houston lgbt mayor has every legal right to prosecute christian churches for political activity

Patton@Bastogne | 2014-10-15 | Patton@Bastogne

[inpajamas]

Only worshipers of the same sex have the right to engage in the political process; not believers in God.

[inpajamas]

the IRS 501-C3 "federal contract" is fascist

Nazis had laws, regulations and rule to, they were evil. this is no different.

[tnlibertarian]

In the immortal words of those revered philosophers, Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster:

“Suck it!”

[celmak]

She'll be back like a vengeance.

Patton@Bastogne - You have GOT to see some of the good coming out of this, or would you rather have me tell you what good is coming out of this and let me lift your spirit?

:-}

[Patton@Bastogne]

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Patton@Bastogne - You have GOT to see some of the good coming out of this, or would you rather have me tell you what good is coming out of this and let me lift your spirit?


Well, we're clearly fighting a war here, a "fact" that may have eluded many American Christians.

Perhaps they see the light better.



Next, Houston's Mayor is "indeed" correct about the clearly "illegal political activity" of these (otherwise very well-meaning Christian churches in Houston).

These (otherwise very well-meaning Christian churches) are "indeed" following THE LORD's command to speak against evil.

I admire them for that.



Moreover, Houston's Mayor definetly has a plan here. She wants victory. I outlined (twice above) her 7-8 point plan to "financially crucify" these Houston churches, and their pastors.

As long as the "embrace the seductive $$$ evil" of IRS 501-C3 ... Houston's Mayor will eventually WIN.



NOW is the time for these Christian churches to counter-attack ...

first step is to JETTISON their "tax-exempt chains of slavery" and go after this Mayor's "evil" like David after Goliath.

There willl "no quarter" in this battle.

No "POWs" in this war.



Again, perhaps America's Christian Church are seeing the "seductive evil" of IRS 501-C3 for the first time.

That's a great thing to happen.



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[Patton@Bastogne]

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Thank you.


EVERY American Christian Church -- EVERY Congregation member -- needs to learn about IRS 501-C3.

It's literally a "life-or-death" issue for America's (tenuous) survival as a "Christian Nation".



I plead for every Christian that reads this Free Republic Post to do three (3) things:


1) Download the (free) PDF of IRS Pamplet P-1828 (links above)


2) Have the SPIRITUAL COURAGE to send that P-1828 PDF file to EVERY Christian they know, starting with everyone in their church.


3) Have the SPIRITUAL COURAGE to internet links for the "Render Unto Cearsar" YouTube videos that I've created.

Look at the image (below) from every one of these videos.

I DO NOT WANT ACCEPT DONATIONS ... DO NOT SELL BOOKS or SEMINARS or VIDEOS ... DO NOT OFFER SPEAKING EVENTS OR SEMINARS.



IRS & Church Divorce : www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8TlzFiMSwY

Pro-Life Victory and “Render Unto Caesar” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3_1wEpX1aI

Tea Party Christians and “Render Unto Caesar” : www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNCRXtE0LNE




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[FourtySeven]

With all due respect I think you’re wrong.

Refer to pages 3 and 5 of the pamphlet you linked to. Basically it says there two points to consider:

1. A church can’t promote a specific candidate for office. This isn’t relevant here. In addition however, they can instruct their members about the teachings of the church and urge them to vote accordingly. For example, urging its members to not vote for pro choice candidates. They just can’t mention them by name.

2. A church can’t “devote a substantial part of their activities to
attempting to influence legislation”. This is the relevant portion in this case. The fact of the matter is most legitimate churches don’t spend the majority of their time attempting to influence legislation. Indeed, the churches in the Houston area I’m sure aren’t doing this. And haven’t done this.

There is a “test” provided on page 5 to examine this in more detail. However it’s on a case by case basis. Again though, even if the IRS were to peruse this action against the churches in question (and this is the salient point too, the IRS is the only one who can prosecute on such grounds, not local governments) they would have to show these churches attempted to influence legislation substantially as compared to their other activities. So at least over 50% of their time devoted to influencing legislation. Anything less would not be “substantial” by any reasonable definition.

I doubt those churches spend more than 50% of their time attempting to influence specific pieces of legislation. So their tax exempt status doesn’t prevent them from fighting against thus one ordinance.

[jjotto]

How does a city mayor get to enforce federal tax code anyway?

