-Caveat Lector-
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for June 10, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
AANEWS
#585 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6/10/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
---------------------------------------------
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"Leading The Way For Atheist Civil Rights
And The Separation Of State and Church"
----------------------------------------------
In This Issue...
* IRS -- No tax break for Coalition
* Robertson resigns from Laura Ashley board
* Resources
* About this list...
IRS: NO TAX EXEMPTION FOR CHRISTIAN COALITION
In a setback for one of America's major religious right political
groups, the Internal Revenue Service has reportedly concluded that the
Christian Coalition is not entitled to a tax-exempt status. A report
in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper claims that in a confidential
IRS document delivered recently to the coalition, the Service found
that the organization, founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, was not
an educational group but rather acted as a political arm in favor of
the Republican Party. University of Miami law professor Francis Hill
told the Times, "It is suggesting that the real activities were in
substantial part to influence the outcome of elections."
The Times adds that the existence and contents of the document were
confirmed by former Christian Coalition field director Dave Welch, who
departed from the organization last March. The group has been
undergoing a major reorganization in recent months, including the
removal of numerous key officials such as its former President, Randy
Tate. News reports suggest that Pat Robertson is "clearing the decks"
at the Coalition in anticipation of the year 2000 elections.
The Times and other media sources report "disintegration" within the
Coalition, as well as claims that Robertson has angered many religious
Christian conservatives by defending Texas Gov. George Bush as
"profoundly pro-life" on the abortion rights question. In addition,
the shakeup at the Coalition seems to have resulted in a decline in
the number of active CC chapters; the paper notes that only six states
now have active chapters, "down from a peak of between 20 and 25
several years ago."
The IRS investigation had focused on the Coalition's extensive use of
voters guide. Critics charged that the guides were simplistic and
slanted to favor Coalition-backed candidates -- mostly Republicans --
and were distinctly partisan. Democrats campaigning for public office
have complained that the guides frequently distorted their real views
on social issues, and were distributed near election day deadlines,
thus making a response difficult. An estimated 37 million of the
guides and other political materials were distributed by the coalition
in the last national elections.
The paper also reports that a law partner of Christian Coalition
attorney Alan Dye, Frank Northam, has already incorporated a new group
known as The Christian Coalition of America. "Former coalition
staffers say the new organization expects to file an application for
tax exemption and continue to operate under this new umbrella group
while the application is pending," added Times writer Mary Jacoby.
A statement issued this morning by Pat Robertson announced, "Christian
Coalition of America will continue to be a force in American politics
and it will remain a prominent fixture on the political landscape as
the nation's number-one, pro-family, pro-life organization." There is
already speculation, though, about what the IRS ruling means, and how
it could affect both Robertson's political machine and other religious
right groups. The Coalition has reportedly spent more than it has
collected in donations, so IRS may not be able to assess any tax
liability. Former staffers seem disenchanted with Robertson, though,
and may be looking in search of new political vehicles. Mr. Welch is
working with Vision America which is described as a "group of pastors
. which hopes to fill any voice left by the Christian Coalition."
Vision America is based in Chicago, Illinois, and describes itself as
a conservative Republican organization.
Despite this setback, Robertson appears to be moving ahead with his
goal of raising $21 million for the year 2000 elections. Robertson
unveiled that ambitious program at a press conference in March,
describing it as "the most massive effort to mobilize the grass roots
in our history" and "the largest voter education in this history of
the organization (Christian Coalition), and possibly in the history of
grassroots politics." The effort will include distribution of more
than 75 million voter guides in the 2000 election; a "tenfold"
expansion in the group's political field staff, especially in key
states including New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and
Illinois; training of 1.5 million field volunteers "to mobilize
evangelical voters"; and "energizing" a political base of up to 15
million fundamentalist and evangelical Christians to trek to the polls
in 2000 and follow Robertson's line in choosing candidates and
referendum issues.
