re: Falwell Raptured From the IRS website - about 501c3 charities:
"Political Campaign Activity
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including the presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity.
In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not constitute prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner. On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that: (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention."
re: Falwell RapturedGet thee behind me, Phil! To quote the Dear Departed: "The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country." All clear now?
re: Falwell RapturedAs I understand it, the Moral Majority got around the tax issue by establishing several branches. There was the tax-exempt Moral Majority Foundation, an education group focusing on voter registration but that was separate from the Moral Majority Political Action Committee.
re: Falwell Rapturedre: "I don't care if Christians run the country. I just want everyone, saints and sinners alike, to chip in and pay their own way."
I'd actually like members of the Moral Majority to pay a little more than everyone else. Let's call it a hate tax.
re: Falwell RapturedAh yes, Hitchens. There is no honor among hucksters no matter how educated and well spoken.
It should be plain to see in religious circles and Christian denominations who are the Pharisees
Public Display of Devotion for it's own sake is highly frowned upon throughout the new Testament.
The likes of Falwell, Swaggard, Haggard do as much to damage Christianity in America as the current administration does to damage the United States in the eyes of the rest of the world.
Camel, meet needle.