In Warroad, Minnesota, pastor Gus Booth, a delegate to the Republican National Convention, is openly challenging IRS restrictions on church involvement in political campaigns. In May, Booth delivered a sermon telling his congregation not to vote for either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama because of their positions on abortion. Two weeks later Booth e-mailed Americans United for Separation of Church and State saying:
Yesterday a press release from Americans United and the Minneapolis Star Tribune report on developments. Yesterday, AU wrote the IRS urging them to investigate (full text of letter).I am writing you to let you know that I preached a sermon in my church on Sunday, May 18, 2008, that specifically addressed the current candidates for President in the light of the Bible. As you can see from the attached newspaper article, I specifically made recommendations as to who a Christian should vote for.
I have read in the past about how you have a campaign to intimidate churches into silence when it comes to speaking about candidates for office. I am letting you know that I will not be intimidated into silence when I believe that God wants me to address the great moral issues of the day, including who will be our next national leader.
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What a goofball. Wants to have it both ways. Start paying taxes on your superstition!
I agree. He doesn't have to be "intimidated into silence". Just start paying taxes and he'll be fine.
Have you read his so called sermon, assuming this is the same one I am thinking of, and not some new nut? This is someone both totally nuts *and* completely stupid. And, in my experience, people like that *always* think that freedom of religion means, "I get to do any damn thing I please, and anyone that says otherwise is conspiring the destroy Christianity!"
Why does my church have to pay taxes in order to have free speach?
Gus, all 501(c)(3) organizations, not just churches, are prohibited from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office, or using their resources to influence legislation.
There are two reasons for this rule. First, churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations are supposed to be working for the public good, not using their resources to influence the outcome of elections. Second, tax laws already exist for organizations (political action committees) that want to support or oppose candidates. Blurring the distinction between charitable organizations and political action committees undermines our campaign-finance laws.
In 1992, a church in New York ran a full-page ad in USA Today opposing Bill Clinton, saying that voting for him would be a sin. The church solicited tax-exempt donations to help pay for the ad. The IRS stripped the church of its tax exempt status, and federal courts upheld that action when the church sued.
Bottom line: your church can either be a charitable organization or it can be a political action committee, but not both. If your church chooses the latter, fine. Play by the rules and pay your taxes.
Still waiting for AU to file a complaint on Trinity UCC.
Oh wait. I forgot. The prohibition doesn't apply to liberal pastors endorsing Obama and criticizing Hillary from the pulpit. My bad.
The law applies to all churches not just white churches. I saw Barrack this past weekend standing in the pulpit preaching about deadbeat dads and nothing was said about that. You see democrats all the time in churches as well as black pastors endorsing democrats. We need to start revoking their tax exempt status.
Barraks pastor ,Jeremiah Wright, and others like, Jessie Jackson, Al Shrapton, can say anything they want in the pulpit,Politcal,and or racist slurs, But let a white, Bible believing Christian say something, wow, the power of IRS, ACLU,and the likes of the tratior to the faith Barry Lynn come out in force, "some animals are more equal than others I suppose."
in this animal farm society.
People need to face the facts: the greatness of this country and the blessings of this country are directly tied to the moral Biblical foundations by which this country was concived and founded and established. Only those who are ignorant of history and void of understanding do notunderstand the time honored and tried principals and the perservative nature of moral principals that has kept our country safe, good and benevolent, and prosperous for the past 200 years. These ignorant ranters will by thier ignorance, "Kill the goose that laid the golden egg" and replace it with people waving rainbow flags demanding that they be treated more equal than the rest of the society. Jesus did not die for our Rights he died for our wrongs!
Sin is a reproach to any nation and will slowly but surely bring forth death to any and all who engage in such activity.
Edward Owen
Boise Idaho
Umm...pardon me. So sad that the majority in this room are jumping to conclusions of whom this pastor is when, really A)he/she does not personally know him nor have talked to him,and b) believe that Pastor Booth is a "wacko" or "nut" because he/she could be or are brainwashed by what the media dictates to him/her and sadly, did not come to this conclusion about him themselves without the bias of the media. Wow....I'd also like to address certain comments. Like for example.."start paying taxes on your superstition" Let us look at what superstition is defined as according to Webster : 1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
2.
1. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.
2. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.
3. Idolatry.
If this pastor bases his belief on the Bible, and on the historically proven Christ and his teachings, EVEN if one did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, the pastors conclusions about which candidate to vote for based on morality guidelines which the Bible would support would not mean he'd be losing his tax exemption due to a superstition, but rather, losing his right to obtain more money and wealth for his church(which is not a goal of a follower of Christ) due to his solid and ardent devotion and dedication to the Bible and Christ's teachings. AND secondly...about the "He doesn't have to be "intimidated into silence". Just start paying taxes and he'll be fine" arguement....think of this....Booth's church DOES pay taxes and has no PROBLEM paying taxes which is outlined by the verse in Mark 12:13, which states...
13Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldn't we?"
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied.
17Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him.
The point that pastor Booth is trying to make is that WE the AMERICAN PEOPLE according to the CONSTITUION and ACCORDING to THE BIBLE and Christ's TEACHINGS should not be shut up about preaching and teaching the truth no matter what cost. What right does a government body, ESPECIALLY one which claims it's roots, heritage, and many laws and constitutional basics on forefathers who were devoted to the teachings of the BIBLE AND CHRIST, HAVE TO OPPRESS IT"S CITIZENS FREEDOM TO SPEAK ABOUT WHATEVER COMPELS OR MOVES THEM!!!!!!!
Here is an excerpt from the Treaty of Tripoli, Signed by President John Adams.
"As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
As to the last comment from stozzie, Booth could have made his POLITICAL comments to his friends and neighbors and he would have been a CITIZEN giving a POLITICAL opinion, not a tax free organization. Hell, he could have even wrote about it in his awful column in the Warroad Pioneer (yes, I know him). But when he uses the church to push his POLITICAL beliefs (I know he said god wants him to do this, but come on.....god?) and calls the IRS out, then he deserves what he gets (which will be no more tax free status). god certainly does work in mysterious ways!
MADA
Actually, why do any churches have tax exempt status? I honestly am not aware of the background and reasoning. I am a very big proponent of separation of church and state.
Regardless, I wonder about how the intoxication of publicity can drive something beyond where it would have stopped without the publicity. I also wonder what happens after the publicity surge dies down and people are left to evaluate what just happened.
Those most directly affected probably start to think more rationally about whether they feel ok about the types of messages that were conveyed, the fact that rules were openly disobeyed to achieve the goal, the types of attention that were received, and ultimately, whether any resulting changes are positive or negative. In the end, each person in the affected congregation will ask themselves: do I feel like this was acceptable and productive behavior for someone to whom I trust my most personal of all guidance? Some will say yes; others will be uncomfortable with how this unfolded. Similarly, family members and friends are probably affected by surges of publicity centered around a highly debated topic. I sometimes wonder what kind of clean-up might be necessary after the initial burst onto the public scene due to controversial topics...
How do the affects of this type of divisive publicity differ from publicity related to doing something that is obviously positive and beneficial to society?
Just thinking out loud...
I live in Warroad and I know Gus Booth. He's one of those "pastors" who has an ego the size of Texas and has a holier than thou attitude. This isn't a man of the way of Jesus, this is a man of his own damn way whether you agree or not.
Pastors are not "silenced" by the government. They just have the same restrictions as any employee of a 501c3 non profit- they can't campaign using the agency/organization's resources. On his own time and his own dollar, he is free to campaign as he sees fit.
Either pay your nickel like everyone else or shut up. You don't deserve special treatment so get over it.
For some of you anonymous posters out there, I'd just like to let you know that those churches who do endorse political candidates, even if they happen to be a democrat, from the pulpit are being unlawful and come under scrutiny from the IRS also. This is not a liberal agenda--it is fair across the board.
Also, am I the only one who thinks the blogosphere could use some etiquette? Just because you disagree with someone like Rev. Booth (which I do as well), there's no reason to bash his character or to bash each other. Let's chill.
So, the Proper Vote for Christians is for John McCain, the guy who divorced his first wife because she lost her good looks, and married the woman he was having an affair with?
The guy who called his second wife a "Cunt" in front of a crowd of people?
Gus Booth, you're a fake Christian. Jackass.
Chirstiainty has always been the Proclaimer of Truth and right and wrong. Its athourity is the Bible.
Jesus spoke out againt the Moral evils of His day and so did his forerunner John the Baptist.
Its too bad they lost thier lives for defending Truth, Love, Honesty and moral uprightness. and its seems like our society would do to Jesus and John today....
The USA has gotten more sohisiticated but....more tolerant, more tolerant for sin.
Obama nor Macain can save us
Our problems are not, politcal or social and neither is it global warming, the worlds gonna get hotter (read the last book in the Bible it gets real hot.)
Our problem is a "Spirtual" problem
Sin has taken hold of the nation in every aspect of our social fabric.
Only getting back to the Ten Laws of God can change our nation back to what used to any kind of decencey and love and brotherhood..
Jesus said his ways lead to abundan life all other ways are shifting "Quick sand"
By the time most people figure that out its too late...
Read John 3:16 and pray
Edward Owen
Boise Idaho
Churches do not have to be a 501c to be tax free read the first amendment.
Edward Owen of Boise, I don't see any
people waving rainbow flags demanding any rights that you don't already take for granted.
I have NEVER been a member of a church that is 501c3 for this very reason.
The govt does not have the right to tax the church in the first place. So taking this status giving them that right in the first place.
Look back to the Boston Tea party, same issue.
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