[Patton@Bastogne]

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So their tax exempt status doesn’t prevent them from fighting against thus one ordinance.


Technically, you may be correct.

However, we're dealing with Obama's "Gay-Gestapo-Agenda" here.

Get the above question (for a church fighting the sodomites) before California's Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ...

and then "Stalwart John Roberts" (/sarcasm-off) and SCOTUS ...

and that entire church is going straight to a "Re-Education Camp".



Houston's LGBT Mayor and "Gay-Agenda-Staff" have undoubtedly "roadmapped" this "war" (NOT a single battle) already.

I predict she will end-up "legally" victorious over the five (5) Houston churches.



You mention that the IRS Guidelines say that decisions are made on a "case-by-case" basis.

The "Gay-Agenda" is an "absolute victor" under 2014's rules of engagement.

SCOTUS is looking forward to feeding the Houston churches to the collesium's lions ...

and Houston's Mayor knows this ... all too well.


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[Patton@Bastogne]

see post-88

[celmak]

Perhaps they see the light better.

These (otherwise very well-meaning Christian churches) are "indeed" following THE LORD's command to speak against evil.

I admire them for that.

first step is to JETTISON their "tax-exempt chains of slavery" and go after this Mayor's "evil" like David after Goliath.

Again, perhaps America's Christian Church are seeing the "seductive evil" of IRS 501-C3 for the first time.

That's a great thing to happen.

Patton@Bastogne - In these words you wrote I see hope, and agreement between you and I. I have not stated it before, but I also loathe the fact that the government could have anything over any religious institution's free speech and influence on government. That is not to say that I believe that there should be any sanctioned religious institution.

I am also upset that these same institutions had so readily given up their rights in this matter, and other matters over the years as well. One thing that does get to me is income withholding which began in 1944 which deprives Christians from giving to God and their churches their first fruits.

NOW is the time for these Christian churches to counter-attack ...

I also hope and pray for this. In a Biblical manner, they need to put on the full armor of God and war, "not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12)." This is not done by prayer alone, but by the examples and words that the Bible gives us.

Though we may not win the battles we fight for Him, He has told us He has won the war. Even though these words were uttered by a man fallen away, they still are true and Biblical- "Keep hope alive!"

[Patton@Bastogne]

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this is an election distraction and just nonsense.


Not quite.

Perhaps you're correct, in the sense that Houston's LGBT Mayor attacked first, hoping to "fire-up-the-LGBT-vote" against Republicans.



There's a larger strategic issue here.

If you're a Christian then here are some questions to consider. If you're not a Christian, then it's "genuinely" ok that these questions won't matter to you.


Many American Christians wonder “why” our nation is gradually slipping away into spiritual darkness.

Why has it been over 100 years since America had a (genuinely) great National Revival ?

Consider the year 1954. It was the beginning of a tidal wave of spiritual darkness that has destroyed a “Christian America”.

What happened in 1954 ?

WHY did it directly cause in 1963 the U.S. Supreme Court banning Christian Prayers in America’s Public schools ?

WHY did it directly cause in 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court allowing legalized Abortion (56 million murdered children) ?

WHY did Jesus Christ "command" (in three Gospel accounts) for Christians to PAY their FULL TAXES to Rome ?

WHY not keep that "tax" money ... to buy bibles, support missionaries, feed the poor ?

WHY do America's Christian Churches DISOBEY Christ's "clear teaching" about PAYING ALL TAXES demanded by Rome ... or the U.S. Government ?




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[Patton@Bastogne]

[FourtySeven]

I think the important term here is “substaintial”. As in a church can’t spend a “substaintial” amount of their time and/or resources attempting to influence legislation. They are permitted to do so (to remain tax exempt) they just can’t spend a substaintial amount of resources doing so.

Yes it’s case by case but as another poster pointed out no church has ever been prosecuted by the IRS under this rule, quite frankly because it would be bad press. For them and their leftist agenda even in today’s corrupt culture.

So there won’t be any cases before the Supremes.

If there is certainly that would be a cause for concern. So I’m not going to say it definitely won’t happen. Not in this current climate so hostile to religion. But it just seems like too much of a stretch to me. I just can’t see how it could even be argued in court that these or any church spends a “substantial” amount of their time or money attempting to influence legislation.

