The former rector of a California Church is under investigation by the IRS for making political statements from the pulpit on the eve of the 2004 presidential election. The All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena had their former rector, Rev. George F. Regas, in and he said “I am not telling you how to vote” and then proceeded to talk against the Iraqi phase of the war on terror and about how bad Bush’s tax cuts were. Seems to me that this was a pretty obvious attempt at telling people how to vote though I am sure some of the moonbats would disagree.
What he did is like what the TSA screeners do at the airport. They say “you might want to take your shoes off” and you respond by saying your shoes never set off the machine to which they reply “but it might be best if you took them off” and after still not getting the hint you ask if it is required and they say no. Then when you go through they take you aside for the body cavity search. Now, one could argue that they never said you would get the search for not taking off the shoes but they sure gave plenty of clues. Same with Regas. He never said not to vote for Bush but he gave all the things he did not like that happened to be related to Bush.
I am particularly intrigued by a statement that the current man in charge, Rev Bacon, made; “There is a lot at stake here,” Bacon said. “If the IRS prevails, it will have a chilling effect on the practice of religion in America.” No sir, the IRS is investigating political statements made in a church. If you had been preaching about religion and not social issues or political opinions, especially the night before a national election, then the IRS would not be involved. You were not doing what you were supposed to and now you want to act like your rights are being trampled upon. I think that it is more accurate to say that a lot is at stake and if the IRS prevails it will have an effect on how churches express their political views. Stick to religion and you will not have problems.
I offer one more bit of advice. Rev Bacon, you folks are free to discuss all you want with regard to politics. You may talk it up and bash any candidate you want. You may do that as soon as you drop your claim of tax exemption. When you start paying taxes on all the money you take in then you will be free to discuss what you want from the pulpit. So long as you are not paying taxes then you will follow the rules and stick to discussing religion while in the church. NO attempt to deflect this on the IRS will change that fact.
One day Reverend, you and others will, along with the Dixie Chicks, will figure out that freedom of speech is not free. There are consequences associated with opening your mouth. The bimbos have not figured that out yet. I hope you do soon or you will be paying taxes, and a lot of them.
Source:
Breitbart