Religion and Politics
Salon.com reports that Congress is considering a bill that will allow the mix of religion and politics. Get out your adress books, kids; it's time to write your reps and senators:
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June 7, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- Churches that mistakenly mix religious and political activity would face reduced fines but keep their tax exempt status under a provision in a corporate tax bill the House is to consider this week.
The proposal, which could invalidate the strict separation of religion and politics in current tax laws, was introduced by House Republicans the same week President Bush's re-election campaign targeted 1,600 Pennsylvania congregations to recruit voters.
Critics fear it would give politicians a pass to flout the rules without putting religious organizations at risk.
The mammoth bill, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, would impose reduced fines against churches and other places of worship that inadvertently allow political activity on their properties more than twice a year. On the third violation, the religious organizations would lose their tax exemption for one year.
Article excerpt: Copyright 2004 Salon.com
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See the full article here. If you're not a Salon subscriber, just watch the ad and click through. This is important.
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June 7, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- Churches that mistakenly mix religious and political activity would face reduced fines but keep their tax exempt status under a provision in a corporate tax bill the House is to consider this week.
The proposal, which could invalidate the strict separation of religion and politics in current tax laws, was introduced by House Republicans the same week President Bush's re-election campaign targeted 1,600 Pennsylvania congregations to recruit voters.
Critics fear it would give politicians a pass to flout the rules without putting religious organizations at risk.
The mammoth bill, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, would impose reduced fines against churches and other places of worship that inadvertently allow political activity on their properties more than twice a year. On the third violation, the religious organizations would lose their tax exemption for one year.
Article excerpt: Copyright 2004 Salon.com
____________________________________________________
See the full article here. If you're not a Salon subscriber, just watch the ad and click through. This is important.