Religious Left

All across the globe we see division. Of course it’s always been that way too some degree due to geographical boundaries. In the past this was acceptable since communication and transportation for the masses was limited or not available. But the Internet has changed that. More people in more places can directly communicate with others more readily than ever before in human history. One would logically feel this should bring forth high volumes of humanity. One would think human suffering would be quickly addressed. Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world. Unfortunately, greed has taken over. Weather it be money, power, land or all of the above we have a world where a very very small percentage of the population controls the vast majority of wealth! This is a recipe for disaster, especially since that very very small percentage want it ALL. They will never be content with their vast riches and their greed will destroy all of us as well as themselves. Greed, like Love, is b...

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about six churches whose pastors endorsed candidates from the pulpit during a mass defiance of federal tax law last Sunday. “These pastors flagrantly violated the law and now must deal with the consequences,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. The six churches reported to the IRS by Americans United today are: Bethlehem Baptist Church, Bethlehem, Ga.: According to press accounts, Pastor Jody Hice “urged his congregation to vote for Sen. John McCain and to not vote for Sen. Barack Obama.” Fairview Baptist Church, Fairview, Okla.: The Associated Press reported that Pastor Paul Blair “says he told his congregation that as a Christian and as an American citizen, he would be voting for John McCain.” Warroad Community Church, Warroad, Minn.: Pastor Gus Booth told his congregation, “We need to vote for the most righteous of candidates. And it doesn...

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Rev. Jody Hice fired a verbal volley Sunday in a battle that he believes will return the United States to its American Revolutionary roots. From his pulpit at Bethlehem First Baptist Church outside of Atlanta, he urged his congregation to vote for Sen. John McCain and to not vote for Sen. Barack Obama. He based his recommendations on McCain’s opposition to abortion and gay marriage and Obama’s support of those issues, Hice told the Barrow County church packed with about 400 listeners. full article

By DINESH RAMDE Associated Press WEST BEND, Wis. (AP) — Pastor Luke Emrich prepared his sermon this week knowing his remarks could invite an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. But that was the whole point, so Emrich forged ahead with his message: Thou shalt vote according to the Scriptures. "I'm telling you straight up, I would choose life," Emrich told about 100 worshippers Sunday at New Life Church, a nondenominational evangelical congregation about 40 miles from Milwaukee. "I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin," he said. "But friends, it's your choice to make, it's not my choice. I won't be in the voting booth with you." full article

Americans United for separation of church and state The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group based in Arizona, is urging pastors to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit on Sept. 28, even though IRS regulations forbid tax-exempt groups from intervening in political campaigns. Reportedly, about 30 churches will participate. “Taking part in this reckless stunt is a one-way ticket to loss of tax exemption,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “We’ll be watching, and pastors who violate the law can expect their churches to be reported to the IRS the first thing Monday morning.” Since 1996, Americans United has sponsored Project Fair Play, an effort designed to educate religious leaders about the requirements of federal tax law. AU has filed complaints to the IRS about 85 houses of worship and religious non-profits. One church lost its tax exemption, some have been audited and others have received IRS warnings. Americans United’s...

By REV. DR. CYNTHIA LOVE On Tax Day, April 15, clergy are gathering outside Atlanta's regional post office to protest the financial and legal inequities facing their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parishioners. To some it might be surprising to see faith leaders standing up for economic justice. Aren't faith leaders supposed to be concerned with our souls? Why are they coming out on tax day to talk about our pocket books? As faith leaders it's time to clarify what we mean by economic justice and why it is a fundamentally religious issue. Economic justice is not about getting a tax break to go to the Bahamas. Economic justice is about the life and death decisions that affect all of us. It's about who will take care of the kids if a partner suffers from an unforeseen illness; it's about older LGBT couples making the gut wrenching decision to go 'back in the closet' in order to get assisted living care; it's about establishing a nest egg for our par...