dougs digs

once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right

11.22.2005

Which Is It ?

I don't understand how this is not OK; but this, this, this, this, and this (I could go on forever) are OK.
The Internal Revenue Service has warned one of Southern California's largest and most liberal churches that it is at risk of losing its tax-exempt status because of an antiwar sermon two days before the 2004 presidential election.

Rector J. Edwin Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena told many congregants during morning services Sunday that a guest sermon by the church's former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, on Oct. 31, 2004, had prompted a letter from the IRS.

In his sermon, Regas, who from the pulpit opposed both the Vietnam War and 1991's Gulf War, imagined Jesus participating in a political debate with then-candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry. Regas said that "good people of profound faith" could vote for either man, and did not tell parishioners whom to support.

But he criticized the war in Iraq, saying that Jesus would have told Bush, "Mr. President, your doctrine of preemptive war is a failed doctrine. Forcibly changing the regime of an enemy that posed no imminent threat has led to disaster."

On June 9, the church received a letter from the IRS stating that "a reasonable belief exists that you may not be tax-exempt as a church … The federal tax code prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from intervening in political campaigns and elections."

LISTEN TO THE SERMON

Contrast that with this :

The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has sent a detailed plan of action to religious volunteers across the country asking them to turn over church directories to the campaign, distribute issue guides in their churches and persuade their pastors to hold voter registration drives.

Campaign officials said the instructions are part of an accelerating effort to mobilize President Bush's base of religious supporters. They said the suggested activities are intended to help churchgoers rally support for Bush without violating tax rules that prohibit churches from engaging in partisan activity.

The instruction sheet circulated by the Bush-Cheney campaign to religious volunteers lists 22 "duties" to be performed by specific dates.

By July 31, for example, volunteers are to "send your Church Directory to your State Bush-Cheney '04 Headquarters or give [it] to a BC04 Field Rep" and "Talk to your Pastor about holding a Citizenship Sunday and Voter Registration Drive." By Aug. 15, they are to "talk to your Church's seniors or 20-30 something group about Bush/Cheney '04" and "recruit 5 more people in your church to volunteer for the Bush Cheney campaign."

By Sept. 17, they are to host at least two campaign-related potluck dinners with church members, and in October they are to "finish calling all Pro-Bush members of your church," "finish distributing Voter Guides in your church" and place notices on church bulletin boards or in Sunday programs "about all Christian citizens needing to vote."


For me this is not about ideology or political affiliation, this is about consistency in upholding the laws of our country. God help us if our laws are built on sand where the ever-changing political climate winds can seriously alter or permanently destroy them for immediate short-term power. Simply frightening.
|| doug, 09:24

3 Comments:

Could I get a source for what was posted about Bush?
Anonymous Anonymous, at 1/12/05 08:30  
sure Robin, here are 10 sources to start off with. but there are actually hundreds if not thousands of sources:

1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19082-2004Jun30.html

2. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5462997/

3. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-07-04-baptists-upset_x.htm

4. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124597,00.html

5. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/07/03/bush_camps_outreach_hit_by_church_groups/

6. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/126/51.0.html

7. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_06_27.php

8. http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040702-115949-4381r.htm

9. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3944/is_200409/ai_n9428278

10. http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041005/NEWS01/41005004/1075
Blogger doug, at 1/12/05 11:09  
Incredible! I'm not sure what rock I was living under when all this occured with Bush-either I completely missed it or it didn't get stored in the memory cells. Thanks for the reminder and validating why I didn't vote for him.
Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/12/05 16:00  

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