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IRS: Churches can't pray for Bush victory
Wrld Net Daily ^ | 10-28-04 | Ron Strom

Posted on 10/27/2004 10:50:56 PM PDT by hope

This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows.
To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41145

Thursday, October 28, 2004



TESTING THE FAITH
IRS: Churches can't pray for Bush victory
Ruling says tax-exempt groups prohibited from asking God to intervene


Posted: October 28, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Ron Strom


© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

In a letter of clarification requested by a traveling minister, the Internal Revenue Service has declared people gathered in tax-exempt churches can't pray for President Bush to win the election on Tuesday.

The ruling comes in response to a request by the Christian Defense Coalition, which is in the midst of a 15-day prayer tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the organization, had planned to lead in prayer for a Bush victory during evening services in each town. Though he had hoped to hold the services in churches, Mahoney says he has used American Legion halls, hotels and other venues pending a clarification from the IRS.

The American Center for Law and Justice wrote the letter to the IRS on behalf of the Mahoney's group, explaining that the pastor planned 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."

"This is rank censorship," Mahoney told WND. "If churches felt compelled to pray for Senator Kerry, they should be able to do that, too.

"Now we have the IRS not only limiting what can said behind a pulpit in terms of electioneering, but churches aren't even allowed to pray the dictates of their consciences."

Mahoney said he would consider legal action against the IRS, saying churches that had considered hosting the tour were unable to do so. He also said he considers his First Amendment rights to have been violated.

Reaction to the IRS ruling, Mahoney predicts, will include "massive anger" in the Christian community.

"Our organization, along with the American Center for Law and Justice, is going to make this a major issue," he said.

Mahoney considers the ruling a "much greater leap into censorship" than the prohibition on endorsing candidates from church pulpits.

"You hear people talk about the separation of church and state," he said. "This is a massive violation of the separation of church and state from the standpoint of the government intruding on the private dictates of churches."

Under IRS regulations, churches that are tax-exempt organizations cannot openly advocate for candidates for office and can only use a small percentage of their budgets on political activity.

As WorldNetDaily reported, an concerted effort is under way to get the IRS to crack down on churches that might push certain candidates or parties. In July, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, headed by Barry Lynn, filed a complaint with the IRS against Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., accusing him of preaching a sermon promoting President Bush's re-election July 4.

Related stories:

Political snitches monitor sermons

Democrats back church IRS probe


If you'd like to sound off on this issue, please take part in the WorldNetDaily poll.


Ron Strom is a news editor for WorldNetDaily.com.



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: churchandstate; churches; churchesprayer; gwb2004; irs; patmahoney; persecution; prayer
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To: diss-a-lib

LOL!


101 posted on 10/28/2004 12:04:31 AM PDT by hope (The democrats are hellbent on destroying the electoral process.)
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To: hope
A lot of the pastors on television are preaching about Christians voting. They are all painfully careful not to mention by name or party who to vote for. They simply tell the audience to learn which candidate is for the things the Bible is against. Really sad, while Clinton,Gore, Kerry, Kennedy et al can stand in a pulpit and blatantly campaign.
102 posted on 10/28/2004 12:04:48 AM PDT by ladyinred (John Kerry has a plan to change the national symbol of an Eagle to a Chicken)
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To: COEXERJ145

That's right, because if you do speak out, you are branded a racist, and actually the word itself should have lost all meaning a long time ago.


103 posted on 10/28/2004 12:06:01 AM PDT by diss-a-lib (God is a comedian, with a audience that refuses to laugh)
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To: hope

The churches should also be praying for the passage of the Fair Tax and the abolition of the IRS.


104 posted on 10/28/2004 12:07:15 AM PDT by meadsjn
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To: hope

My husband had another glimpse of the police state that Kerry would impose on us. He went to see Stolen Honor at a private auditorium, only to be turned away by uniformed security guards who refused to explain.


105 posted on 10/28/2004 12:07:37 AM PDT by Eva
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To: UCANSEE2
Yes, but that's no reason to give up and allow it to become a self fulfilling prophesy, either.
106 posted on 10/28/2004 12:08:25 AM PDT by Dec31,1999 (www.protestwarrior.com)
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To: Eva

What!


107 posted on 10/28/2004 12:08:33 AM PDT by hope (The democrats are hellbent on destroying the electoral process.)
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To: GeronL

I didn't see any official website for them, but "christian defense fund" is mentioned around the Web a lot ("christian defense fund" in google.com , quotes and all).


108 posted on 10/28/2004 12:10:45 AM PDT by familyop (Receive, adhere, listen, dissolve, entice and launch.)
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To: hope

They shut down the showing. I haven't heard an explanation, yet. Two weeks ago, they planned to show it at a local cinema (Bush supporter owner)and protesters shut down the showing with threats of violence. So, they obtained a private auditorium and some how they managed to shut that down too. This is in Montgomery County, PA.


109 posted on 10/28/2004 12:11:44 AM PDT by Eva
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To: ladyinred
Exactly. Pastors vs politicians invited to speak. See the difference?

Invite a local Republican to speak at your church, and I mean real soon, as the election is only days away!

110 posted on 10/28/2004 12:11:51 AM PDT by Dec31,1999 (www.protestwarrior.com)
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To: familyop

Yep...that's what I found too.


111 posted on 10/28/2004 12:13:36 AM PDT by hope (The democrats are hellbent on destroying the electoral process.)
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To: Eva

Unbelievable!


112 posted on 10/28/2004 12:14:37 AM PDT by hope (The democrats are hellbent on destroying the electoral process.)
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To: hope

It's just a glimpse of the police state that the left would inflict on any one who holds a differing opinion. Freedom of speech does not exist for conservatives.


113 posted on 10/28/2004 12:16:19 AM PDT by Eva
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To: hope

Can we pray for the wrath of God, fire and brimstone, seven trumpets and the four horsemen of the Apocalypse to trod down Kerry/Edwards and the IRS?


114 posted on 10/28/2004 12:18:05 AM PDT by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (Give Them Liberty Or Give Them Death! - Islam Delenda Est! - Rumble thee forth...)
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To: Eva

Just think what it would be like if they could stop us here.


115 posted on 10/28/2004 12:18:30 AM PDT by hope (The democrats are hellbent on destroying the electoral process.)
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To: hope

Well Hope I just got back from my non tax exempt prayer time to check this post. I am dumbfounded by the few responses here that advocated non tax exempt status for churches.


116 posted on 10/28/2004 12:18:44 AM PDT by Californiajones ("The apprehension of beauty is the cure for apathy" - Thomas Aquinas)
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To: Californiajones

Psalm 37 in it's entirety.


117 posted on 10/28/2004 12:20:50 AM PDT by hope (The democrats are hellbent on destroying the electoral process.)
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To: Jim Robinson

That may be an answer, but it will only be a short term solution. Given enough time, and assuming a slippery slope of liberalism, churches will not be able to address issues like homosexuality or abortion from the pulpit either. This has become the reality in Canada, and at least one pastor in Sweden is in jail for simply reading relevent passages from the Bible. Liberalism/National Socialism will brook no resistance.


118 posted on 10/28/2004 12:23:03 AM PDT by twntaipan (demonRATs are the Nazis of our era--party uber alles is their heart cry.)
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To: hope

I'm sure that they are trying to think of a way.


119 posted on 10/28/2004 12:24:09 AM PDT by Eva
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To: Eva

bttt.


120 posted on 10/28/2004 12:26:07 AM PDT by Dec31,1999 (www.protestwarrior.com)
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