Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
Professor, Chicago Theological Seminary

Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

Former president of Chicago Theological Seminary (1998-2008), Thistlethwaite is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

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IRS Clears Obama's Church

Today the United Church of Christ, the national church to which presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama belongs, announced that the Internal Revenue Service has found “that the activity about which we had concern did not constitute …a violation of the requirements of the requirements of section 501(c)(3)."

The "concern" that apparently launched the investigation stemmed from a speech Senator Obama gave to the UCC General Synod, the all-church gathering held every two years, during the church's fiftieth anniversary celebration.

In other words, the UCC received a complete and clean review.

General Minister and President Rev. John Thomas said, “While I was never really concerned that any violations would be noted, I am gratified both with the speed of the review and the endorsement of the way in which we carried out Senator Obama’s visit.”

Despite the fact that the church had invited Obama to speak before he became a candidate for President, and despite the fact that UCC Nationwide Special Counsel Donald C. Clark, Esq., had carefully prepared the church leadership with the legal guidelines they needed to follow, the IRS launched an investigation. “We were confident that once the IRS was aware of all of the facts surrounding the Senator’s appearance, it would conclude that the UCC was in compliance with the governing Revenue Ruling,” Clark said.

“IRS regulations require that a senior official form a reasonable belief that a religious organization no longer qualifies for exemption from taxation before initiating such a church tax inquiry. In order for such a determination to be reasonable, Congress should require that the service communicate with the church before an inquiry, with its attendant costs and chilling effect on constitutionally protected associational rights, is launched. However, that currently is neither a Congressional mandate nor IRS practice, and was not done in this case,” Clark added.

In addition, the IRS waited more than six months, until Senator Obama was emerging as a possible front-runner, to investigate.

In this election year, church and politics have come a little too close for comfort for many Americans, liberal and evangelical alike. Yet, it is one thing when political parties try to use religion as a “wedge issue” or in an attack ad or even in email chains, and quite another when it is a government agency itself that is, to all appearances, using its power to create distractions or negative publicity for a religious body because of their faith stances or their members.

This fall, All Saints Church, Pasadena, Calif., received a letter from the IRS that closed a dormant investigation into the church’s tax-exempt status after nearly two years and without the audit actually ever taking place. This final IRS letter did not alter the Church’s tax-exempt status. This investigation was launched in response to a sermon previous Rector Rev. George Regas had preached, prior to the 2004 Presidential election, against the Iraq War in which Jesus debated both candidates for President. In the All Saints case, however and unlike the UCC situation, the IRS also concluded without explanation that the sermon in question “constituted intervention in the 2004 President election.”

All Saints Church has announced that it has formally referred the numerous procedural and legal errors of the exam to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and demanded correction and an apology. The current Rector, the Rev. J. Edwin Bacon, Jr. has expressed “great concern about the IRS closing letter and its implications for freedom of the pulpit at All Saints Church.”

Americans clearly believe that their many faith voices need to be raised in the public square. We need an Internal Revenue Service that is clear in its guidelines for tax-exempt religious organizations and we need the IRS to follow those guidelines. Otherwise, we are only left to conclude that there is either an organized or even a disorganized effort to repress certain faith voices while giving others a free pass.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite  |  May 21, 2008; 9:02 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
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President Obama A Victory For Islam:
President Obama A Victory For Islam?
"If Barack Obama Enters The White House, Islam Will Have Conquered The Heart Of American Civilization."
How does Iran view the possibility that Barack Hussein Obama, a former Muslim, might win the U.S. presidential election? Menashe Amir, an Israeli expert on Iran, says not only Iran but also the rest of the Muslim world, will view it as victory for Islam.
*************************************************
Hey President Obama a Victory for Islam or should I call you Billy Bob Dumfudge? Wonderful conspiracy imagination. Though maybe U should spend Ur time and effort writing a children's novel versus chiming in w/ useless foolish lies. Better yet, stay off-line and read a book. My recommendation: The Grenache That Stole X-mas.

It never ceases to amaze me how many ignorant people there still are in our midst.

Posted by: Steve | May 22, 2008 12:01 PM
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Not really ladies and gentleman. The number of churches that have lost their tax exempt status for politicking is a number approaching if not actually at 0. This particular kettle of fish is one the IRS generally avoids like the plague and generally for political reasons.

Posted by: Garyd | May 22, 2008 11:50 AM
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"President Obama A Victory For Islam" Wrote:
President Obama A Victory For Islam?
"If Barack Obama Enters The White House, Islam Will Have Conquered The Heart Of American Civilization."
How does Iran view the possibility that Barack Hussein Obama, a former Muslim, might win the U.S. presidential election?
**********************************
There are only two types of people still saying Obama is, or was a Muslin. The ignorant and the liars. Which are you?

Posted by: lgaide | May 22, 2008 11:14 AM
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It certainly does appear, at least on the surface, that the IRS is more concerned with political involvement by churches on one side of the spectrum than on the other. It might be worthwhile for the Post or some other organization to do a survey of what the IRS has investigated, what they haven't, what the outcomes have been, who makes the decisions, etc. That's assuming the records haven't been lost, deleted, or shredded.

Posted by: David in GA | May 22, 2008 10:51 AM
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When will the IRS start investigating Hagee, Parsley, Robertson, and their ilk?

