Tax exempt?

Chimpy's IRS is targeting liberal churches to force them to... stop being liberal I guess.. or they will lose their tax exempt status.

LOS ANGELES - The Internal Revenue Service has warned a prominent liberal church that it could lose its tax-exempt status because of an anti-war sermon a guest preacher gave on the eve of the 2004 presidential election, according to church officials.

The Rev. George F. Regas did not urge parishioners at All Saints Episcopal Church to support either President Bush or John Kerry, but he was critical of the Iraq war and Bush's tax cuts.

The IRS warned the church in June that its tax-exempt status was in jeopardy because such organizations are prohibited from intervening in political campaigns and elections.

Has the IRS threatened any of the right wing churches? Ummm.. no. That's a no brainer..

What is really bizarre is the way the federal government seeks any way possible to stifle any dissent. I don't mind the IRS targeting churches per se, but what is really astonishing is the targeting of liberal churches when the conservative churches are FAR more political in nature. Many of them actually kicked members out for voting for John Kerry. Did you hear about the IRS threatening them?

I think there should be no tax exempt status for any church regardless of liberal or conservative points of view. After all, a liberal church is still bat-shit crazy, but at least they are not inherently evil.

In essence, the government we have now believes in torture, wars of choice, using chemical weapons, and a jackboot on the throat of dissent.


In other news, there are elections and referendums being held today. In Texas, the big ballot measure is a change to the Texas constitution that would ban same-sex marriage, as well as any forms of civil unions and so on.

I'm quite sure it will pass. I hate Texas, and the inbred hillbilly dumb fuck assholes that inhabit it.

But you know what's really sad? There are some north Dallas gay and lesbian groups. It's kind of a social thing where they have dinners, parties, and other social functions. They also try to be political.

It's really sad to see the traffic of email originating from this group. They want to "get out the vote", they want us to call our representatives, and they want to "mobilize". It's just so sad. I keep starting email replies along the lines of;

"What state do you think you live in? Most of the people in this state hate you, and hate everything you stand for. They would kill you if it were legal. You think your lame efforts are going to make a bit of difference? The only reason you live here is because you have to, or because you're willing to put up with being surrounded by the most hateful of human beings. Spare me the rah rah go team attitude."

And then I don't send it.. A lot of people keep hoping that Texas will suddenly become an open minded and welcoming state. That won't happen for a very long time. Most of the residents are the worst of human beings.

A lot of gay people think that you have to put on a happy face, and be nice, and talk talk talk to show people the "light"... or something along those lines.

That's stupid.

If they hate you, hate them back. If they fuck with you, fuck them back.

Never give in, and never give up your dignity.

** update **

Here's some more info on the United Methodist Church, which recently dismissed a gay priest, and refused to accept a gay man as a member in the church.

Many Methodists had expected an outcry over the decision from liberal congregations clustered mainly in the Northeast and the West Coast. But Methodists all over the country, including those from historically conservative regions, have voiced alarm at the decision, lay and clergy members said. Stephen Drachler, a church spokesman, said that its headquarters in Nashville had received about 400 e-mail messages on the issue and that the Council of Bishops had received about 200. About two-thirds of the messages opposed the ruling, Mr. Drachler said.

In response to the ruling, the Council of Bishops published a letter on Thursday to "the people of the United Methodist Church" stating that "homosexuality is not a barrier" to membership. Those who signed it included bishops who represented socially conservative swaths of the country and African bishops.

"Gay people are angry, and they are asking, 'Are we no longer welcome in the United Methodist Church?' And that hurts to hear," said Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, head of the Texas Annual Conference, which encompasses East Texas. "This pastoral letter, we hope, will be reassuring to heterosexuals and homosexual people that they are welcome in the church."

hey.. that's a good sign, isn't it?

No.. it's not.. So gay people are angry? No.. those gay people are stupid.. dumb as a box of rocks for putting their made up bullshit "belief" before their own integrity.

As I've said before.. apparently it's more important for them to be bat-shit crazy then to have dignity in core of their being.

You do NOT make nice with those that think you less than human.

** update 2 **

Leave it to a politician in Toronto to "get it"...

Politicians normally don't welcome being singled out for public criticism. Yet Charlie Angus is actually hoping he'll continue to be the biggest target for the Roman Catholic Church's wrath over legalization of same-sex marriage. "I'm a Catholic in exile," says the New Democrat MP for Ontario's Timmins-James Bay riding. "I wouldn't want that to happen to any other MPs and their families. I'd prefer to be the sad anomaly."

Angus has been denied communion by his parish priest since affirming his support for same-sex marriage last January. A former Catholic school trustee and choirmaster, he no longer feels welcome at his local church. His wife and three young daughters don't go anymore either, the youngest missing her first communion as a result. And what happened to Angus could soon become the norm. Bishops from around the world are currently meeting in Rome for the first synod under Pope Benedict XVI. Among other doctrinal matters, they are discussing whether the holiest sacrament -- the taking of bread and wine symbolizing Christ's body and blood -- should be withdrawn from Catholic politicians who flout Church teachings.

I like how he pulled his family out of the church.

But.. the Catholic church targeting politicians.. how does that not violate their tax-exempt status? Hell, the Catholics didn't even support John Kerry for President, and he was the Catholic candidate.

And I just want to emphasize this point over and over.. the Catholic church is administered predominantly by gay men.

It is truly bizarre...

Toronto is one of the greatest cities in the world.. Oh.. and just a reminder.. same-sex marriage is completely legal in Canada. It is exactly the same as any other marriage.

And the world keeps on turning, and nothing has changed.. except all their citizens are dignified human beings..

Before anyone tells me to move.. I would.. in a heart beat.. if I could..

** update 3 **

And why does the Catholic church attack gays if they are predominantly gay themselves? Because the Catholic church is a corporation, and in corporations, money and power are key.

What tool does religion use to gain money and power? It is exactly the same tool that Karl Rove used to win the last 2 presidential elections - hate. Which of course means, when asking the question, how do you win over human beings, do you appeal to their positive nature or their negative nature.

The answer is clear, and a horrifying indictment of human nature.

** update 4 **

Click here to see a report on the effects of legal same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Seriously, click it. It's brilliant. *warning* probably broadband only.