Its time for local elected GOP politicians, local ministers, priest and GOP leadership to undo the harm they have caused in recent months.
Mount Vernon Baptist ministers and others who took the lead in fighting against equal rights for all need to condemn this kind of hate speech. Franklin Graham especially needs to speak out against this hate mongering. The local radio station caring the hate mongering Focus on the Family needs to cancel sponsorship.
There's going to be a silent, peaceful protest outside this idiot's church on Providence Mill Road in Maiden this coming Sunday. More info here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/22/3259057/pastors-anti-gay-sermon-spurs.html
I hope the IRS is looking into yanking this "pastor's" tax-exempt status. Apparently this congregation not only hates the sin, but hates the sinners as well.
I don't think the IRS should have to "yank" anything. I think tax exempt status should be repealed for all religious organizations, actually. From the Southern Baptist Convention to the Islamic Society of North America. It seems to me that, more and more, these organizations are serving as political action committees, so why not pay the taxes like the rest of us when you print and distribute those voter guides?
I see, the church should lose it's tax exemption because a leftist organization doesn't like free speech or religious freedom if it doesn't agree with what is being said.
Nope, gonna have to disagree with BRB on this one - tax exempt status is threatened only if the church takes a stand on candidates or particular parties, not on social issues of the day. Opinion on gays, however reprehensible, or on Amendment One - no problem with the IRS. Handing out a list of candidates or a pastor sending out a letter on whom to vote for (and we all know which church has done this) - could lose tax exempt status.
No, a church should lose tax-exempt status if it chooses to become more of a political organization than a religious one. This has nothing to do with free speech - criticizing what someone says and calling for actions to have consequences isn't denying the right to free speech, a fact that people on both sides tend to forget.
Gotta agree with Not Really here! It doesn't matter what the law is, it just isn't right for a church to take a position that some of us disagree with so I say that we need to form a committee of good, American, liberal Democrats and we will decide which churches should have tax exempt status...You know, good churches, like Reverend Wright's church, and Al Shaprtons, and Jesse Jackson, and, you know the ones that opposed Amendment One!~
And when a church like three forks sponsors a rally along with inviting repub candidates to talk about social issues?
Legal perhaps, but still way too close to the line. All the more so as it's obvious to anyone in Watuga county that many of the local baptist churches are just another arm of the GOP
Please do not distort my words, "Yes, Really". I am quite consistent in my views and would feel the same way about a religious organization that advocated for left-leaning candidates. Did you miss the part about this pastor telling his congregants not to vote for President Obama? That is the main issue when it comes to the tax-exemption question: can religious organizations still claim tax exemption when they are acting as political entities?
Don't assume I'm a Democrat, either. I am happily independent and see flaws in both parties. But the anti-science attitude and the sheer ignorance of too many current GOP politicians, plus their pandering to the religious right, has made it hard for me to even consider supporting them.
This is from the IRS Q & A section... Doesn’t the First Amendment grant an individual the right to express his or her political beliefs?
The ban on political campaign activity does not restrict leaders of organizations from expressing their views on political matters if they are speaking for themselves as individuals. Nor are leaders prohibited from speaking about important issues of public policy. However, for their organizations to remain tax exempt under section 501(c)(3), leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official functions of the organization.
For example, a minister of a church can attend an event for a particular candidate and express his support of the candidate as long as he does not state or otherwise imply that he is speaking on behalf of his church. However, if a minister made the same statement at an official church function or in an official church publication, that statement would be prohibited political campaign activity.
Finally a true statement about how the left views the rule of law if it idsagrees with it. "It doesn't matter what the law is" The illegal alien issue is a prime example.
Anon 6:17 - Nice strategy. When you can't really defend your position because the facts are piling up against it, change the subject! Illegal immigration is always a good choice.
Also, you realize that the person who said "It doesn't matter what the law is" was being sarcastic, right? That post was from someone on the right who was attempting an over-the-top caricature of liberals. I agree it fell a little flat, but just so we're all on the same page let me clarify that I was being sarcastic when I said "Nice strategy" too.
You conservatives just don't understand! My friend "Not Really" and I have tried to explain what is best for you and you just can't grasp it. WE will decide which churches and which preachers can be tax exempt and it certainly won't be the ones that don't love and worship our great leader Barack Obams and thus must be racist because why else would you not support him and since you are racist you can't be tax exempt.
Where's the Teahadist when you need him? With him at least I could have a serious, honest debate, and I could respect his POV even when I disagreed. Debating with most of the right-wing folks who are posting now feels like shooting fish in a barrel.
Whew, I just watched that. That was painful. To me it is ridiculous to talk about things like that from the pulpit. No pastor should be talking about who he's voting for in the middle of a sermon. To me, you go to church to get AWAY from all that political nonsense. Thank God I'm not a Baptist! I confess that I am Baptist-ignorant, but I assume this happens in a lot of small Baptist churches.
Its time for local elected GOP politicians, local ministers, priest and GOP leadership to undo the harm they have caused in recent months.
ReplyDeleteMount Vernon Baptist ministers and others who took the lead in fighting against equal rights for all need to condemn this kind of hate speech. Franklin Graham especially needs to speak out against this hate mongering. The local radio station caring the hate mongering Focus on the Family needs to cancel sponsorship.