Barry Lynn of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
greeted the reported IRS decision with enthusiasm, saying that "This
is a devastating blow to TV preacher Pat Robertson's political
ambitions." He added that Robertson's "crusade to politicize
America's churches is now almost certain to fail." But it remains
unclear how the tax service's ruling would prevent Robertson and his
new group from similar politicking; in addition, religious groups both
right and left seem to be increasingly active in promoting candidates
and their respective social agendas. In Philadelphia, for instance,
the Roman Catholic Archdiocese has announced plans to distribute its
own voters guides for parishioners, outlining political candidates'
stands on abortion rights, homosexuality, vouchers and other pet
issues. And the line between church and state is blurring further, as
both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates seek to cash in
on the "family values" agenda by talking about god and role of
religion in public life. Vice President Al Gore has even gone as far
as to support "charitable choice" and aide to sectarian religious
groups in what he describes as a "New Partnership" between government
and faith-based groups.
**
ROBERTSON RESIGNS FROM LAURA ASHLEY BOARD
First, it was the IRS ruling on the tax-exempt status of his Christian
Coalition.
Then, there was a public outcry over his involvement with the Bank of
Scotland to launch an internet financial deal, after he described
Scotland as a "dark" land populated by powerful homosexuals.
Now, he's had to resign as director of a major retail firm.
In yet another setback for his private business career, American
televangelist Pat Robertson has resigned from the board of directors
of the Laura Ashley company, a U.K.-based retail firm specializing in
fabrics and fashions. That move follows calls for Robertson's removal
from the post he has held since January, 1999. Robertson owns 2
million shares of the company worth an estimated $450,000; his rise at
Laura Ashley coincided with a major corporate investment and
reorganization, including the appointment of a new chairman linked to
a Malaysian group Robertson's is partnered with to provide "no news,
no sex, no violence" television programming throughout China and much
of Asia.
Robertson's resignation comes just after the collapse of a deal with
the prestigious Bank of Scotland to provide internet and telephone
banking services in the United States. Bloomberg financial and other
sources described the new venture as "worth billions," and a lucrative
Initial Public Offering (IPO) was expected shortly on the NASDAQ
exchange. But word then leaked of Robertson's comments on his "700
Club" television show, where he described Scotland as a dark country
populated by "powerful" homosexuals. Bank of Scotland customers had
been canceling their private accounts in protest of the firm's
association with Robertson, and major patrons such as the Trade Union
Council announced that they intended to sever relations with the bank
as well. Last Friday, following a meeting between Robertson and Bank
of Scotland executive Peter Burt, it was announced that the financial
services deal was being dissolved.
At Laura Ashley, several key shareholders were already agitating for
Robertson's removal. The preacher managed to survive one vote to
remove him, but human rights and gay organizations, including the
protest group Outrage! then increased pressure on the retailing firm.
The London Times noted on Monday that Ashley "is to become the next
target of protesters who have successfully campaigned against the Bank
of Scotland's alliance with Pat Robertson, the right-wing American
millionaire evangelist."
An Outrage! organizer told media, "We were unaware that Laura Ashley
had any dealings with this man (Robertson) until last week. I'm sure
we can arrange a colorful protest to get our viewpoint across."
George Broadhead of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association said that
his group was "horrified that a well-respected company like Laura
Ashley should invite such a homophobe to be a director...My own living
room is decorated with Laura Ashley wallpaper, and I suspect that many
gay people are fans of the company's products. I shall be looking
elsewhere for furnishings in the future..."
Both Bank of Scotland and Laura Ashley were low key in announcing
Robertson's association with their respective firms. BOS provided a
scant biography of Robertson to media, and the Ashley company
described the Christian Coalition founder as "a noted media pioneer,
educator, philanthropist and religious broadcaster..."
Despite the financial setbacks with Ashley and the Bank of Scotland,
Robertson is moving ahead not only with his political plans for the
year 2000 election, but in two key financial deals. These are the
restart of the aging Powerine oil refinery near Los Angeles, and a
gold mining venture recently announced in partnership with the
government of Liberia.
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS...
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