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<DIV class="mod breadCrumb"><STRONG><FONT size=4><SPAN itemprop="headline">IRS
Strikes Deal With Atheists To Monitor Churches</SPAN> </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class="mod breadCrumb">Investors Business Daily</DIV>
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<P class=byline> Posted <SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline"
itemprop="datePublished">07/31/2014 07:06 PM ET</SPAN></P>
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<P><B>First Amendment: </B>Government's assault on religious liberty has hit a
new low as the IRS settles with atheists by promising to monitor sermons for
mentions of the right to life and traditional marriage.</P>
<P>A lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation
(FFRF) asserted that the Internal Revenue Service ignored complaints about
churches' violating their tax-exempt status by routinely promoting political
issues, legislation and candidates from the pulpit.</P>
<P>The FFRF has temporarily withdrawn its suit in return for the IRS's agreement
to monitor sermons and homilies for proscribed speech that the foundation
believes includes things like condemnation of gay marriage and criticism of
ObamaCare for its contraceptive mandate.</P>
<P>The irony of this agreement is that it's being enforced by the same Tax
Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS that was once headed by Lois
"Fifth Amendment" Lerner and that openly targeted Tea Party and other
conservative groups.</P>
<P>Among the questions that the IRS asked of those targeted groups was the
content of their prayers.</P>
<P>Those who objected to the monitoring of what is said and done in mosques for
signs of terrorist activity have no problem with this one, though monitoring
what's said in houses of worship is a clear violation of the First Amendment.
Can you say "chilling effect"?</P>
<P>Congress can make no laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. So it's
not clear where the IRS gets off doing just that by spying on religious leaders
lest they comment on issues and activities by government that are contrary to or
impose on their religious consciences. Our country was founded by people fleeing
this kind of government-monitored and mandated theology last practiced in the
Soviet Union.</P>
<P>The FFRF cites as its authority the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which states that
tax-exempt groups cannot endorse candidates. A 2009 court ruling determined that
the IRS must staff someone to monitor church politicking.</P>
<P>The FFRF claims that the IRS has not adhered to the ruling and that the
settlement amounts to enforcing both the Johnson Amendment and the court
ruling.</P>
<P>But is the Catholic Church "politicking" when it proclaims its "Fortnight for
Freedom" dedicated to opposing ObamaCare's contraceptive mandate and the
government's forcing schools and charities it considers an extension of its
faith to include it in insurance coverage or face crippling fines?</P>
<P>Are Protestant and evangelical churches "politicking" when they participate
in "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" this year on Oct. 5 to encourage congregations to
"vote their faith," which they consider to be an exercise of free speech and
freedom of religion?</P>
<P>The FFRF says that such events at "rogue churches" have "become an annual
occasion for churches to violate the law with impunity." But doesn't the
Constitution say that Congress can make no such laws?</P>
<P>Rather than "rogue churches," it's the rogue IRS that needs to be
stopped.</P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>
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