths that have sustained the U.S., from concept to reality.Lets access,..limit their speech,take away the”charitable status” of those two faith based institutions…And what do you have left? A sudued people, with no HOPE. .NObama