IRS questions church's activities

[pstokely]

Source: Wichita Eagle

VOTER GUIDES, MARQUEE MESSAGES
IRS questions church's activities
BY BRENT D. WISTROM AND JOE RODRIGUEZ
The Wichita Eagle

The IRS has contacted a Wichita church about whether it has violated rules that prohibit churches from engaging in most political activity, the church's pastor said Thursday.

Pastor Mark Holick of Spirit One Christian Center, 1515 E. Harry, said the IRS sent him a letter last month asking him to respond to questions about political activities at the church.

Those activities include the pastor's involvement in distributing voter guides and messages on the church's marquee critical of candidates and their stances on abortion.

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/news/story/84844.html

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Tax this church

[liberal N proud]

1. There are many that need to be investigated

At least this is a start.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. They need to go after Matt Martle's church

It's the one featured in Jesus Camp.

[Warpy]

3. This may also be a shot across the bow

for Westboro. If ever a religious scam needed to be investigated, that's the one.

For those of you who don't know, Westboro Baptist Church is headed by "Rev" Phelps of http://www.godhatesfags.com and funeral protest fame.

The church congregation consists of his extended family.

It's a scam. Forcing their books open would reveal a lot of interesting things about who is funding the attacks on our civil liberties.

And that is why the current administration won't do it.

[atommom]

4. Since so many of them are attorneys, I'm not sure how much they rely

on outside donations. If there are any, that would be very interesting.

[mcscajun]

6. If I recall correctly, most of their operations are funded by settlements

from lawsuits. It's what they do best. x(

[Warpy]

15. That used to be the case

but their budget increased hugely just about three years ago when they started to picket military funerals. I'm guessing they've gotten a very generous infusion of cash because they're responsible for getting laws against picketing and other forms of free speech passed in some communities.

Trying to deal with this scum through restrictive law is what they want, and it's the LAST thing anyone should ever do! Sic the IRS on that "church," force open their books and their bank records, publicize it all, and act accordingly.

I'd love to see Phelps spend his remaining golden years paying back taxes.

[mcscajun]

20. I most heartily concur with your last line.

Wouldn't that be sweet? :bounce:

[Warpy]

14. I think we can safely wager

that the name Richard Mellon Scaife appears quite prominently.

[shance]

5. One wonders the real reason they are going after this church.

As if almost all the conservative Christian churches are essentially political hubs for the Republican party.

[Limelight]

7. This is wrong...

Going after a church for trying to take a moral stand against something is indeed, as is said in the article, a violation of the 1st amendment. It's wrong to trying an penalize someone for having an opinion and expressing it.

Now, if we were talking about those morons protesting soldiers funerals cuz "God hates fags" that's a different story. Expressing opinion is one thing, staging political protests are all together different.

[knitter4democracy]

8. But a pastor telling his congregation whom to vote for crosses the line.

The IRS rules are actually fairly clear on that point, which is why many pastors I've heard over the years either talk in code or actually say things like, "I'm not going to tell you whom to vote for, but . . ." Churches are not to engage in political action, but that hasn't been enforced for a long while. It should be, frankly.

[xchrom]

11. tax the churches -- they have become political machines.

that's just the nature of our contemporary times.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yewberry]

21. They are free to take a moral stand on *issues*--not candidates.

They are not free to endorse or denounce candidates (or lie about them), and churches should never be involved in producing or handing out voting guides. Tax-exempt organizations cannot legally use their status and funds to electioneer.

Hardly a gray area.

[greenbriar]

22. this "church" goes to middle and high schools and creates ALL kinds of trouble

but they stand on the sidewalk so we can't do anything


all we can do is comfort the poor kids once they reach our classrooms


they are very insulting and hurtful

[williesgirl]

9. All churches must decide if they want to be an activist org or a church and be taxed accordingly.

recommended

[Lochloosa]

19. Well said. And to the point.

TY

[mitchum]

10. Tax ALL of these tax dodging grifters

[Madspirit]

12. k&r...and whoohoohoo...n/t

[Ian David]

16. Render unto Cesar that which is Cesar's, mothafuckas. n/t

[LiberalFighter]

18. Which Jesus meant to be that churches also be taxed!

Were churches during Roman times exempt from taxation?

[shenmue]

17. There are so many of these megachurch creeps who must be cheating

You can't have a life that opulent and creepy at the same time, and not be doing something wrong. The fact that religious groups can't be taxed is in itself a scandal. :grr: