PAC's fund-raiser at church draws tax complaint - You're right, a GOP fundraiser

Houston Chronicle ^ | March 13, 2004 | AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A religious liberty watchdog group accused the Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin on Friday of violating Internal Revenue Service rules by allowing the Legacy Political Action Committee to hold a fund-raiser in its sanctuary.

Rob Boston, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the IRS Code prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from intervening in political campaigns. The group focuses on education on the separation of church and state.

A member of Legacy PAC, which supports anti-abortion candidates, said the church had nothing to do with the event.

"This was our event," Bill Crocker said. "The church didn't sponsor it in any way, shape or fashion." Crocker said the PAC rented the church.

He said some members of the church participated in the meeting, which he described as a "pro-life" rally. But he said no one participated in their official capacities with the church.

Boston said the Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, filed the complaint with the IRS after receiving an e-mail describing the events.

William Pate, a student at St. Edward's University, attended the rally for a government class. He said the participants talked about raising $5,000 to elect Republicans and passed collection plates for donations.

"They were doing it in a church, it just seemed kind of weird to me," Pate said in an interview. "I thought I had read somewhere that was illegal."

Pate said there were no Democrats speaking. Crocker said the group is predominantly Republican but has some Democrats.

Chuck Wilson, an elder at the church, said various groups use the church.

"It was our understanding this was an open, nonpartisan gathering giving all candidates in attendance an opportunity to speak," Wilson said after speaking with church leaders. "It is not the intent of the church, nor did the church join in support or support the function. We only opened our doors to provide seating capacity. The building facility was used, but the church was not involved."

"To the best of our knowledge no collection was taken in the pews," said Wilson, who was not at the meeting.

Bruce Friedland, an IRS spokesman, said the agency is prohibited on commenting.

Ted Royer, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Texas, called the complaint an intimidation tactic.

"The goal of Americans United is to purge people of faith from politics and government and that's clearly what they're trying to do is intimidate religious people and dissuade them from participating in politics."

The Rev. Barry Lynn, the Americans United executive director, said he was shocked at the use of the church.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Meanwhile, over in DNC heaven.....

Kerry said he'd been "anointed the next president of the United States" Source

[kenth]

This is just insane.

[weegee]

Houston Double Standard PING.

Let's see the Comical talk about the Late October/Early November tour of politicians(D) at the church pulpits.

[mdmathis6]

Lets find out the name of the churches Kerry is attending and in a large group complain en mass to the IRS...using paid adds in Newspapers ect. If nothing else, the shaming would need to be defended!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Left doesn't have to follow the rules. And it doesn't matter that PAC was just using the space, where as in Kerry's case, he was campaigning from the pulpit.

[kcvl]

Americans United for Separation of Church and State,
518 C Street NE,
Washington, DC 20002
Telephone (202) 466-3234;
Facsimile (202) 466-2587;

E-mail: americansunited@au.org

[weegee]

Kerry had also already declared his candidacy when he appeared at a public university funded appearance (which became an early campaign stop) in violation of campus policy.

[mdmathis6]

The point is to introduce it as a campaign issue!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[alpha-8-25-02]

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?
this only occurs when it does not benefit the left
not just kerry,
how about bill,hill,jesee,al and on and on.
this hits a very deep personal note with me.
i grew up in a catholic home in ny(and i am not bashing catholics here),my father was a union rep,the rest of the family, was and still is deeply devout democrats.i can attest to many meetings around pizza,prayer,politics,and priests.
ok flameout

[weegee]

If we are going to look at 501(c)3 violations, everyone from Pacifica to NPR to Rock the Vote better be kept in check this election year.

[VOA]

A religious liberty watchdog group accused the Westover Hills Church of Christ
in Austin on Friday of violating Internal Revenue Service rules by allowing
the Legacy Political Action Committee to hold a fund-raiser in its sanctuary.

Obviously written by someone who's never (or only rarely) attended a Church of Christ.

"Sanctuary"? That's something the Catholics, Methodists, or some of those
other guys have!

Church of Christ folks just have a church building, which usually has classrooms and
an "auditorium" where the main service occurs.

Oh yeah, and bathrooms!

[WhiteyAppleseed]

When an elected government official condones same-sex marriage, the official is saying he agrees with any religious group that condones same-sex marriage. Like it or not, the Bible is clear on the issue of homosexuality. Some religious groups say it is okay (they actually exist and a web search reveals them) and most religious groups say it is wrong. This we know.

If a prayer in school is challenged, if a war memorial cannot take the shape of a cross, why is it that no one challenges the consitutionality of an elected officicial, who by his actions, comes out in favor of the minority religious view? The First mandates government neutrality between religion and religion and between religion and non-religion. When an elected official condones the minority view, he is saying to the majority that they are the outsiders.

[mdmathis6]

I have a question of logistics...when the next visit to a church that Kerry makes or the next funraiser for democrats occurs, how do we get a few thousand people to complain and make complaints that will impact the FEC,IRS and the news segments? I would rather see no politicking in churches if the Dems can do it and we can't!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The assault by the radical left on our culture continues...

[reformedliberal]

No flame.

Back in 1968, I marched just once: w/a contingent of Salvatorian nuns surrounded by a phalanx of young Jesuit fathers. I worked at a Catholic university, took advantage of the ability to take classes free and that is how I met these folks.

I was in my mid-twenties and the Jesuit fathers would make any argument they wished and be convincing. These religious really considered themselves highly moral people acting for a higher good.

About 4 years later, one of the Sisters, now out of the order and living w/a former priest, tried to convince me to allow my home to be used as a staging area for the bombing of an electrical substation across the street. They considered this a credible action to protest war. I refused and also gave them a long list of reasons why this was a terribly bad idea. My arguments were all about the vulnerable people who would be hurt and possibly seriously harmed. Sister Audrey (as she was still called), just gave me a baleful look and told me that it was totally ok to cause damage if the ends were *good*.

Later on, I heard via the grapevine that they were saddened to have *lost* me.

I do not bash any faith either. Remember, this was the era of the Berrigan Brothers being reported nightly as gallant protestors for peace. Today, I recall all this and try to reconcile it with the real Catholic bashing I see and hear in the media. It is all just another huge disconnect for me.

[feedback doctor]

The Rev. Barry Lynn, the Americans United executive director, said he was shocked at the use of the church

You know if that SHOCKS Barry Lynn, then let him come visit some of the AME Churches in my town, he'd be electrocuted, unless he is really talking only about religious people with comservative views.

So here is the mission. Help Mr. Lynn out and email the IRS anytime you see in the news political activity in one of your local churches.

[Wilhelm Tell]

"They were doing it in a church, it just seemed kind of weird to me," Pate said in an interview. "I thought I had read somewhere that was illegal."

Welcome back to the U.S.S.R.

[Flyer]

Crooked liars ping!

small>As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston and Texas topics ping list.

[Xenalyte]

I had the pleasure of watching Seamus McFadden of the Becket Fund take Barry Lynn apart at a debate my company sponsored last month. It was amazing.