People of Faith Deliver the Election

History’s first pinko, er, “Post Modernist” academic was a guy named Socrates, an Athenian philosopher and professor who sided with the Spartans during the Peloponnesian war.

After Athens lost the war he was put on trial for “corrupting the youth”, convicted and sentenced to death. Ever since, the libs have been trying to cast this as some ancient Greek form of gay bashing. It was actually history’s first culture war. The Athenians lost this one too. They got rid of Socrates and Socrates’ pupil and fellow Sparta supporter Plato, who ran off to self imposed exile in Crete for a couple of years.

The problem was, for some reason the Athenians let Plato come and start teaching again. Plato spent the rest of his life writing books about what a great guy Socrates was had how wonderful it was to live under a really despotic form of government. Needless to say it was all down hill for Athens from then on.

The point is; academics have always liked to believe that they are smarter than everyone else. The easiest way to prove their intellectual superiority was to oppose every value their own society holds dear and tout those of their worst enemies. Socrates detested democratic Athens and supported monarchist Sparta, the academic left in the 1960s detested republican America and supported the communist Soviet Union.

Their problem today is, there is no clear enemy of freedom and tolerance that the academics can grab hold of and champion. While a lot of them might approve of the anti-globalism of radical Islam it’s kind of tough for them to walk around screaming about the separation of church and state while supporting a religious movement that demands subservience of the state to religion. This has left them to champion complete social decay, and of course hatred of everything America stands for in their eyes.

Their position is as morally bankrupt today as it has been for the past 2400 years. Hang in there. In a few years you will have moved on with your life and the professor you speak of will still be stuck in the same tired old place, planting the seeds of radical conservatism in the minds of another generation of undergrads.

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Salvation

This is such a pathetic situation.

IRS 501 c-3 is a Federal Contract (US Supreme Court decision) that "earns" Religious Corporations hundreds of millions annually, paid from the US Government coffers, as "political hush money" (a la Webster Hubble, Monica Lewinski, ad nausea). Religious Corporations agree to abstain from candidate endorsements & legislative lobbying.

REPLY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 - Church Tax-Exempt Status : Why Created in 1934 ?

2 - Church Political Success : 1919 versus 1998 (General Patton vis-à-vis Richard Simmons).

3 - Christians' "Right-to-Know" : Primary Goal of Federal Lawsuit against Dobson, Falwell and Robertson.

4 - Biblical Commands AGAINST Church Tax-Exempt Status.

5 - US Churches : Frankenstein of Religious & Secular Entities

ISSUE-1 : Birth of Church Tax-Exempt Status - As Political Hush Money

Adopted by US Congress in 1934, immediately after Prohibition Repealed. WHY ?

Liberals FEARED the Awesome Political Power of Christian churches, especially after their successful Constitutional Amendment for Prohibition in 1919. Liberals wanted to "politically castrate" the Churches, and keep them "Out of the Game" forever. IRS 501 c-3 did just that.

Church Building Programs & Sunday TV-Broadcasts get BIG BUCKS (courtesy of tax-exempt donations). Meanwhile, Prayer is removed from Public Schools, Ten-Million Babies are butchered like Dogs, and the Nation descends in an abyss of moral degeneracy.

ISSUE-2 : Who had/has more political power ?

Option-1: US Churches in 1919 (14 years BEFORE tax-exempt status) in their Campaign for Prohibition, without the benefit of CBN's satellite TV network.

Option-2: US Churches in 1998 (64 years AFTER tax-exempt status), with pathetic defeats on the Abortion Holocaust, TV Pornography, Prayer removed from Public Schools, Prayer removed from University Graduation ceremonies, an Educational Disaster, and the culmination of all abominations, President William Jefferson Clinton (with all his decayed baggage of murder, sex scandals, and unparalleled corruption).

ISSUE-3 : Why did I launch a Federal Lawsuit against Icons of the Christian Religious Right, especially since I endorse 99-percent of the Christian Socio/Political Agenda ?

To expose the leadership's "dirty little secret" about IRS 501 c-3 (et al). Lawsuit demanded that ALL church members receive an explanation of the "voluntary" political activity restrictions of Dobson, Robertson, Falwell, et al.

IRS 501 c-3 is a Federal Contract (US Supreme Court decision) that "earns" Religious Corporations hundreds of millions annually, paid from the US Government coffers, as "political hush money" (a la Webster Hubble, Monica Lewinski, ad nausea). Religious Corporations agree to abstain from candidate endorsements & legislative lobbying.

ISSUE-4 : Why is "Political Tax-Exempt Status" such a Spiritual Abomination, with Churches having a "sweetheart Deal" to not pay Federal Taxes ?

