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Christian Group Asks IRS If They Can Pray For Bush's Reelection
Talon News ^ | Oct. 5, 2004 | Talon News

Posted on 10/07/2004 10:30:50 AM PDT by rapture-me

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- The head of a national Christian ministry group has sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service asking whether it is legal for churches to pray for the reelection of President George W. Bush during its services.

The Christian Defense Coalition, led by its director Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, asked the Virginia Beach-based American Center For Law And Justice to draft a letter to the IRS asking whether their upcoming two-week prayer tour across cities in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio would be in violation of their 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.

The letter states that Mahoney wants to "offer prayer during the evening services in the churches he visits that God grants President Bush four more years as President and that Senator Kerry does not become President."

Mahoney believes it is vitally important that Christians support the Republican president because he has been a champion for their causes over the past four years.

"As Christians, we are praying that God grant President Bush four more years because of his support for the sanctity of human life, his strong commitment to the protection of traditional marriage and his stance on religious freedom and liberty in the public square," Mahoney noted.

Contending that Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry does not offer support for these issues important to Christians, Mahoney says he believes "the public policies of the President are more in line with historic Christianity than those of Senator Kerry."

Regarding the decision by the IRS, Mahoney said he is cautiously optimistic about what they will decide.

"It is our hope that the IRS will not crush religious freedom by attempting to censor and control how churches feel compelled to pray," Mahoney concluded.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aclj; churchandstate; firstamendment; gwb2004; irs; patrickmahoney; prayers; religiousliberty
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1 posted on 10/07/2004 10:30:50 AM PDT by rapture-me
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To: rapture-me

Please Mr Guvmemt guys, can we please please practice our religion.


2 posted on 10/07/2004 10:32:01 AM PDT by numberonepal (Cameras, ammo, arms, eyes, and ears on election day.)
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To: rapture-me

I think it's a bad idea to ask for permission.


3 posted on 10/07/2004 10:32:47 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The economy won't matter if you're dead.)
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To: rapture-me

Is it okay for me to pray for the Dodger to win the World Series?


4 posted on 10/07/2004 10:33:19 AM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: rapture-me

No they can't pray. It an obvioius violation of the first amendment, you know the one the says 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...'


5 posted on 10/07/2004 10:33:43 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: rapture-me
If the IRS says "No", will they still do it and give up their tax status?

I would hope so.

6 posted on 10/07/2004 10:34:06 AM PDT by Pete
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To: rapture-me
Asking permission to pray?
Maybe Daniel should have asked permission.
I'll NEVER ask permission.
7 posted on 10/07/2004 10:34:21 AM PDT by GrandEagle
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To: rapture-me
Hillary holds all stolen FBI files.

Therefore, Hillary's IRS will audit ANYONE praying or thinking about voting for President Bush.
On the other hand, Hillary's IRS has given the GREEN LIGHT to
SOROS, and anyone using any nonprofit entity for any DNC activity.

Democrats are also allowed to shoot into any Republican building
and to continue stealing any public or archival document, etc.

8 posted on 10/07/2004 10:34:24 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Cuius rei demonstrationem mirabilem sane detexi hanc marginis exiguitas non caperet.)
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To: rapture-me

LOL, the guy has it right. The left can through wild bashes at inner city black churches in favor of leftista, but you ask yourself if this guy is going to get a thumbs up or down from the IRS, and I'll bet you can't be certain what the response will be.


9 posted on 10/07/2004 10:34:34 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservatives)
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To: cripplecreek
I think it's a bad idea to ask for permission.

They are asking permission because one of the radical groups for separation of church and state and making an issue about it.

10 posted on 10/07/2004 10:35:00 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: rapture-me

"No, only Democrats are allowed to flout the law." - IRS


11 posted on 10/07/2004 10:35:00 AM PDT by talleyman (This election is about the future - whether we'll have one or not.)
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To: rapture-me

BUMP


12 posted on 10/07/2004 10:35:11 AM PDT by kitkat ( FR: HOME OF THE PAJAMA PEOPLE)
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To: rapture-me

How they gonna know whether you're praying or not?

MY God has no hotline to the IRS.


13 posted on 10/07/2004 10:35:57 AM PDT by Hi Heels (Proud to be a Pajamarazzi. Flush Fluffy and Stuffy.)
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To: rapture-me

But democrats like Gore and the Clintons could actively campaign inside of churches and there wasn't a peep out of the IRS.


14 posted on 10/07/2004 10:36:38 AM PDT by Bonaparte (twisting slowly, slowly in the wind...)
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To: cripplecreek
I think it's a bad idea to ask for permission.

Time honored military tradition: "It's better to ask forgiveness than permission"

15 posted on 10/07/2004 10:36:49 AM PDT by UsnDadof8 (The groundswell of public opinion is about to hit John Kerry. and it won't be pretty)
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To: rapture-me

"You cannot serve God and Mammon."
--Jesus Christ


16 posted on 10/07/2004 10:37:23 AM PDT by Conservatrix
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To: Always Right
Hello,

I am literally in shock. What a sad place we have come to. What truly scary place are we headed to?

Glad to be here, MOgirl
17 posted on 10/07/2004 10:38:12 AM PDT by MOgirl (In memory of Walton Wayne Callahan, I love you forever.)
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To: rapture-me

Well we know the law was wriiten by a bunch of attorneys so there must be a loophole. I think if you don't mention the President by name, you might get away with it (as far as tax exempt status being revoked)


18 posted on 10/07/2004 10:38:59 AM PDT by brooklyn dave
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To: rapture-me

Is THIS what the USA has come to? A Church asking the IRS if its ok to pray for George Bush? GOD HELP THIS COUNTRY!


19 posted on 10/07/2004 10:39:00 AM PDT by teletech (Friends don't let friends vote DemocRAT)
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To: rapture-me

Until the "church" gets rid of their 501(c)3 status, they will always have to worry about such things....


20 posted on 10/07/2004 10:41:39 AM PDT by wrbones (Where'd I put my tin foil hat....)
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