Mike posted: "IRS Strikes Deal With Atheists To Monitor Churches
Investors Business Daily, 7/31/14 First Amendment: Government’s assault on
religious liberty has hit a new low as the IRS settles with atheists by
promising to monitor sermons for mentions of the ri" Respond to this
post by replying above this line
New post on *Fellowship of the Minds*
<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/howrightismike/> IRS Strikes Deal
with Atheists to Monitor Churches and Sermons
<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2014/08/07/irs-strikes-deal-with-atheists-to-monitor-churches-and-sermons/>
by
Mike <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/howrightismike/>
IRS Strikes Deal With Atheists To Monitor Churches
Investors Business Daily, 7/31/14
First Amendment: Government’s assault on religious liberty has hit a new
low as the IRS settles with atheists by promising to monitor sermons for
mentions of the right to life and traditional marriage.
A lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation
(FFRF) asserted that the Internal Revenue Service ignored complaints about
churches’ violating their tax-exempt status by routinely promoting
political issues, legislation and candidates from the pulpit.
The FFRF has temporarily withdrawn its suit in return for the IRS’s
agreement to monitor sermons and homilies for proscribed speech that the
foundation believes includes things like condemnation of gay marriage and
criticism of ObamaCare for its contraceptive mandate.
The irony of this agreement is that it’s being enforced by the same Tax
Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS that was once headed by
Lois “Fifth Amendment” Lerner and that openly targeted Tea Party and other
conservative groups.
Among the questions that the IRS asked of those targeted groups was the
content of their prayers.
Those who objected to the monitoring of what is said and done in mosques
for signs of terrorist activity have no problem with this one, though
monitoring what’s said in houses of worship is a clear violation of the
First Amendment. Can you say “chilling effect”?
Congress can make no laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. So
it’s not clear where the IRS gets off doing just that by spying on
religious leaders lest they comment on issues and activities by government
that are contrary to or impose on their religious consciences. Our country
was founded by people fleeing this kind of government-monitored and
mandated theology last practiced in the Soviet Union.
The FFRF cites as its authority the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which states
that tax-exempt groups cannot endorse candidates. A 2009 court ruling
determined that the IRS must staff someone to monitor church politicking.
The FFRF claims that the IRS has not adhered to the ruling and that the
settlement amounts to enforcing both the Johnson Amendment and the court
ruling.
But is the Catholic Church “politicking” when it proclaims its “Fortnight
for Freedom” dedicated to opposing ObamaCare’s contraceptive mandate and
the government’s forcing schools and charities it considers an extension of
its faith to include it in insurance coverage or face crippling fines?
Are Protestant and evangelical churches “politicking” when they participate
in “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” this year on Oct. 5 to encourage congregations
to “vote their faith,” which they consider to be an exercise of free speech
and freedom of religion?
The FFRF says that such events at “rogue churches” have “become an annual
occasion for churches to violate the law with impunity.” But doesn’t the
Constitution say that Congress can make no such laws?
Rather than “rogue churches,” it’s the rogue IRS that needs to be stopped.
*Mike <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/howrightismike/>* | August
7, 2014 at 2:11 pm | Tags: atheists
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