I fail to see how speaking out about politics turns a church into a for-profit organization. Same goes for other non-profits. It's absurd that they are muzzled.
I read the first few paras talking about dissension. That, combined with Novak's name and his GOP-bashing history, was enough for me. :-)
I am proud to be a Republican, and a religious skeptic by the way, who strongly opposes secularists. Even just from the point of view of party stewardship, Novak seems to be right on to condemn Thomas' machinations.
Here's what's going down. Clinton, Gore and Kerry go to black churches the weekend before the election, get endorsed and get a lot of media. IRS does nothing. But when some conservative churches tell their flocks to vote pro-life, they get threats from liberals that their tax-exempt status will be pulled. Are you fine with that? Bill Thomas seems to be -- and Novak did a service by calling him on it.
And God help any of us who are conservative, and have issues which are important to air. I believe the Republican Party is looking forward to the day when they think they can get enough illegal voters to commit to the party, then they won't need conservative Christians anymore. We are a shameful part of the party to these people, and always have been.