Pushing against one local ordinance hardly seems like spending a “substaintial” amount of time or money spent “influencing legislation”. It’s not like these churches are preaching every week about resisting Obamacare or even local traffic tickets or any other local ordinance. We are only talking about a few sermons given over a few weeks as far as I’m aware. Hardly a “substantial” effort to “influence legislation”.

[MaxMax]

Religion and the 1st Amendment can choose any political stance they want.

FU-Fags!

[Mr. Lucky]

It’s probably a mistake to comment on your rant this late in the game, but it seems to be based upon the assumption that churches in Houston have 501(c)(3) exemptions from the Internal Revenue Service. As in the rest of the country, most of them don’t.

The IRC specifically recognizes that churches are not required to obtain 501(c)(3) certificates. In fact, federal law very specifically limits the sort of inquiry the IRS may make of churches, so it’s somewhat of a stretch to argue that the Mayor of Houston has authority to ask questions of church organizations which the IRS may not.

[jjotto]

Ding! Ding!

We have a winner!

[tanknetter]

So their tax exempt status doesn’t prevent them from fighting against thus one ordinance.

It all depends on what judge(s) they pull when this thing makes it into the courts.

A Christian legitimately claiming a religious exemption for refusing to participate in a homosexual wedding ceremony seems to be a no-brainer to me. But we know how the courts have, so far, ruled on the matter.

[Patton@Bastogne]

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but it seems to be based upon the assumption that churches in Houston have 501(c)(3) exemptions from the Internal Revenue Service.

As in the rest of the country, most of them don’t.


With all due respect, you couldn't possibly be more wrong.

EVERY American organization that allows "contributors" to DEDUCT their "givings" and "gifts" on their Federal Income Tax is ....

drum roll ...

RULED and GOVERNED by IRS Section 501 ... and the various subsections.


That includes churches (99%), the Boy Scouts, SPCA, Amnesty International, the GOP, and Rev. Jessee Jackson's "Rainbow Coalition"

Period.



so it’s somewhat of a stretch to argue that the Mayor of Houston has authority to ask questions of church organizations which the IRS may not.

This is a long post, so I can understand why you missed my statements (above, twice) recognizing that Houston Mayor does NOT have the legal authority (BEQUEATHED by the IRS) to investigate churches.

However, "anyone" is free to attend any church service to "document" alleged "illegal" political activity ...

compile that "verifiable" evidence ...

and then forward it to the IRS to request legal prosecution of the church/organization.

If you had enough legal clout ... or knew the RIGHT PEOPLE ... you could easily persuade the IRS to "open an investigation".

If your "friends in the right places" support the "Gay-Mafia-Agenda" (like Houston's Mayor, Obama and Eric Holder) they COULD put your organization through a hellish investigation (lasting years) ...

simply for the purpose of DESTROYING your church.


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Mr. Lucky ...

You call my writing about these issues a "rant".

Perhaps if you've studied the truth about this more, you might change your opinion.

I didn't discover the "truth" about IRS 501-C3 until I was 33 years old (1988).

It blew me away.



America is at a HISTORIC SPIRITUAL CROSSROADS, close to political destruction as a Constitutional Republic.



Do you label that statement as a "rant" ?

And if not, what solution do you propose ?

Electing more GOP-E political traitors ?

Helping the GOP-E win the "golden trifecta" (POTUS, Senate and House) ?



Sir, we're FAR beyond those childish solutions.



America will fall into debauchery and pagan destruction ...

unless her Christian Pastors preach the truth "without compromise" ...

FREE from the "spiritual bondage" of IRS church tax-exempt status.



Have a great day.

Stay safe from America's latest judgement: "Ebola"



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[Patton@Bastogne]

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So there won’t be any cases before the Supremes.


Those were the exact words from Bob Jones University attorney's just before the U.S. Supreme Court ...

ruled AGAINST Bob Jones University in 1973 ...

because Bob Jones's "Christian religious beliefs" CONFLICTED with U.S. Government Policy ...

and CANCELED BJU's tax-exempt status.



Many posters here argue that the SCOTUS would NEVER trouble itself over a few "extreme" Christian churches in (down-south) Houston ...

fighting the Feminist LGBT Mayor over a "city bathroom ordinance".



Wanna bet ?

Go study the SCOTUS "Ashwander Criteria" (inter alia) and get back to me ...

and have a long cup of coffee with Rosa Parks and Norma McCorvey (Roe vs. Wade plaintiff).



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