Clergy wary of IRS' new monitoring
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/15759143.htm
[excerpt]
Posted on Sat, Oct. 14, 2006
Clergy wary of IRS' new monitoring
By Rebecca Rosen Lum
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
The IRS' declaration that it plans to monitor more closely political
activity at places of worship has some religious leaders worried the
government may try to silence dissent.
The Internal Revenue Service has trained more staffers and fast-tracked
investigations, tax specialist Judy Kindell told religious leaders in a
conference call this week.
"We have clearly made this one of our primary focuses," she said.
Religious institutions may discuss social and political issues. Tax law
prohibits them from supporting candidates, but they can support and lobby
for ballot measures. They are banned from contributing to political
organizations or raising money for campaigns.
So, for example, it would be acceptable for a minister to speak from the
pulpit in support of Proposition 85, the state ballot measure that would
require that parents or guardians of minors seeking an abortion be
notified. Ministers could not promote a candidate who shares that view.
In general, the IRS rules require evenhanded treatment of candidates.
[end excerpt]
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You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads [Virginia] SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members, there are members from
all over the US and a couple from overseas as well]
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.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
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USAF LT. COL (Ret) Buffman (Glen P. Goffin) wrote
"You pilot always into an unknown future;
facts are your only clue. Get the facts!"
That philosophy 'snipit' helped to get me, and my crew, through a good
many combat missions and far too many scary, inflight, emergencies.
It has also played a significant role in helping me to expose the
plethora of radical Christian propaganda and lies that we find at
almost every media turn.
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THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
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