There's going to be a silent, peaceful protest outside this idiot's church on Providence Mill Road in Maiden this coming Sunday. More info here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/22/3259057/pastors-anti-gay-sermon-spurs.html
ReplyDeleteAnd a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/CatawbaValleyAgainstHate
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this genius preacher realizes all the "Queers and Lesbians" he hates, were all made by straight parents ?
ReplyDeleteI hope the IRS is looking into yanking this "pastor's" tax-exempt status. Apparently this congregation not only hates the sin, but hates the sinners as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with Brock Blue. Let's make sure that tax exempt status is only allowed to those churches with whom we agree.
ReplyDeleteFor what reason could the IRS "yank" a churches tax exempt status? Because it is not an officially approved religion? Just wondering.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the IRS should have to "yank" anything. I think tax exempt status should be repealed for all religious organizations, actually. From the Southern Baptist Convention to the Islamic Society of North America. It seems to me that, more and more, these organizations are serving as political action committees, so why not pay the taxes like the rest of us when you print and distribute those voter guides?
ReplyDeletehttp://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=73a8bc45454166272bd701d20&id=12a529d644&e=dd348bb9ea
ReplyDeleteHere's why the IRS should be "yanking" the tax-exempt status.
I see, the church should lose it's tax exemption because a leftist organization doesn't like free speech or religious freedom if it doesn't agree with what is being said.
ReplyDeleteNope, gonna have to disagree with BRB on this one - tax exempt status is threatened only if the church takes a stand on candidates or particular parties, not on social issues of the day. Opinion on gays, however reprehensible, or on Amendment One - no problem with the IRS. Handing out a list of candidates or a pastor sending out a letter on whom to vote for (and we all know which church has done this) - could lose tax exempt status.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:56:
ReplyDeleteNo, a church should lose tax-exempt status if it chooses to become more of a political organization than a religious one. This has nothing to do with free speech - criticizing what someone says and calling for actions to have consequences isn't denying the right to free speech, a fact that people on both sides tend to forget.
Gotta agree with Not Really here! It doesn't matter what the law is, it just isn't right for a church to take a position that some of us disagree with so I say that we need to form a committee of good, American, liberal Democrats and we will decide which churches should have tax exempt status...You know, good churches, like Reverend Wright's church, and Al Shaprtons, and Jesse Jackson, and, you know the ones that opposed Amendment One!~
ReplyDeleteAnd when a church like three forks sponsors a rally along with inviting repub candidates to talk about social issues?
ReplyDeleteLegal perhaps, but still way too close to the line. All the more so as it's obvious to anyone in Watuga county that many of the local baptist churches are just another arm of the GOP
Please do not distort my words, "Yes, Really". I am quite consistent in my views and would feel the same way about a religious organization that advocated for left-leaning candidates. Did you miss the part about this pastor telling his congregants not to vote for President Obama? That is the main issue when it comes to the tax-exemption question: can religious organizations still claim tax exemption when they are acting as political entities?
ReplyDeleteDon't assume I'm a Democrat, either. I am happily independent and see flaws in both parties. But the anti-science attitude and the sheer ignorance of too many current GOP politicians, plus their pandering to the religious right, has made it hard for me to even consider supporting them.
This is from the IRS Q & A section...
ReplyDeleteDoesn’t the First Amendment grant an individual the right to express his or her political beliefs?
The ban on political campaign activity does not restrict leaders of organizations from expressing their views on political matters if they are speaking for themselves as individuals. Nor are leaders prohibited from speaking about important issues of public policy. However, for their organizations to remain tax exempt under section 501(c)(3), leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official functions of the organization.
For example, a minister of a church can attend an event for a particular candidate and express his support of the candidate as long as he does not state or otherwise imply that he is speaking on behalf of his church. However, if a minister made the same statement at an official church function or in an official church publication, that statement would be prohibited political campaign activity.
Finally a true statement about how the left views the rule of law if it idsagrees with it. "It doesn't matter what the law is" The illegal alien issue is a prime example.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:17 - Nice strategy. When you can't really defend your position because the facts are piling up against it, change the subject! Illegal immigration is always a good choice.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you realize that the person who said "It doesn't matter what the law is" was being sarcastic, right? That post was from someone on the right who was attempting an over-the-top caricature of liberals. I agree it fell a little flat, but just so we're all on the same page let me clarify that I was being sarcastic when I said "Nice strategy" too.
You conservatives just don't understand! My friend "Not Really" and I have tried to explain what is best for you and you just can't grasp it. WE will decide which churches and which preachers can be tax exempt and it certainly won't be the ones that don't love and worship our great leader Barack Obams and thus must be racist because why else would you not support him and since you are racist you can't be tax exempt.
ReplyDeleteIt was not changing the subject Not Really. it was exposing the truth of another's statement with a fact.
ReplyDelete"Yes, Really" - Yawn. Please stop with the asinine parodies. You're evidently confusing people who can't figure out sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteI've explained my viewpoint already. If you can't read and understand it and then come up with a real argument go troll elsewhere.
Where's the Teahadist when you need him? With him at least I could have a serious, honest debate, and I could respect his POV even when I disagreed. Debating with most of the right-wing folks who are posting now feels like shooting fish in a barrel.
ReplyDeleteWhew, I just watched that. That was painful. To me it is ridiculous to talk about things like that from the pulpit. No pastor should be talking about who he's voting for in the middle of a sermon. To me, you go to church to get AWAY from all that political nonsense. Thank God I'm not a Baptist! I confess that I am Baptist-ignorant, but I assume this happens in a lot of small Baptist churches.
ReplyDelete