Posted on 10/26/2008 1:19:03 PM PDT by TheBattman
A group that supports the false philosophy of separation of church and state has filed action against another pastor for having his say about politics.
Bishop Robert E. Smith is senior pastor at Word of Outreach and Christian Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Americans United for Separation of Church and State has lodged a complaint against him for endorsing John McCain for president from the pulpit on October 12.
"Bishop Smith knowingly and flagrantly violated the law and has even dared the IRS to investigate him for it," says Americans United leader Barry Lynn in a press release. "I hope the federal tax agency promptly takes him up on that."
But Smith contends the law upon which the complaint was filed with the Internal Revenue Service is unconstitutional.
"Congress cannot make any law that prohibits the free exercise of my faith," the pastor explains. "So a part of my faith as a minister is not only to deal with issues, but to deal with the people who are making the laws that affect the issues -- because I preach a two-sided gospel: the gospel of Christ for salvation, and the gospel of the kingdom for the political stability of its people. So that gets into politics."
The Arkansas pastor remembers a time when pastors could speak freely from the pulpit -- and did. "Well, that's the way it has been," he laments, "but since it's coming out in the form as it is now, a lot of the pastors are getting cold feet and they're backing up."
Smith is one of 33 pastors around the country who have spoken from the pulpit on political candidates and issues as part of Alliance Defense Fund's project to challenge the law and generate a lawsuit to take the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court. Complaints have been filed with the IRS against seven churches so far.
What about those "certain" churches that have ONLY liberal Democrat candidates come in and speak from their PULPITs???? I can't help but think about how Clinton seemed to make a point of speaking from the pulpit of several well-known black churches... and I don't recall any IRS investigations of those churches.
And I don't see some other "certain" churches who's pastor screams "God Dxmn America" from the Pulpit being investigated.
I guess it is true that liberals get a free pass on the law (and unconstitutional judgments)....
Any IRS agent that steps into a church to investigate something like this should be jailed.
My pastor, a RC priest, came very very close to telling us this morning that to vote for Obama was a serious sin because abortion is an intrinsic evil. There was lots of room in the readings to talk about illegal immigration and helping our neighbor, peace and justice stuff but this usually liberal priest says that we cannot worry about civil rights for someone unless they are alive. It was difficult for him to give this sermon but give it he did.
This fraudulent law was put through by LBJ. It is not and has never been part of the body of law passed down from the time the Constitution and Bill of Rights was being discussed.
Now THIS is a case to be thown out, and legitimately so, based upon Lack of Standing.
That's because the Dems have good lawyers
What you do is have the campaign RENT the church for a campaign event. This rental for the event coincidentally occurs at a time that would otherwise be scheduled for church services. So the Dem ISN'T speaking from the pulpit in a church -- he's speaking from the podium at a Party event in a rented facility.
Ugh. Once again the most dysfunctional administration in modern history scores an “own goal†against the people. Of course, there will be no investigations into Hussein’s former church or any other pro-Hussein clergy.
Nail on the head!
I hope that the Alliance Defence Fund is able to win this. Church's should be able to help people apply theology/belief into issues that apply to their daily lives.
It is my understanding the Wright has endorsed specific people for office, a clear violation of the law, and case for IRS investigation.
Quite often, except for the heads of these government bureaucracies — whom the lower level managers and muckymucks view as quadrenniel pains-in-the-ass — the lower management and rank-and-filers run their own agendas.
If one considers that those who seek employment in these agencies are often those who cannot make it (or even make the effort TO make it) on the “outside,” and/or on personal power trips or downright abusive/sadistic, it then becomes easy to see how these sorts of things happen. While there are SOME good people in places like the IRS, MOST of the good ones don’t stay too long. The general rule, especially at IRS, is that the scum rises to the top.
I’ll retract these observations as soon as the IRS drops this “intimidation” — er — “INVESTIGATION” or goes after Farakahn, Jesse Jackson and Gerald Wright.
And what we have here is reason NUMBER ONE to abolish the IRS and put in place the FAIRTAX.
It might be wise to check out the antecedents of the management and funding of the group challenging the pastor. Believe me what is happening is a total all out assault on Western Civilization, its religion, politics, philosophy, arts, economics and social structure. The ones doing the assault are those that were once excluded from our society and political life for various reasons. You have eyes to see-LOOK! You have ears to hear LISTEN!
I seem to remember a time in the 2004 (and 2000) election where Kerry and Clintons were openly having a democratic pep rally at a black church or two or three...
Were they ever investigated? They were even waving Dems banners.
Will the IRS go after Rev. Wright & his church too??????
While I hate mixing politics in my church, regardless of which side is being endorsed, I think this is between the congregation and the pastor. The IRS has no business getting involved unless there is political fund raising going on.
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