Posted on 04/16/2003 2:27:45 PM PDT by 2nd_Amendment_Defender
The Internal Revenue Service is denying the tax-exempt status of a religious organization simply because of that organization's religious views ... in effect, CENSORING the message and work of the organization!
We have taken this case and have filed suit.
In this critically important free speech case, the I.R.S. has DENIED a prominent Christian organization tax-exempt status for being "too political."
What's especially outrageous about this is the fact that the I.R.S. has taken no action against other organizations - such as NARAL: Pro-Choice America, the Democratic Leadership Conference, and other organizations - that hold a different point of view and are clearly "political" ... Yet they have NOT been denied tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
Please understand: This is a FREEDOM issue; not a "money" issue.
If the I.R.S. is free to apply financial penalties to Christian organizations simply because of their religious viewpoint, then the federal government can restrict ANY tax-exempt Christian organizations' freedom to speak out on any issue ...
... and these organizations could be punished for expressing their views on:
* abortion
* anti-family legislation
* the tyranny of the United Nations
* the war against terrorism and issues of national security
* public display of the Ten Commandments
* the validity of the phrase "One nation under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance
* or any other issues of the day!
In this trying hour, with our freedoms threatened by enemies around the world, it's infuriating - heartbreaking - to see our freedoms undermined from within, and by an agency of our own government!
So YES, WE ARE FIGHTING BACK.
* We are in the middle of the lawsuit in U.S. District Court.
* We are committed to pursuing this case all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, if necessary.
* We will argue that the I.R.S. has created vague, even unintelligible regulations, leaving them with unbridled authority.
In fact, we've been working on this case for some time already - and as you read these words we are making our final preparations for trial. The implications are ENORMOUS.
If the court upholds the power of the I.R.S., who will be able to freely speak out on the important issues of the day?
If we win this case, however, it will allow Christian organizations to continue to speak out without fear of reprisals from the I.R.S., so that this agency of the government can no longer function as the "speech police."
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Please, if you can, give a gift to help us with this case and all of our work across the country.
They are filing suit on behalf of some unnamed Christian organization. They're the lawyers, not the client.
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