There's NO FREE LUNCH (especially from Governments), as clearly taught by Jesus Christ. His "Render Unto Caesar" acknowledged that Rome would demand a Quid Pro Quo (something in return) IF they let Him get away with not paying taxes.

(Exodus 23:8) "You shall not accept a bribe, for bribery makes the discerning man blind and the just man give a crooked answer" (NEB).

(Deuteronomy 16:19) "You shall not pervert the course of justice or show favor, nor shall you accept a bribe; for bribery makes the wise man blind and the just man give a crooked answer." (NEB)

(Matthew 6:24) "No servant can be the slave of two masters ... You cannot serve God and Money". (NEB)

Therefore, GENUINE (I surrender all) Christians are clearly forbidden to accept money or gifts for Silence on Any Issue, albeit spiritual or moral. Church tax-exempt status absolute violates God's clear requirement that Christians say whatever needs to be said, regardless of the consequences or retribution.

ISSUE-5 : US Churches : Frankenstein of Religious & Secular Entities

I’m NOT a lawyer, just an Engineer, so my knowledge of Religious Corporations was acquired slowly after many hours in the Tulane University Law Library (New Orleans).

The US Supreme Court recognizes that US churches are comprised of TWO "Separate But Equal Entities".

Just like US segregation laws before Civil Rights …

Entity A : Religious Piece / Independent of US Government Control

Legal Jurisdiction over Theology, Prayers, Hymns and other Spiritual Stuff, etc.

Entity B : Secular Piece / Potential Slaves to Federal Tax-Exempt Law

Legal Jurisdiction over Money, Property, Purchase Orders for Hymn Books, Insurance Contracts, Payroll, Corporate Officers & Boards of Directors, Zoning Permits, Water & Electric Utility Bills, Salaries, Bonuses, Air Conditioned Dog Houses, Legal Fees, TV and Radio Broadcasts.

IF --- a Religious Corporation is under IRS 501 c-3, then ALL of the Secular Stuff is UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL.

LEGAL CASE STUDY : Bob Jones University vs. United States (1973)

Bob Jones University (BJU) prohibited inter-racial dating and marriage between it’s Staff and Students. The US Justice department said this violated the "pre-eminent" policy of US Racial Integration Policies.

BJU replied that their prohibition against inter-racial dating and marriage rested EXCLUSIVELY on their Theology and Biblical Interpretation. US said that their Federal Integration Policy was more important than BJU’s theology, especially since BJU was a Federal Contractor vis-à-vis IRS 501 C-3.

US Supreme Court ruled against BJU in 1973.

BJU’s Response : Jettisoned their Tax-Exempt Status, so that they could faithfully follow their Biblical Beliefs and Convictions. Moreover, BJU was NOW free to engage in Political Activity to their heart’s content, NO LONGER SPIRITUAL SLAVES to their Federal Tax-Exempt Masters.

Copy of Federal Lawsuit available upon request.

Patton@Bastogne
Free Republic Member since 1998.

