HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The Internal Revenue Service says the United Church of Christ did not violate rules when it hosted Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at its convention in Hartford last year.
The IRS says Obama's appearance at the UCC's national meeting in June 2007 did not violate federal rules governing the appearance of politicians at religious events.
Earlier this year, the IRS had said there were questions that the speech violated restrictions on political activity for tax-exempt organizations. The denomination has denied any wrongdoing.
But in a letter to the national church, the tax agency says it found the UCC had taken the necessary steps to avoid any appearance that Obama's appearance was of a political nature.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments
www.thepetitionsite.com/1/removable-of-father-michael-pfleger
Please sign petition to remove radical Father Pfleger permanently.
This is the problem when ecclesiastical bodies bond with government in order to be able to have "tax exempt" status (which they have anyway and don't really need a 501(c)3).
Given his already famous statements of theology, and being a presidential candidate and Senator (and not a church offical like elder or deacon), Mr. Obama is perfectly suited to speak to the religious convention. There was nothing political about it at all.....
Churches and houses of worship should be free to take strong positions on moral issues, even
issues of political consequence, for the sake of our nation's spiritual and moral health.The
IRS should not have effective censorship over religious speech by weilding the power to deny
tax exempt staus to a church.We need to strongly support legistration similar to H.R. 2275, the Free Speech and First Amendment Act, guaranteeing the freedom of churches to speak out on issues of the day. Contact your senator / representative. Check out aclj.org.for more info..