Ohio Churches' Political Activities (and ethics, tax-exemption) Challenged

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Ohio Churches' Political Activities Challenged
Clergy Members Are Pressing the IRS to Investigate Whether Partisan Support Violated Tax-Exempt Status
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 25, 2006; Page A03

In a challenge to the ethics of conservative Ohio religious leaders and the fairness of the Internal Revenue Service, a group of 56 clergy members contends that two churches have gone too far in supporting a Republican candidate for governor.

Two complaints filed with the tax agency say that the large Columbus area churches, active in President Bush's narrow Ohio win in 2004, violated their tax-exempt status by pushing the candidacy of J. Kenneth Blackwell, who is the secretary of state and the favored candidate of Ohio's religious right.

The clergy members said the churches improperly held political activities and allowed Republican organizations to use their facilities.

The goal of the challenge is "for these churches to stop acting like electioneering organizations," said the Rev. Eric Williams, pastor of North Congregational United Church of Christ. "I don't want to harm or demonize these churches. I want these churches to act legally."

When three months passed without public evidence that the IRS had acted on a January complaint, the clergy members filed a second document, expanding the allegations....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/24/AR2006042401432.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Blackwell even uses the private plane of one of their churches. Good grief

How bad does it have to get before the IRS actually does anything about this? From the article:

~snip~
An April complaint, signed by 56 clergy members, said that Blackwell appeared more than two dozen times at meetings and rallies held by the churches, their leaders or affiliates. Other candidates were not invited or did not attend, according to the complaint.

In addition, the document said that Blackwell, in his fourth year as secretary of state, took three flights to events opposing same-sex marriage in 2004 aboard World Harvest Church's private plane. He reimbursed the church $1,000. The complaint also said Blackwell would be featured in "Ohio for Jesus" radio advertisements. World Harvest officials later confirmed that Blackwell once flew aboard the World Harvest plane to Texas, which the statement described as "not exactly a popular campaign stop for Ohio candidates." A church statement branded the complaint the work of "left-leaning clergy," a characterization the clergy members dispute.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the Columbus Dispatch, a World Harvest Church member called the criticism a "smear tactic" and dismissed media attention as "a desperate attempt to destroy men of God."
snip)

[maxrandb]

9. Does anyone else see a problem with a church having a private plane?

Guess I missed that part in the New Testament where Jesus told his disciples to "go out, make as much money as you can and procure a private leer jet so you can look down on your minions from above", or "get a plane, it will take you closer to my Father".

Geesh, I wonder how many poor people could have been fed with the cost of buying, maintaining and operating this church's private leer jet? How many victims of Katrina could be housed, clothed and fed?

Question I would like to ask; "does this jet get Faux News and the Playboy Channel while airborne"?

Things that make you go :wtf:

[Roland99]

2. Not holding my breath..

[Robbien]

3. This is why Bush's poll numbers won't drop under 30%

These so called "christians" are being made to support this regime through their religious beliefs. They may not like what is going on but their church says that they have to follow along.

These guys running this scam are evil.

[jseankil]

4. The Scary part is that this 30% wll vote

It's not enough to sit back and allow Bush's numbers to drop, Dems need to get those who no longer support Bush to climb aboard our train.

[AndyTiedye]

5. The Scarier Part is the Way As Much as 30% of the Vote Will Shift Red

[genieroze]

6. These so called "christians" sound more like a cult blindly playing

follow the leader. Kool-aid drinkers to the max.

[Initech]

7. A good example of why we need to keep politics out of religion

and vice-versa.

[theHandpuppet]

8. About damn time!

And this better go somewhere if we're to turn the tide against these fascists nutters who hide their hatreds behind their Bibles.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Just make them pay taxes

like everyone else and then they can do whatever they please.