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February 12th, 2008 at 10:53 pm

Huckster Ally IRS Target

in: Election 2008, Huckster's Futile Campaign, News, Opinion, Presidential Candidates, Stupidity, Taxes

As I’ve stated in a previous post I no longer have a dog in the fight for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. This frees me to attack in all directions because no matter who gets the nomination or who eventually wins the General, this nation will be doomed to economic ruin. I’d just prefer the blame fall upon a Democrat so that there can be another Conservative Revolution.

That said, it seems that a preacher ally of Mike “the Huckster” Huckabee is the target of an IRS probe.

According to the IRS…

“Because a reasonable belief exists that the Church has engage in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status as a church under section 501(a), this letter is notice of the beginning of a church tax inquiry described in IRC section 7611(a),” the letter said. “We are sending it because we believe it is necessary to resolve questions concerning your tax-exempt status as a church…”

“Our concerns are based on information we received concerning an Aug. 11, 2007, press release issued on the letterhead of First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, California. The information we received provides … Pastor Wiley Drake endorsed Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, for the 2008 presidential election,” the letter said. The IRS said it also “received” information that Drake also had supported Huckabee on Drake’s radio program. SOURCE

Here is my thoughts on the matter.

If he made his comments from his radio program and that program is independent of the church, then there is nothing at all to this. HOWEVER, if the radio program is a ministry of the church, then anything he says on that program represents the church and that is a violation. If he endorsed the Huckster from the pulpit, then he has a problem.

I believe that the Alliance Defense Fund which is representing Drake is an honorable organization with the goal of protecting the free speech and religious freedoms of us all. That said, I must say that they may be in for a loss on this one.

I said in the beginning of this election cycle that it was dangerous for pastors to run for office and this is why.

If at any time, Huckster was a guest preacher in any church, and he campaigned within the walls of that church as he preached, he then is putting the church’s tax exempt status at risk. You cannot campaign within the church. You cannot endorse candidates as a representative of a church.

I make no secret of the fact that I’m Roman Catholic. The Church does not endorse candidates. The Church does not endorse ballot measures. The Church expects its members to follow their consciences and follow Church teaching on moral issues and vote accordingly. Members of the clergy and employees of the Church cannot run for public office. This is to insulate the Church from any impropriety.

In Protestant Churches there seems to be a lack of discipline on this matter. The only reasoning that I can deduce to explain this is the fact that there is no authority within the churches. The congregations select and hire their pastors. There seems to be no requirement of theological studies to qualify for these positions. This being the case, I can’t for the life of me understand how more of these undisciplined churches aren’t investigated by the IRS.

Pastor Drake may have put his church in jeopardy of losing its tax exempt status.

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