Good! More complaints should be filed against churches like the Ohio ones

[LynneSin]

Two Sundays ago, JimmyJazz and myself protested outside a church in North Philadelphia where "Justice Sunday III" was hosted. This farce included such speakers as Sen. Rick Santorum, Jerry Falwell and James Dobson with the discussion mainly being why Alito should become a Supreme Court Justice. From our position outside the church we could see the big screen TV and read the closed caption in which one speaker dissed Ted Kennedy. If this isn't a violation of the seperation of Church & State, I don't know what is!

Churches should not endorse a single candidate or party. In fact the most I think they should do is announce when the next election is going to be and encourage their parishioners to go out and vote. However, I could almost allow it to slide with the single issue causes (ie abortion, anti-war) but even then.....ALMOST.

So now we hear that two Churches in Ohio have had complaints filed against them for violation of the separation of Church & State. If the violation is proven these churches could lose their tax-free status and thousands, possibly millions of dollars depending on the size of the church. GOOD!! And I hope more people file complaints against these churches and any other church that breaches such standards!!! Not only should church be kept out of our government but government (especially one-sided government) should clearly be kept out of our churches!!

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/01/16/20060116-A1-00.html

More than 30 local pastors last night officially accused two evangelical megachurches of illegal political activities.

In a rare and potentially explosive action, the moderate ministers signed a complaint asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate World Harvest Church of Columbus and Fairfield Christian Church of Lancaster and determine if their tax-exempt status should be revoked.

The grievance claims that the Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church and the Rev. Russell Johnson of Fairfield Christian Church improperly used their churches and affiliated entities — the Center for Moral Clarity, Ohio Restoration Project and Reformation Ohio — for partisan politics, including supporting the Republican gubernatorial candidacy of Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell.

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I'm also hoping this brings down that fucker Ken Blackwell who clearly is willing to do anything to be governor including this breach of violation and using his position as Secretary of State in Ohio to use corrupt voting machines to sway the outcome. He is an asshole who thinks that somehow because he's African-American that it justifies him to be in office but if the guy actually cared about his heritage he wouldn't be in bed with the Bush Regime!

[no_more_rhyming]

1. Churches should endorse

those who need God. They should give their time and money to those who need it.

[Jim__]

2. I agree that churches should be kept out of politics.

But, this is a two-edged sword.

For instance, Pat Robertson and Jesse Jackson are religious leaders and have also both run for public office. So, if a church has one of them as a guest speaker,is this a political event or a religious event? I know, the specifics of a case can be decided in court. But, does anyone doubt that, for instance, the trio of Scalia, Thomas and Rehnquist would consistently decide that Robertson's speaking events were religious while Jackson's were political?

The same problem exisits with anti-abortion stances and anti-war stances. Political or religious?

I guess the real problem I have is I do not consider the judicial system to be apolitical; and, it is currently being stacked against progressives.

[mod mom]

3. Seems like the Ohio press may be making a stand against Blackwell.

That this story comes from a Republican leaning paper (endorsed *), is a positive sign. In fighting amongst Repubs is definitely a good sign in Ohio. Let's hope the IRS will follow through with this!

[BiggJawn]

4. Rod Parsley. I'm not surprised,

Dominionist Extrordinaire and all-around slime-bucket.

Gawd shore been good to the boy...Big Mega-church, huge house, big houses for his relatives (at least the ones who stay quiet about his scam) huge cars...

Last time I caught his act last summer, he was into this "Spiritual Warfare" bullshit that's pure Rushdoony-styled Dominionism.

"Render unto Caesar..." has no meaning to him.

[sarcasmo]

5. The Mega churches are the ones you need to go after.

We have a Mega church here I will be attending with my R wing in laws the four weeks prior to the election. The only thing is that I will have a tape recorder to hear the guaranteed political speech. The only four weeks I will attend the church and I will do it again in 08.

[oneold1-4u]

6. Consider taxation

Any church that has used their property(s) pulpits, marquees, printed material, or other means for any political purpose should be taxed on income and property(s) retro to the first time known. That was never supposed to be what any totally tax free church or organization was meant to do.
Taxes,having to be paid by these, back only to 1999 would amount to billions in just property taxes alone. Most own billion dollar properties in every state and community and many launder tax free income to promote political agendas of their own persuasions. Many have spent thousands, if not millions, of dollars just to fight against any LGBT efforts of equality. Those who donate for these religious efforts also get a tax deduction for their part.
The freedom of religion is taking themselves into their own destruction today in many ways, and they should be brought to their "knees" with truth!