Posted on 07/24/2004 6:24:55 AM PDT by take
Democrats back church IRS probe Decry 'politically involved religious leaders,' while pastor stands firm on his July 4 sermon
WASHINGTON – The local Democratic Party is supporting an Internal Revenue Service investigation of an Arkansas pastor who is accused of delivering a pro-Bush sermon July 4.
The Washington County Democratic Committee issued a statement affirming a complaint filed by Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, against Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale.
The Democrats say the sermon should be "investigated thoroughly."
The party, the statement said, "looks forward to the day when all citizens may vote their conscience without their political beliefs being dictated to them by politically involved religious leaders, regardless of denomination."
Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against the pastor's July 4 sermon, suggesting it endorsed the re-election of President Bush and therefore violated the conditions of the church's tax-exempt status.
"American democracy is rooted in the principle of the separation of church and state," the Democratic committee's statement said. "The Washington County Democratic Party remains committed to maintaining this value and belief if only in our small corner of the state."
Associate Pastor Alan Damron of First Baptist replied in a prepared statement: "Contrary to the statement by the Washington County Democratic Party, 'separation of church and state' is not in the United States Constitution. Our Constitution guarantees the right for all to speak on political, social, moral, and biblical issues. The Constitution includes pastors and churches. There have been American religious leaders past and present who did not and have not withheld their opinions about social issues or moral issues and/or politicians who supported or opposed various American rights. If the pastors or churches are not protected by the First Amendment, then neither are professors, or non-profit, tax-exempt educational institutions. The July 4th sermon of Pastor Ronnie Floyd exemplifies the best of our American tradition of freedom and democracy. The message did not violate any IRS provision by any stretch of the imagination, and is most assuredly protected by the First Amendment, that protects us all, even those who may disagree with us."
The church itself issued a statement yesterday: "The alleged letter of complaint to the Internal Revenue Service from Mr. Barry Lynn of the 'Americans United for the Separation of Church and State' is nothing more than a threat to pastors and our churches in America, attempting to intimidate the church into silence. This threat 'to take away our tax-exempt status' based on a July 4 presentation has no credence at all. Pastor Floyd did not violate any laws, nor did he or the church endorse a particular candidate. An attorney who specializes in First Amendment issues and political activity of non-profit organizations has viewed the message presented on July 4 and calls Mr. Lynn's accusations unfounded. Mr. Lynn attempts to intimidate pastors and churches by baseless allegations during every election cycle."
The statement pointed out that the Internal Revenue Service has not taken away the tax-exempt status from any church in the history of our nation for political reasons.
"It appears that some people have two rule books, one for liberal, and one for conservative politics," the statement continued." The fact is that history does not support the baseless threats hurled against conservative churches. Since 1934, when the lobbying restriction was added to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), not one church has ever lost its tax-exempt status."
Lynn's letter to the IRS reads, in part: "The pastor's description of the candidates' stands and their personal religious beliefs was obviously aimed at encouraging congregants to cast ballots for Bush. The church is known for its stands on social issues and its opposition to legal abortion and gay rights. By lauding Bush's stands on these and other issues and attacking (Sen. John) Kerry's, Floyd was plainly telling his congregation to be sure to vote for Bush.
"I have enclosed a videotape that includes the entire sermon as well as a partial transcript. About 45 minutes into the message, Floyd begins to discuss the differences between Bush and Kerry. Please note that even the imagery employed by the church is designed to promote Bush. A huge photo of Bush is projected onto a screen that shows the president next to an American flag. By contrast, small photos of Kerry are used that show him as one person in a larger crowd. In addition, Bush is shown signing a ban on late-term abortions, an act most church members will laud, while Kerry is shown as one of a group of senators who opposed a law banning same-sex marriage, a stand most church members will likely oppose."
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is one of two organizations in the news for monitoring political statements delivered from America's church pulpits.
In Kansas, monitors from the Mainstream Coalition are being accused of creating a "chilling effect" on the sermons in that state's churches.
Last month, the Mainstream Coalition announced it would send volunteers into area churches to see whether pastors were abiding by federal laws governing political activity by non-profit institutions.
While the group maintains it is non-partisan and objects across the board to all kinds of politicking in the pews, the organization's website shows the Mainstream Coalition has a strong political agenda of its own. Policy statements posted include the following:
strong support of Roe v. Wade strong support of late-term abortions strong support of sex education strong support of human cloning strong support of hate-crime laws strong support of gun control strong support for teaching of evolution strong opposition to prayer in schools strong opposition even to the wearing of religious symbols on government property Some might question just how mainstream those positions are. Would such a group, for instance, object to the use of churches to promote politicians who support such an agenda?
Currently, Mainstream has about 100 volunteers monitoring churches mostly in the Kansas City suburbs.
