Religions > Atheism > IRS Should Investigate Florida Religious Group For Political Intervention, Says Americans United
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01 Jun 2007 02:48:42 PM |
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IRS Should Investigate Florida Religious Group For Political Intervention, Says Americans United |
You can view an HTML version of this email at the following address:
http://www.au.org/site/R?i=98UsNsHIieRTCZLDsrwzNA..
May 31, 2007
IRS Should Investigate Florida Religious Group For Political Intervention,
Says Americans United
Bill Keller Ministries Said Vote For Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt
Romney Is Vote For Satan
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the Internal
Revenue Service to investigate a St. Petersburg, Fla., ministry that warned
people not to vote for presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
In a letter to the IRS sent today, Americans United asserts that Bill
Keller Ministries seems to have violated federal tax law when its online
division, Liveprayer.com, ran articles warning readers that a vote for
Romney is a vote for Satan.
"If you vote for Mitt Romney, you are voting for satan!" asserted the
ministry in the May 11 "devotional" posted on Liverprayer.com. "This
message today is not about Mitt Romney. Romney is an unashamed and proud
member of the Mormon cult founded by a murdering polygamist pedophile named
Joseph Smith nearly 200 years ago. The teachings of the Mormon cult are
doctrinally and theologically in complete opposition to the Absolute Truth
of God's Word....This message is about the top Christian leaders in our
nation who are supporting this cult members [sic] quest to become the next
President of the United States."
Keller goes on to say, "Having Romney as President is no different than
having a Muslim or Scientologist as President. Please, don't tell me that
Mitt Romney is the best option. I'll stay home and not vote before I will
vote for satan, since if you vote for Romney you are voting for satan!"
Four days later, Keller wrote another column attacking Romney and
recommending that readers support a third-party candidate.
"As you know I am a huge advocate of Christians taking their stand in all
areas of the marketplace, including politics," writes Keller. "Most likely
our only real option will be choosing a third party candidate who will take
a stand to uphold Biblical values. I already know that in this two party
system we have, a third party candidate has virtually ZERO chance of ever
being elected. However, this election is going to be a test of conscience
for Christians."
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said the
ministry seems to have clearly stepped over the line. He urged the IRS to
investigate this blatant example of religiously based partisan politicking.
"The 2008 presidential election is 18 months away, and already we're seeing
reckless attempts by some religious leaders to abuse their non-profit
status by engaging in partisan politicking," Lynn said. "If religious
groups want to engage in electioneering, they should give up their tax
exemption."
Keller's ministry is a non-profit entity with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Federal tax law states that organizations holding this status may not
endorse or oppose candidates. The IRS Web site says that non-profit groups
are "absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or
intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to)
any candidate for elective public office."
Read the full press release:
http://www.au.org/site/R?i=5QiDdyZqeGZCo333ymBGoA..
************************************************************
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in
Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans
about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding
religious freedom.
************************************************************
Americans United Press Contacts:
Joe Conn, Rob Boston, Jeremy Leaming
www.au.org/press
.
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