Pastors supporting Huckabee receive anonymous letters

[Pirate Smile]

Pastors supporting Huckabee receive anonymous letters
ASSOCIATED PRESS • January 2, 2008

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Some Iowa pastors who support Republican Mike Huckabee for president say they have received letters warning them that getting involved in politics could endanger the tax-exempt status of their churches.

Several pastors who have publicly backed Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister who has support from many evangelicals, said they have received the letters, which have no return address. They have arrived in the weeks leading to Thursday's precinct caucuses.

Two letters were sent to the Rev. Brad Sherman, of Solid Rock Christian Church in Coralville. The first arrived a couple weeks ago and warned that he could be prosecuted for his support of Huckabee.

"I just laughed. No one lands in jail for this," Sherman said. "Somebody is trying to intimidate Christians from getting involved."

A second letter came today. It alleged that the Internal Revenue Service is looking for churches that back candidates in violation of tax rules and mentioned Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican who has sought information about spending by high-profile ministries.

The Rev. Kevin Hollinger, of First Baptist Church in Algona, has received three similar letters. Although Hollinger has endorsed Huckabee, he hasn't urged his congregation to support a particular candidate.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080102/NEWS/80102063

[Yael]

1. As a Christian, I say GOOD. The pulpit is not the place for political pandering

I don't care what party/affiliation you are with.

That is a rule of 501(c) NFP status and rightfully so.

Our founding fathers did not leave one theocracy to start another one.

[jwirr]

3. Exactly. These people who use churches as political centers should

be prosecuted and their churches should lose the tax-exempt status.

[Yael]

6. From your lips... n/t

[NastyRiffraff]

2. Heh. I love it when Republicans start to eat their own.

Huckabee has a lot of Republicans worried. Good for him. I'd never ever vote for him, but he is providing some entertainment.

[ingac70]

4. No doubt the corporate whore wing of Repubs are behind this....

I love watching this schism in the Repub party widen!

[ingac70]

5. I will giggle my ass off....

If an investigation of this leads straight to Republicans.