Posted on 06/02/2009 4:49:19 PM PDT by jobim
A Brief Recap
Not long ago, the IRS went after Catholic Answers and imposed fines on the ministry.
Our crime?
I wrote in one of my E-letters that 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry shouldn’t be allowed to receive Holy Communion because of his pro-abortion voting record and public advocacy of child-killing.
Now, it’s important to note that at no time did I or anyone at Catholic Answers tell people whom to vote for or whom not to vote for.
We merely stated our view that pro-abortion Catholic politicians should not be allowed to receive Holy Communion.
Well, for this simple statement of Catholic belief and practice . . .
The IRS Slapped Us with Fines and Taxes!
Turns out, it was Frances Kissling of the pro-abortion “Catholics for a Free Choice” who sicced the IRS pit bulls on us.
She hated our very successful Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics, which was read by more than 20 million American voters—and merely educated Catholics on the “five non-negotiable” moral issues of our time (abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, and homosexual “marriage”).
The voter’s guide did not mention any candidates or political parties. It simply talked about Catholic teaching on these five major issues.
For that reason, the IRS actually cleared the guide of any violations.
It did, however, come after us for my remark about John Kerry and Holy Communion. It claimed that this was “intervening” in the election—which is preposterous.
And Therein Lies the Root of the Problem . . .
You see, for many decades the IRS has been using very vague criteria to intimidate churches, non-profit organizations, and ministries into silence on moral issues that are being debated in the political realm.
The intimidation has become so bad that nowadays, most churched and non-profits in America are scared to death even to talk about moral issues that are deemed “political” (such as abortion).
If you’re wondering why you don’t hear more about abortion in your parish, especially during election time, this is why. It’s IRS intimidation.
For instance, in many cases, Catholic parishioners have been forbidden by their pastors or diocesan leaders to distribute our Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics.
All of this tail-between-the-legs cowering comes from the IRS’ ability to intimidate churches and non-profits into silence on political issues.
And it’s simply wrong.
For the IRS to claim that a non-profit organization cannot even so much as talk about a political candidate or ballot issue is something that must be strenuously opposed.
So, on the advice of our attorneys, we decided that we must litigate this erroneous standard in order to fight for the rights of all non-profit organizations, which includes all churches.
And that’s exactly what we’ve done.
On April 3, 2009, our battle with the IRS officially began.
We’re suing the IRS for violating our First Amendment rights . . . for slapping us with a fine for exercising our free speech rights . . . and for intimidating all non-profit organizations into silence.
Good luck with that Karl.
And while you’re at it, tell Joysong who still swims in your cesspool of a forum while you tossed all the trads, Netmilsmom says hello. Oh and btw, she still looks silly doing the Orans, the old hippy.
Be careful - if you think about it, a Muslim or Jewsih or Hindu group could claim the same freedom to endorse it’s issues - and that might lead to justifying the preaching of religious, civil, and any hatred and violence in mosques or shrines or temples. Instead, form a registered political group and encourage every church member to join the political arm - thus complying with the law - separate religious speech from political speech, and you have beat them at their own system.
We were in Cedarburg, WI. THe guides were picked up and destroyed. In 2008 we were warned in advance.
MAY GOD BLESS THEIR EFFORTS WITH THIS SUIT.
MAY GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED.
MAY THE OFFICIALS AND BUREAUCRATS INVOLVED BE HUMILIATED AND FEAR FOR THEIR ETERNAL SOULS.
IN JESUS’ NAME. AMEN.
May all who agree with the above prayer, pray as led in agreement, earnestly.
Our crime? I wrote in one of my E-letters that 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry shouldn't be allowed to receive Holy Communion because of his pro-abortion voting record and public advocacy of child-killing. Now, it's important to note that at no time did I or anyone at Catholic Answers tell people whom to vote for or whom not to vote for. We merely stated our view that pro-abortion Catholic politicians should not be allowed to receive Holy Communion.
Amen!
For the suit, not for Catholic Answers itself though.
Although Karl is doing the right thing here, he would get more sympathy if Catholic answers was more Catholic than it currently is.
I disagree. Religious groups could not claim the right to threaten or promote acts of violence by any principle of law as stated in the Keating suit. Keating is talking about receiving Holy Communion, not killing Democrats. Religious exemptions don't get you out of actual crimes. That is, unless you have a wise Latina woman with rich experience and a big can hearing your case.
I think Keating is right to pursue his suit. He caught the IRS red-handed, and he'll win. It will help conservative candidates big-time.
True.
Especially the Forums.
They opened a “Traditional Catholics” forum. Got us all into one spot, let the Progressives go to town on us, then tossed a whole bunch of us for being mean.
Some of us had been there for years without so much as a warning. I got a flag in the morning (didn’t even know about it) then got tossed for an “LOL” on a blog off site. I kid you not.
One girl groveled and got back on. I would not.
Hi netmilsmom,You left their forum.I have a hard enough doing a little TV and radio let alone the forum stuff.
No actually, their forum left me!
And Karin, Dr Bombay, Detroit Sue etc....
You seem not to be the writer jobim and just a poster.The IRS goes after people of non-profits who make 100,000.00 a year.I called them and they told me that.What do the people at Catholic Answer’s make? I don’t know.If you want an open voice pay your taxes like anybody else.I am waiting for them to lock up the Pope when he comes to America and speaks about Homo’s and abortion.
Well the beat goes on.God Bless you Beautiful.
Hey, and I haven’t been on your homepage in a while.
The babies are beautiful!!!!!!!
Oh that’s so sad.
Prayers going up!
(and pm me when the new pictures are up!)
REALLY?!?
I’ll get out my rosary blessed by B16. I use it for only special occasions.
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