Americans United, meanwhile, filed another complaint this month with the IRS against the Rev. Jerry Falwell over a column endorsing President Bush on his ministries' website. Falwell, who also writes a column for WND, said the group was waging a "scare-the-churches campaign."
[McKnight said Mainstream Coalition volunteers visit houses of worship of all types.]
From Post #8. Let's see if the Mainstream DUmmie Coalition monitors black churches.
Dr. David C. Berliner of Tempe, Arizona Dean of the College of Education, Arizona State University
Charlotte Coffelt of Kingwood, Texas Retired public schoolteacher and administrator President/Founding Member, Houston AU Chapter
Dr. Ronald B. Flowers of Fort Worth, Texas Professor of Religion, Texas Christian University Trustee, North Texas AU Chapter
James H. Hall, Jr., Esq. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Attorney with Hall, Patterson & Charne, S.C.
Flynn T. Harrell of Columbia, South Carolina Civil Liberties Activist
K. Hollyn Hollman of Washington, DC General Counsel, Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs
Cynthia S. Holmes, Esq. of Clayton, Missouri Attorney, private practice
Molleen Matsumura of Berkeley, California Vice-president, Internet Infidels
The Reverend Robert “Cam” McConnell of Manhattan, Kansas First Presbyterian of Manhattan
Dr. Bruce Prescott of Norman, Oklahoma Director, Mainstream Oklahoma
The Reverend Meg Riley of Washington, DC Director, Washington Office Unitarian Universalist Association
Rabbi Merrill Shapiro of Richmond, Virginia Congregation Or Atid
Dr. Paul D. Simmons of Louisville, Kentucky Clinical Professor, School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Religion University of Louisville
John M. Suarez, MD of Newbury Park, California Founding Member, Los Angeles AU Chapter
John W. Webster of Omaha, Nebraska President, Webster Communications Company
The statutes and judge-made "laws" to the contrary, are all un-Constitutional.
The First Amendment did not give, nor decree, nor grant, nor delegate any powers or rights.
The First Amendment bars government from prosecuting and from persecuting free speech and our free press.
There is no Constitutional authority for the government to decide what is and what is not the scope of speech in, or from, the church. The scope was, and is, entirely up to the people and God.
That is a source of irritation for socialists, and therefore that is a target for socialists, because it is outside the bounds of government when we live with a limited government; and so, they propose un-limiting government, in order to control and even destroy our freedoms.
If the First Amendment's affirmation of free speech protection applies to anything and anyone, it is a firewall designed to keep goverment out of the church business, but it is not a wall keeping the church out of speaking about government business.
The entire Bill of Rights is about limitations of the federal government; the Bill is a firewall holding back that government from infringing upon the rights of the people and the rights of the States. None of the Bill of Rights bars the people from asserting our authority over government.
Their time will come. God is merciful, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
That is why me and you are still here, too, and also why they are still here.
Because God is merciful, and wants them to wake up before it is too late.
I think the thought police have overreached. This will backfire.
Only if about half of America's citizens wake up................
Since AU is vowing vigilance on the "Arkansas pastor promotes Bush" allegation (cf. link on your web page), can I entrust you to be similarly vigilant about what would be at the very least as similarly egregious a violation?
Edwards built a formidable campaign organization that sent thousands of volunteers knocking on doors. He campaigned in South Carolina for more than a year, and his aides convinced more 100 ministers of black churches to endorse him from the pulpit on Sunday.
"Kerry didn't have an organization," said Edwin Givens, Edwards' statewide church coordinator. "He didn't have a base in the black church, which is the most important political institution in the black community."
Please let me know the results of your actions to remedy this attempted breach of the wall of separation.
This is outrageous, and needs to be fought all the way to the top if necessary.
First Baptist of Springdale is a large church (membership over 12,000) and Pastor Floyd is a prominent pastor. They're a big target and the ACLU, the dims and every other flavor of leftist nutzoid is hoping to silence this pastor and in so doing establish a precedent they can point to. From what I know about Pastor Floyd there's no way he backs down. Lynn is nothing more than a small yapping dog who has bitten off more than he can chew.
It is also a Southern Baptist Church so that means that there should be a lot of support from that direction should the need arise.
So, where is Mr. Lynn's complaints toward Black churches who OPENLY CAMPAIGN for Democrats?
Oh! Then this man is a Democrat mouthpiece!
What a hypocrite!
http://www.fbcspringdale.org/press_release_072304.htm
A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SPRINGDALE
AND THE CHURCH AT PINNACLE HILLS, ROGERS, ARKANSAS
DR. RONNIE W. FLOYD - SENIOR PASTOR
JULY 23, 2004
Each pastor in America, including Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd our Senior Pastor, has the responsibility and mandate to speak God's Word and God's Truth pertaining to all matters of life. As a congregation that believes in the infallibility of Holy Scripture, it is our desire to follow the Bible as our authority for faith and practice.
