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Showing posts with the label pulput politicking

Congressional Investigation of TV Preachers Falls Flat, Very Flat

In 2007 U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) announced that committee staff would investigate six TV ministries that might have been abusing their non-profit status. A staff memo delivered to Grassley yesterday reports on the findings, including lack of cooperation from four of the six ministries being examined. I've got to ask why it took 3 years to investigate 2 TV ministries? That seems like an very long time for such an investigation. Oh that's right, I forgot they were doing it on the taxpayer's dime! It get's worse. The report delivered to Grassley yesterday includes a recommendation that Congress do away with the federal tax law ban on partisan political activity by non-profit groups. Quite frankly, I personally belief the federal government should stop playing footsie on this and start enforcing the law. Many religious groups have been reported for pulpit politicking but very few have been punished. The government won't enforce the law and by this lac...

IRS Should Investigate South Dakota Church That Endorsed Gubernatorial Candidate, Says Americans United

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service about a Rapid City, S.D., church whose pastor endorsed a gubernatorial candidate during a church service. The Rev. H. Wayne Williams, pastor of Liberty Baptist Tabernacle, endorsed state Sen. Gordon Howie, who was seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Williams’ May 16 endorsement from the pulpit was reported in a press release by the Howie campaign and in the Rapid City Journal. “This church is tax exempt and may not intervene in elections,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “ In a letter to the IRS today, Lynn outlined the case against Liberty Baptist. He noted that Howie’s campaign issued a press release on May 18 trumpeting the endorsement. In that press release, Williams stated, “I have no fear of the I.R.S.” Read full press release www.GayTalkRadio.org a 24/7 LGBTQIA Licensed Independent Internet Radio Station. Visit,...