> American Center for Law and Justice
> WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2006
>
> Dear Friends,
>
>
> 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. [
> https://www.aclj.org/petition/Default.aspx?SC=3155&AC=DNE0604018&email=dmndgrlkr
> [log in to unmask]&guid=2B28CE6A-E7EA-4FA8-BEBA-C07E25AF52D1 ]
>
> 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! [
> https://www.aclj.org/petition/Default.aspx?SC=3155&AC=DNE0604018&email=dmndgrlkr
> [log in to unmask]&guid=2B28CE6A-E7EA-4FA8-BEBA-C07E25AF52D1 ]
>
> 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. [
> https://www.aclj.org/petition/Default.aspx?SC=3155&AC=DNE0604018&email=dmndgrlkr
> [log in to unmask]&guid=2B28CE6A-E7EA-4FA8-BEBA-C07E25AF52D1 ] 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.
>
>
>
> American Center for Law and Justice
> P.O. Box 90555, Washington, D.C. 20090-0555
> Phone: (800) 296-4529
>
> Copyright 2006
>
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>
> 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!"
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