HayPhil,
I agree with what you said whole heartedly. Well said. Can not say it any 
better.
Rhonda 2

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 8:59 PM
Subject: Re: This is Scary!


>I have a problem with the religious philosophy that is often found in
> information and petition like this.  First of all, the ACLJ is a great
> organization and they do some wonderful things.  I frequently listen to
> their radio program here in Denver.  The problem I have with all this is
> that we want the government to give us a license, that is, tax free status
> called a 501C3 so we can get out of paying property tax and so we can
> receive a small deduction on our offering which we can apply to our income
> tax responsibilities to the government each year.  First and foremost, we
> have never needed a license to preach.  churches that think they need a
> govern issued license to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ fell for the
> oldest trick since time began.  What you have read, or now can read below,
> can only happen to churches licensed as tax exempt organizations.  It 
> cannot
> keep Christians from preaching, speaking out on political issues of the 
> day,
> baptizing, worshiping, or anything else.  Now, if you are licensed by the
> government, you could have a problem.  This is exactly why I will never
> incorporate.  I don't need my church name registered with the local state
> government, with a bank, with the county clerk, or even with the A C L J 
> for
> any reason.  I list all my income as income each year to the IRS and I pay
> taxes on what I have earned.  Remember, our founding fathers believed in
> less government and more freedom and liberty.  Churches registered under 
> any
> government issued tax exemption are subject to the that governing body and
> if you don't think it can happen, read the below message again.
>
> Phil.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Sharon Hooley" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 6:36 PM
> Subject: This is Scary!
>
>
>> ACLJ
>>
>> WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2006
>>
>> Dear Sharon,
>>
>> Don't allow the Internal Revenue Service to close your church and silence
>> your religious leaders!
>>
>> Recently, I sent you an email to inform you of a vague, half-century-old
> law
>> which enables the IRS to shut down your house of worship.
>>
>> This obscure law is being used by Americans United for Separation of
> Church
>> and State (AU) and others to intimidate churches into silence on moral
>> issues.
>>
>> Join our nationwide campaign to give our religious leaders back their
> voice
>> for morality by adding your name to our Houses of Worship FREE SPEECH
>> PETITION.
>>
>> It all began in 1954 when then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson sought political
>> retribution against an opponent who was assisted in his campaign by two
>> non-profit
>> organizations.
>>
>> As a bill to revise the tax code was being debated on the floor of the
>> Senate, LBJ pushed a little-noticed amendment that barred all tax-exempt
>> groups -
>> including churches - from participating in political activity.
>>
>> The penalty:  loss of tax-exempt status.  A heavy price to pay for
>> exercising their free speech rights.
>>
>> Today, churches in America ARE paying the price.  They are threatened 
>> with
>> lawsuits and the revocation of their tax-exempt status.  Intimidation is
>> silencing
>> our ministers on crucial topics like abortion and same-sex marriage!
>>
>> In other words - churches are putting their tax-exempt status at risk
>> whenever they speak out on issues of the day.
>>
>> We must put an end to this!  This is a blatant violation of our First
>> Amendment free speech rights.
>>
>> But we need your signature to help stop this injustice and protect our
>> ministers and houses of worship.
>> Add your name to our online FREE SPEECH PETITION and make your voice
> heard!
>>
>> Religious leaders not only have a constitutional right to address the
> moral
>> issues of the day, many believe they also have a responsibility to do 
>> so -
>> especially
>> in the context of political campaigns.
>>
>> This country has a rich and welcomed history of turning to churches and
>> houses of worship during the debates of the great moral issues of the 
>> day.
>>
>> Why have we put the IRS - which is designed to collect revenue for the
>> general treasury - in the position of being the speech police?
>>
>> At the ACLJ, we have an important opportunity to correct the errors of 
>> the
>> past.  That's why the Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act is so
>> vital!
>>  But we must have your help.
>>
>> Lend your name to our FREE SPEECH PETITION today.
>> Your name will be added to tens of thousands of others in this nationwide
>> campaign.  With it, we will stand together and protect the rights given 
>> to
>> us
>> by our Founding Fathers.
>>
>> I encourage you to forward this email on to family members, friends, and
>> church members as well to get the word out on this issue!
>>
>> Thank you for your immediate action to further the cause of freedom.
>>
>> To ensure that you continue to receive e-mails from the ACLJ,
>> please add [log in to unmask] to your address book.
>>
>> American Center for Law and Justice
>> P.O. Box 90555, Washington, D.C. 20090-0555
>> Phone: (800) 296-4529
>> Copyright©2006, ACLJ |
>> Privacy & Security Policy |
>> Unsubscribe
>>
>> American Center for Law and Justice is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit,
>> religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
>> Revenue Code,
>> specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of
>> speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to
>> educate,
>> promulgate, conciliate, and where necessary, litigate, to ensure that
> those
>> rights are protected under the law. The organization has participated in
>> numerous
>> cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal 
>> District
>> Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and 
>> freedom
>> of
>> speech.
>>
>> As always, let us know of threats to freedom in your area by calling 
>> (757)
>> 226-2489.  And tune in to our daily radio program, "Jay Sekulow Live!"
>>
>> For technical problems of any type, contact the tech support staff by
>> visiting
>> www.aclj.org/help .
>> Please provide all the information requested. Please do not use this for
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>>
>> How do I discontinue my membership/subscription to this e-mail list? Do
> not
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> the
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>> Discontinue my subscription
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