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Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Miami Church Says Probe Politically Motivated
From CQ Mid-day Update:

"A Florida church is discovering that life in a political battleground state sometimes means new fights arise even after an election recedes into memory. The IRS has notified Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Liberty City that it is being investigated for holding "political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status as a church," according to the Miami Herald. The probe is related to an appearance last October by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and several black leaders, including Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, D-Fla., the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Federal tax law prohibits churches from participating in political campaigns. Church officials said Kerry's visit was part of a regular church service, and it did not break the law. It is not clear whose complaint triggered the IRS investigation, according to the paper".

Rev. Gaston Smith said visits by political candidates are nothing new, and that the 75-year-old church did not violate U.S. tax code, as suggested in the letter. He has hired former U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis to defend the church in the inquiry.

Read the IRS letter

Check out the Miami Herald Article

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 04:25:51 PM

Thursday, March 17, 2005

"Godcasting" Opens Up Debate on What is a "Congregation"
The definition of what constitutes a "member" or "congregant" may be getting bigger. Utilizing the technology of iPods and MP3 players, preachers are able to spread the gospel via audio shows downloaded from the internet onto MP3 players.

Dubbed "godcasting", it has become the largest type of podcast being distributed.

At issue for many nonprofits is what this means for church electioneering. Rep. Jones' current chuch electioneering bill allows houses of worship's clergy to advocate for or against candidates - to their members and congregants.

You already have preachers on television - but the actual number of people that their message is reaching is incalculable. With "godcasting" you have a discernable method to calling someone a "congregant" - they are downloading your podcast.

So we go from electioneering at a church function to broadcasting the clergy's election choices over the Internet.

For the Boston Herald story, click here.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 10:51:10 AM

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Delay Says the Constitution Doesn't Mandate the Seperation o
Advocating a bold reversal of constitutional law, Rep. Tom DeLay says that the Constitution does not mandate a seperatation of church and state.

From Congress Daily AM: House Majority Leader DeLay said Tuesday there is no constitutional guarantee of separation of church and state as the Supreme Court prepared to take up a case challenging the display of the Ten Commandments on the Texas Capitol grounds, the Associated Press reported.

"I hope the Supreme Court will finally read the Constitution and see there's no such thing, or no mention, of separation of church and state in the Constitution," DeLay said.

The First Amendment of the Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ..."

The Supreme Court is scheduled today to consider whether the monument on the Capitol Grounds and two Ten Commandments displays at Kentucky courthouses constitute unconstitutional government establishment of religion.

What does this bode for the right of houses of worship to advocate for or against candidates? Walter Jones is holding a press conference today on his biased bill. Hopefully, this end-run on campaign finance laws will not even see the floor this year.

Posted by Jennifer Lowe, 11:05:28 AM

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