As Pastor Floyd and other pastors in America share God's Word on real life issues, we quickly learn that we are living in a cultural war in this nation. Each church is, or at least should be, involved in this cultural war. This war is between what is right and what is wrong according to God's Holy Word...The Bible.
The alleged letter of complaint to the Internal Revenue Service from Mr. Barry Lynn of the "Americans United for the Separation of Church and State" is nothing more than a threat to pastors and our churches in America, attempting to intimidate the church into silence. This threat "to take away our tax-exempt status" based on a July 4 presentation has no credence at all. Pastor Floyd did not violate any laws, nor did he or the church endorse a particular candidate. An attorney who specializes in First Amendment issues and political activity of non-profit organizations has viewed the message presented on July 4 and calls Mr. Lynn's accusations unfounded. Mr. Lynn attempts to intimidate pastors and churches by baseless allegations during every election cycle.
In point of fact, the Internal Revenue Service has not taken away the "tax- exempt status" from any church in the history of our nation for political reasons. It appears that some people have two rule books, one for liberal, and one for conservative politics. The fact is that history does not support the baseless threats hurled against conservative churches. Since 1934, when the lobbying restriction was added to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), not one church has ever lost its tax-exempt status. Since 1954, when the political endorsement/opposition prohibition was added, only one church has ever lost its IRS letter ruling, but even that church did not lose its tax-exempt status. That case involved the Church at Pierce Creek in New York, which placed full-page ads in USA Today and the Washington Times opposing then-Governor Bill Clinton for President. The ads were sponsored by the church and donations were solicited. The IRS revoked the church’s letter ruling, but not its tax-exempt status. The church sued, and the court ruled that churches are tax exempt without an IRS letter ruling. The Court noted that “because of the unique treatment churches receive under the Internal Revenue Code, the impact of the revocation is likely to be more symbolic than substantial.” Not even this church lost its tax-exempt status, and not one donor was affected by this incident.
Pastors can preach on biblical, moral, and social issues, such as traditional marriage and abortion, urge the congregation to register to vote, and then to vote, overview the positions of the candidates, and may personally endorse candidates. Churches may distribute non-partisan voter guides, register voters, provide transportation to the polls, hold candidate forums, and introduce visiting candidates.
Mr. Lynn, the leader of this left-wing, ultra-liberal organization opposes the National Motto “In God We Trust” on our currency, as well as our Pledge of Allegiance because of the words “under God." He also opposed the 2004 National Day of Prayer, and has opposed such events for many years. Mr. Lynn is a former legal counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). His resume and his beliefs are a matter of public record. He continually bashes those he labels "the religious right,” even making derogatory and inflammatory statements about many American leaders, including Dr. James Dobson of “Focus on the Family.”
The unfounded accusation made by this organization and others is nothing more than an attack on our First Amendment right of free speech. No governmental agency should ever be given the responsibility to "monitor the pulpits of our land." If this is done, then "every non-profit university classroom" would have to be monitored. The so-called "separation of church and state” is not found in the United States Constitution, and, if anything, the concept means that the government should stay out of the church, not that the church should have no voice in government. Every American needs to be aware of this attack on First Amendment rights.
Based on our research and legal counsel, we believe Pastor Floyd in the July 4 presentation was well within the boundaries set by our government. Additionally, we believe that our nation and its future will not be determined by any politician or political party, but by our nation's pursuit of the living Lord Jesus Christ. We stand unashamedly for God's Word, the sanctity of human life, religious freedom, and traditional family. We make no apology for these positions, and we certainly have the right to inform the public about our beliefs, and to let people know how our representative government stands on these issues. Therefore, we still believe that when you go to the polls this November, and any date in the future, you should not vote for or against any political party or politician. Just vote God… His values, His ways, His Word.
Herein we stand...so help us God. May God bless America and may we as Americans....bless God.
Didn't the preacher realize churches can only support dims?
So are they going after the churches Kerry spoke at? or the ones where "Reverends" tout the Democrat party mantra. Doubt it. Hypocrisy is so infuriating.
We have had a booth to register people to vote set up in our lobby for the last several months. But then, we certainly have a pastor with backbone. Unfortunately, most of our members are already registered, but we are getting a few.
In 1954 it was then Senator, later Vice-President and finally President Lyndon Johnson who sponsored legislation to prevent tax-exempt status to any non-profit that engaged in "political" activity. He did so in response to non-profits that opposed his re-election effort.
Johnson was elected to Congress in a very close election, which many contend he won through fraud. Perhaps that charge came about because in Duval County, where Johnson secured his winning margin, the voting records showed that the voters voted in alphabetical order - truly an amazing event.
That statute is a patent violation of the First Amendment.
Bttt
An aggressive Republican prosecutor should investigate Lynn et. at. for RICO charges.
Wow! Now THERE'S a concept!
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