General George S. Patton Jr. Website

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They were also a critical part of the Republicans' increased majorities in the US Senate and US House as well as ensuring all eleven state referendums passed defining marriage as between a man and a woman. According to national exit polls, President Bush won 52% of the more than 31 million Catholic votes cast on Tuesday (which represents 27% of the electorate this year). Senator John Kerry, who tried to paint himself as a devout Catholic, received only 47% of the Catholic vote. This represents an eight percent net gain for the president from four years ago when Vice President Al Gore carried the Catholic vote 50%-47%. Kerry became the first Catholic from a major party to run for president and lose the Catholic vote. President Bush’s Catholic support was even greater among regular Mass-goers. He won this subgroup by a margin of 56%-43%. As many pundits predicted, the race for presidency boiled down to two swing-states: Florida and Ohio. In Florida, Bush won the Catholic vote by a margin of 57%-42% (a whopping 66%-34% among weekly Mass-goers). Ohio was similar, with the president winning Catholics 55%-44% (a 65%-35% margin among weekly Mass-goers). It is no surprise Bush did so well among Catholics considering the grass roots effort that was made. According to Martin Gillespie, Catholic Outreach Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC), the RNC targeted thirteen states with large Catholic populations, including Florida and Ohio. They identified 57,000 Catholic team leaders (up from 11,000 in January of this year) who gave out voter guides, registered new voters, and engaged in traditional get-out-the-vote efforts. “This was an organic effort at the local parish level,” says Gillespie. “These were Catholics who had a real negative impression of Kerry because he was passing himself off as one of us while ignoring major tenets of the faith.” President Bush fared well in the Protestants/Other Christians category as well. This segment composed 54% of the electorate on Tuesday. They supported the president by a margin of 59-40%. Within the block of Protestants, Bush won 78% of white Evangelicals compared with Kerry’s 21%. When you examine those among this group who attend church at least once a week, the number for the president skyrockets to 96%-4%. Analysts point to the roughly 4 million new evangelical voters this election as a critical reason for the president’s success. Jewish voters, who make up 3% of the electorate, supported Senator Kerry over the president by a margin of 74%-25%. Some thought President Bush might do better with Jews considering his unwavering support for Israel and the war in Iraq, coupled with the Democrats' tendency to support a Palestinian state. Jewish voters, however, mostly come from the Kerry “blue” states and they lean left more than other people of faith. Among voters with no faith, Kerry won 67%-31%. When asked which issue mattered most, 22% said “moral values” (20% listed the economy followed by terrorism at 19%). Those citing moral values as the most important reason for participating voted for the president 80%-18%. As for abortion, 55% of voters believe it should be legal in all or most cases. Kerry won this group by nearly 3 to 1. Forty-two percent said they believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. President Bush secured these voters by a 3 to 1 margin. Regarding gay marriage, 25% of the electorate believes gays and lesbians should be able to marry. This group supported Kerry 77%-22%. Thirty-five percent of voters feel gays and lesbians should be allowed to enter civil unions but not marry. President Bush won this group 52%-47%. Those who believe gays and lesbians should not have any recognition of their partnership represented 37% of the voters. This group heavily supported President Bush 70%-29%. With the election finally behind us, now what? One of the most important issues facing the re-elected president is filling the Supreme Court’s expected vacancies and other federal judgeships. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 80 years old, is battling thyroid cancer. He did not appear in court this week and speculation is that he is not well. There are also rumors that two more Supreme Court justices would like to retire. Democrats and the pro-abortionists in their coalition are warning the Bush administration not to stack the Court with pro-life judges. NARAL is delivering a petition to its membership that says, “Take Action! The battle for the Supreme Court starts today!” The appeal continues, “With President Bush re-elected, the next big fight is coming up fast: the battle to protect the Supreme Court.” They ask their membership to sign the petition that tells the president “that you’ll firmly oppose any Supreme Court nominee who doesn’t support Roe v. Wade.” With four more seats in the US Senate bringing the number of Republicans to 55, President Bush should have an easier time with his judicial nominations. Not only are there more senators from his party, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, the biggest obstructionist of pro-life judicial appointments, lost his re-election bid on Tuesday. This sends a clear message to any Democrat from a red state to think twice before opposing the president’s nominees. One piece of disturbing news about Supreme Court nominations came from pro-abortion Republican Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania. He is expected to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, the committee that oversees judicial appointments. According to the Associated Press, he “warned” the president on Wednesday “against putting forth Supreme Court nominees who would seek to overturn abortion rights or are otherwise too conservative to win confirmation.” Specter continued, “When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely.” This is a strange way to thank the President of the United States, who, with Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, saved Specter from a sure primary defeat against a pro-life conservative challenger earlier this year. Senator Specter is not assured of his chairmanship and statements such as these might hurt his chances of getting the job. Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, did not give Specter a ringing endorsement when asked about Specter’s chairmanship. He said, “We’ll have to see where he stands,” according to the AP. Obviously, Specter has not examined the election results carefully and has failed to understand the significance of people voting based on moral values. Specter did back off his statement somewhat on Thursday, but there is still cause for concern. People of faith can be proud of the election results, despite what Europe says. The nation is divided and the fault lines are over moral issues like abortion, gay marriage, and the overall disintegration of the popular culture. We won this battle, but the war still rages. One area where the fight continues is within the Catholic Church in America. The amount of attention placed on the Catholic voter and the level of engagement from bishops, clergy, and lay people was unprecedented this year. While it is encouraging that the president received a majority of Catholic votes, the hierarchy must address the false teachings that were so pervasive leading up to the election. There is a serious problem when bishops, clergy, professors, and other lay officials run newspaper ads claiming the sanctity of human life and protecting the unborn are not moral imperatives when choosing a candidate, but rank among many other issues. This problem must be addressed immediately. I hope the bishops can do just that when they meet in Washington, D.C. later this month. St. Thomas More, pray for us. © Copyright 2004 Catholic Exchange Craig Richardson is the founder of the recently launched Catholic Action Network, an organization committed to calling Catholics to authentic and faithful citizenship particularly on issues of life and family.