WP: Speaker Pushes Jobs Bill Provision (Religion in Politics)

[kskiska]

Religious Leaders Would Be Allowed More Freedom to Participate in Partisan Politics

House Republican leaders have tacked on to a major jobs bill a provision that would give religious leaders more freedom to engage in partisan politics without endangering the tax-exempt status of their churches.

Conservative Christian groups have been pushing for such legislation for years, while civil liberties organizations and religious minorities have opposed it. But unlike past proposals, which were stand-alone bills, the current provision is attached to a huge tax bill that House leaders have placed on a fast track for consideration.

A spokeswoman for the House Ways and Means Committee, Christin Tinsworth, said the provision was inserted in the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 at the request of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) because "this is an election year and there are not many bills that will become law this year." Hastert's office did not respond to repeated calls Monday and yesterday seeking comment.

The provision's conservative Christian backers, including the Southern Baptist Convention, say selective enforcement by the IRS has had a "chilling effect" on evangelical churches. Some also say the tax code, which was changed in 1954 to prohibit churches from engaging in partisan activity, has deprived religious groups of their historical place in U.S. politics.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26244-2004Jun8.html

[seafan]

1. And this is on page A19, no less.

From the link:

.....But on page 378 of the bill is a provision entitled "Safe Harbor for Churches."......


This is all so unreal.

[Democat]

2. If Democrats allow this to pass, it will be hard to feel bad for them

This reminds me of killing the fairness doctorine or other legislation that will obviously hurt Democrats and hurt America in the long run.

If Democrats allow it to pass, it will be hard to feel bad later when we get our asses kicked because of something our own leaders did.

[Malva Zebrina]

6. I foresee them going along

their consituents, most likely will be Christians--the tyranny of the majority will be the rule here. They will allow it to pander to their voters.

It will take years to stop it--and probably a Supreme Court ruling if it should pass.

[struggle4progress]

3. kick

:kick:

[xchrom]

4. kick again

[dusty64]

5. a major step towards

our American Taliban regime. Will this get through the Senate? It had better not.

[rfkrocks]

7. Note to the Southern Baptist Convention

Religion in politics has had a chilling effect on peace-see for example European History-"the inquisition what a show..." (apologies Mel Brooks)-the numerous mass murders of protestants and catholics adn lets now forget witch burning-the founders are literally rolling in their graves!