Inquisition in Houston, TX

[Rudy]

I'm so glad this is happening. This may be the tool to dump 501c3.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Rudy

I'm so glad this is happening. This may be the tool to dump 501c3.

Were any of these churches 501c3 organizations? You don't have to be 501c3 to be a tax exempt religious organization. Most churches I've attended or visited are NOT 501c3.

[Rudy]

I agree you don't need 501c3. More than likely 501c3 is the means by which she is using, my guess.

We live in interesting & exciting times.

[crakjak]

She's going to get her nose bloodied on this one, huge over reach of authority and violation of the Constitution!!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by n david

Were any of these churches 501c3 organizations? You don't have to be 501c3 to be a tax exempt religious organization. Most churches I've attended or visited are NOT 501c3.

From Legal Insurrection:

Churches qualify for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and can lose that status by engaging in electioneering or elicit candidate endorsement, just the same as any other 501(c)(3) organization; but none of the subpoenaed material falls within that category.

http://legalinsurrection.com/2014/10...ocal-churches/

[n david]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

From Legal Insurrection:

She really doesn't have a peg leg to stand on.

(Apologies to anyone with a peg leg.)

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Rudy

I agree you don't need 501c3. More than likely 501c3 is the means by which she is using, my guess.

We live in interesting & exciting times.

No...again no. She is not. She can't. She is not the IRS. If so it needs to go to the IRS

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

No...again no. She is not. She can't. She is not the IRS. If so it needs to go to the IRS

She may have jumped the gun but I think her buddy in the white house will assist and guide her if she pursues. The IRS came after the tea party with getting the nod from Obama I'm sure.

But yes you are correct.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sean

I think the pulpit should be used for the word of God only, not politics. A minister could run off a conservative(union) democrat from his congregation bashing democrats. The world can be won through conversions, not politics.(we cant legislate morality)

Agreed, but a lot of things can be construed as "politics." Our pastor never talks about specific candidates, but he makes generic statements like "vote with your conscience; not your pocketbook." What a pastor has the freedom to do and what he should do are two different matters.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

No...again no. She is not. She can't. She is not the IRS. If so it needs to go to the IRS

But then...the 501c3 doesn't even matter, really. So a church dips into politics and loses their tax-exempt status. Big deal. That still doesn't mean their free speech can or should be inhibited or that there should be any repercussions from the local, state or federal government for what is said inside the church or within the church community.

The City Attorney was spinning in circles yesterday, trying to explain how he would have reworded the document, and he hadn't really changed a word when he finished. He was still basically supporting the idea that they could subpoena "communications" in whatever form they might take, including sermons. He snarked about how that people were overreacting and then pretty much reaffirmed the whole reason for paranoia in the first place. They aren't backing down off their position.

I hope that no pastor in Houston is cowed into actually turning anything over. I would rather be held in contempt of court and tossed into jail for a few nights than give that mayor and her legal snake what they want.

[Rudy]

In reading the latest it seems the Mayor may be probing for a slander law suit. If slander is the motivation they may have to turn over sermons according to some lawyers.