Jerry Falwell thumbs his nose at "fright letters to churches"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.falwell.com/?a=p&content=1077559813&PHPSESSID=a0acd490f7289d28bf33968a6180447c

"The leftist organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) has called for the Internal Revenue Service to revoke the tax exempt status of my church and ministry because of the content of a recent "Falwell Confidential" I wrote in which I suggested that President Bush was the candidate of choice for conservative Christians.

Barry Lynn, the former American Civil Liberties Union operative, now heads AU. You have heard me refer to AU as a "surrogate of the Democratic National Committee" (DNC). My son, Jerry Jr., Liberty University's vice-chancellor and general counsel, has suggested that Mr. Lynn rename his organization Americans United for Separation of Conservative Churches and State.

About this time each election year, AU sends what I term a "fright letter" to thousands of conservative evangelical pastors, telling them - quite incorrectly - that any use of voter guides, political discourse or other such activity could result in a loss of tax-exempt status for their churches.

Despite the huffing and puffing of groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State or People for the American Way, they are no more powerful than the wolf blowing against the little pig's brick house. I am sure that these organizations will try to terrorize pastors into silence, but everyone should know that, instead of a muzzle, this case is actually a megaphone for churches."

[Generic Other]

1. Oink Oink Jerry! Who's the little pig?

LOL

Render unto Caesar, you skank! Real patriots pay their taxes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. You tell him!

Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Well...

the IRS has been sending out its own "fright letters" to churhces telling them that advocatong a candidate is grounds for losing their tax-exempt status.

Can't help but wonder if they would actually take on Falwell, though. Sounds like he's clling out the IRS to see if they've got the stones.

[sangh0]

4. The IRS has gone after Falwell before

and got him.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. You're right...

not exactly authoritative, but no need to search more after finding this one:

http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=91824

(But, methinks the IRS might be less likely to act now.)

"Lynn noted that the IRS in 1993 retroactively revoked the tax-exempt status of Falwell's television ministry, the Old Time Gospel Hour, for the years 1986 and 1987 after determining that the group had improperly channeled funds into a PAC supporting congressional candidates.

Falwell is apparently still smarting from that action. On CNBC's "Capital Report" July 2, AU's Lynn reminded Falwell of his run-in with the IRS. Falwell denied it had ever happened.

"Never," Falwell shouted. "Never. Never. Not one minute. Not one second. You are wrong.... Never one second did we lose our tax exemption." He later added, "You are telling a lie right now, Barry."

In fact, the revocation of the Old Time Gospel Hour's tax-exempt status is a matter of public record. On April 7, 1993, The New York Times reported that the IRS in February of that year revoked the Old Time Gospel Hour's tax-free status retroactively for two years for diverting assets and personnel to a political action committee. Falwell also had to pay $50,000 in back taxes. The federal agency required the ministry to issue a public statement signed by Falwell reporting the settlement."

[criticalmass]

5. Falwell used to be opposed to preachers getting involved in politics

So says conservative author Alan Crawford in Thunder on the Right.

It was during the Civil Rights era, which Falwell was on the wrong side of, so I take it to mean Falwell didn't appreciate preachers pointing out to their congregations that racism isn't compatible with Jesus' "love thy neighbor" teachings.

Excellent book, BTW, if you can find a copy.

[AirAmFan]

6. Sounds like it's the IRS Falwell is flouting, not AU or PFAW

The IRS itself recently sent its annual letter warning nonprofits about political activities that could endanger their tax exemptions:

From http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/eo_letter.pdf

"...organizations may encourage people to participate in the electoral process by sponsoring debates or forums to educate voters, distributing voter guides, or conducting voter registration or get-out-the-vote drives. If the debate or forum, voter guide, or voter registration or get-out-the-vote drive shows a preference for or against a certain candidate or party, however, it becomes a prohibited activity.

Thus, under Federal law tax-exempt charitable organizations are prohibited from endorsing any candidates, making donations to their campaigns, engaging in fund-raising, distributing statements, or becoming involved in any other activities that may be beneficial or detrimental to any candidate. Even activities that encourage people to vote for or against a particular candidate on the basis of nonpartisan criteria violate the political campaign prohibition of section 501(c)(3).

The federal courts have upheld this prohibition on political campaign activity, most recently in Branch Ministries v. Rossotti, 211 F.3d 137 (D.C. Cir. 2000). The courts have held that it is not unconstitutional for the tax law to impose conditions, such as the political campaign prohibition, upon exemption from federal income tax."