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Gestapo Tactics against American Churches

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jpatrickham:
Filed under Constitution, Culture, Politics, Religion



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"In a previous article on GodfatherPolitics, I pointed out that leftist groups are attacking churches that address social issues that are near and dear to liberals. These groups monitor broadcasts, websites, and sermons of Christian leaders that address any topic that is critical of a leftist agenda. We’ve seen these types of tactics in Europe, England, and Canada. They’re coming to America, even though we have a set of iron-clad freedoms in the First Amendment. But if the Supreme Court can find a right to kill pre-born babies in the “shadows” of the Constitution, then no freedom is safe.

There is a long history of religious intimidation. Using Nazi Germany as an example for anything these days is often viewed as extremism. Even so, the comparisons are there, and we shouldn‘t be afraid to make them when we see them.

When German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) used his pulpit to expose Adolf Hitler’s radical politics, “He knew every word spoken was reported by Nazi spies and secret agents.”[1] Leo Stein describes in his book I Was in Hell with Niemoeller how the Gestapo gathered evidence against Niemoeller:

Now, the charge against Niemoeller was based entirely on his sermons, which the Gestapo agents had taken down stenographically. But in none of his sermons did Pastor Niemoeller exhort his congregation to overthrow the Nazi regime. He merely raised his voice against some of the Nazi policies, particularly the policy directed against the Church. He had even refrained from criticizing the Nazi government itself or any of its personnel. Under the former government his sermons would have been construed only as an exercise of the right of free speech. Now, however, written laws, no matter how explicitly they were worded, were subjected to the interpretation of the judges.[2]

In a June 27, 1937 sermon, Niemoeller made it clear to those in attendance had a sacred duty to speak out on the evils of the Nazi regime no matter what the consequences: “We have no more thought of using our own powers to escape the arm of the authorities than had the Apostles of old. No more are we ready to keep silent at man’s behest when God commands us to speak. For it is, and must remain, the case that we must obey God rather than man.”[3] A few days later, he was arrested. His crime? “Abuse of the pulpit.”

The “Special Courts” set up by the Nazis made claims against pastors who spoke out against Hitler’s policies. Niemoeller was not the only one singled out by the Gestapo. “Some 807 other pastors and leading laymen of the ‘Confessional Church’ were arrested in 1937, and hundreds more in the next couple of years.”[4] A group of Confessional Churches in Germany, founded by Pastor Niemoeller and other Protestant ministers, drew up a proclamation to confront the political changes taking place in Germany that threatened the people “with a deadly danger. The danger lies in a new religion,” the proclamation declared. “The church has by order of its Master to see to it that in our people Christ is given the honor that is proper to the Judge of the world . . . The First Commandment says ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’ The new religion is a rejection of the First Commandment.”[5] Five hundred pastors who read the proclamation from their pulpits were arrested."
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Read more: Gestapo Tactics against American Churches | Godfather Politics http://godfatherpolitics.com/1211/gestapo-tactics-against-american-churches/#ixzz1ZMkPsOh6

jpatrickham:
Church Bullied by Liberal Group to Shut Up or Else

Filed under Constitution, Politics, Religion


--- Quote ---"According to a Christian Post article, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AC) “is calling on the Internal Revenue Service to look into allegations that Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., is violating restrictions for posting a link to a pro-family organization on its website.” What restrictions? The First Amendment does not prohibit churches from speaking out on any issue. The amendment is so clear that the people at AU almost never cite it:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Notice that the prohibition is directed at Congress, our nation’s national law-making body. It can’t establish a religion and it can’t prohibit the free exercise of religion. Here’s what Rob Boston, Communications Director with AU, had to say: “A church cannot link or direct people to an organization telling people how to vote. . . . All nonprofits, including churches, cannot endorse or oppose candidates. The IRS does warn nonprofits about linking to campaign-related websites.” To prohibit a church from linking to any site for any reason is a violation of the First Amendment. Notice that the First Amendment gives everybody, churches included, to speak about religion, write about religion, congregate about religion, and “petition the government for a redress of grievances,” the very thing this church is trying to do and Mr. Boston says it can’t do.

To say it bluntly and boldly, Mr. Boston is lying. His goal is to intimidate pastors and churches. No church has ever lost its tax-exempt status for speaking out on issues or endorsing candidates, and he knows it.

Former IRS Commissioner Mark Everson warned churches not to speak out on political issues. He claimed that churches that violate IRS regulations could lose their tax-exempt status and be forced to pay a ten percent excise tax on all donations. I would like to see the IRS try to defend the position in court based on the First Amendment. It can’t be done, and Mr. Boston knows it. Notice that Mr. Boston cites the IRS, not the First Amendment.

Intimidating churches has been going on for a long time. Barry Lynn, Executive Director of AU, has been monitoring the content of Sunday sermons since 2004. If these self-appointed snitches don’t like what they hear, that is, if what a pastor says is “too political” and contrary to a liberal political agenda, they will send video and audio tapes to the IRS for investigation. The goal, of course, is to get a church’s tax-exempt status revoked, something the IRS has never done. A 2006 IRS report on the subject was designed to strike fear into pastors who are already intimidated by a threat of an audit."
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Read more: Church Bullied by Liberal Group to Shut Up or Else | Godfather Politics http://godfatherpolitics.com/1207/church-bullied-by-liberal-group-to-shut-up-or-els/#ixzz1ZMlmdQpN

Libertas:
BS.  Time to fight fire with overwhelming conflagaration!

Churches should sue Americans United for Separation of Church and State for harrassment and promoting the unconstitutional notion of freedom from religion, we have freedom of religion you ignorant scum!

Pandora:
Just more social engineering through the Tax Code.

"Sure, you can say what you want -- 1st Amendment an' all -- but we'll have to revoke your tax exemption."

Libertas:
Just like our Pol's...until people grow a set and push back, the sappers of Liberty will keep inching us toward their nightmare end of the pendulum...

I can't adequately express how fricken sick and tired I am of that...

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