Posted by: Athena | May 22, 2008 10:39 AM
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President Obama A Victory For Islam?
"If Barack Obama Enters The White House, Islam Will Have Conquered The Heart Of American Civilization."
How does Iran view the possibility that Barack Hussein Obama, a former Muslim, might win the U.S. presidential election? Menashe Amir, an Israeli expert on Iran, says not only Iran but also the rest of the Muslim world, will view it as victory for Islam. In an interview with IsraCast, Menashe Amir quoted an important Iranian personality who declared: "If Obama enters the White House, Islam will have conquered the heart of American society!" However, President Ahmadinejad has said that he did not believe the U.S establishment would let Obama win. If Barack Hussein Obama wins the U.S. presidential election, Muslims will view it as a victory and forget that he converted from Islam to Christianity" - that's the view of Israeli analyst Menashe Amir. In fact one leading Iranian personality recently said: "If Obama enters the White House, Islam will have conquered the heart of American society.

Reason Obama said he wanted to be President of ALL 57 states. Keep in mind U.S. doesn’t have 57, but…ISLAM is what he is talking about!
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an international organization grouping fifty seven states which have decided to pool their resources together, combine their efforts, and speak with one voice to safeguard the interests and secure the progress and well-being of their peoples and of all Muslims in the world.


VOTERS DEMAND Obamas tell America about their relationship with Ayers, Gadaffi Syrian tycoon, Antoin Rezko, Saudi Arabian Scheiks and Nadhami Auchi, Iraqi billionaire, global arms dealer who was best friends with Saddam Hussein, and the main financial backer for Saddam's Iraqi -Saudi oil pipeline, and stood trial with Saddam Hussein for conspiring to assassinate Iraqi President Qasim. VOTERS are concerned why CNN & MSNBC refuse to question those relationships, coupled with Obama’s 20 plus yrs with Rev. Wright shows a serious pattern, which Obama seems quite comfortable with people who really, really, really HATE U.S of America. If you question him or his values or policies, you’re part of the “divisive, distracting” practices voters associate with Washington. Them’s the Obama Rules.

http://www.dontvoteobama.net.

Posted by: President Obama A Victory For Islam | May 22, 2008 8:32 AM
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MICHELLE OBAMA RAILING AGAINST WHITEY

Republicans October Surprise on Obamas. video of Michelle Obama railing against whitey in Rev. Jeremiah Wrights church. http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/05/16/will-barack-throw-mama-from-the-train/

a video tape showing Michelle Obama, railing against whitey from the pulpit of racist, anti-US pastor Reverend Wrights church. Larry Johnson, a former Deputy Director in the US State Department.
I now have it from four sources (three who are close to senior
Republicans) that there is video dynamite–Michelle Obama railing against
whitey at Jeremiah Wrights church. Republicans may have a lousy record when it comes to the economy and the management of the war in Iraq, but they are hell on wheels when it comes to opposition research. Someone took the chance and started reviewing the recordings from services at Jeremiah Wright’s United Church of Christ. Holy smoke!! I am told there is a clip that is being held for the fall to drop at the appropriate time. The last thing Barack and Michelle need is a new clip that raises further questions about her judgment and temperament." when this clip is made public, Obama's star will rise precipitously within leftist circles, but his hope of becoming the next president of the United States will be instantly destroyed.

Perhaps it has something to do with Obama's recent statement urging Republicans to "lay off" his wife, as if Michelle Obama's behavior, provocative statements and high-profile stance during his campaign should somehow be immune from examination and criticism.
Obama’s chief political adviser David Alexrod on National Public Radio claimed white working class Democrats barely exist and hardly matter, white working class has gone to the Republican nominee for many elections, This is not new, WE don’t need or rely solely on those votes.

Obama lost West Virginia by more than 40 points, an enormous fall, voters who went against Obama — white, rural, older, low-income and without college degrees — don't just live in West Virginia. They live everywhere in the country, places Obama needs to win in a general election. Now we hear pained remarks from the Obama camp that many white men won't vote for any black. Oh really? No one was complaining during the early races in Iowa, Maryland, Virginia and Wisconsin, when most of the white male participants backed Obama. That was before the Rev. Jeremiah Wright ugliness became In Kentucky, 8 in 10 Clinton voters... say they'd be Dissatisfied if Obama were the nominee; about 60% of Clinton voters in Oregon said the same. MORE Clinton voters in KY say they'd support John McCain than support Barack Obamapublic. Obama's inability to persuade working-class white voters to back him points to serious problem for him in the presidential election. A large percentage of voters who backed Mrs Clinton said they would not vote for Obama in the presidential race if he becomes the nominee. Disrespecting the nearly 17 million who have supported Clinton is politically unwise, but turning them into "the enemy" is insane

Posted by: MICHELLE OBAMA RAILING AGAINST WHITEY | May 22, 2008 8:31 AM
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The problem Obama has with white uneducated voters is they never had the fine points of race and racism explained to them by learned professors. Not having a higher education to reply upon they must substitute common sense.

1.They have a very hard time understanding how anyone with any intelligence can sit in Church for 20 years and support ones friend and mentor week after week, month after month, year after year with your money, family and attendance while listening to Hate American, Hate whites, Hate every thing rants, (with the exception of Blacks and Muslins) and still insist that you have not endorsed and do not believe in the Message, and you have not endorsed and do not believe in the MESSENGER.
2.They do not understand why believing in God, lovering this Nation, supporting the second Amendment, supporting Article IV Section IV of our Constitution against Invasion, and supporting the rule of Law, makes them intelligibly inferior, bitter and the object of scorn and ridicule by Obama and his Cult followers!
3.Why all Blacks Colleges and and All black Miss American etc. etc. is not discrimination.
4.They have a very hard time understanding why Whites voting for whites is racism but it is not racism for over 90% of Blacks voting for Obama.
5.Why being Black is more important than than Ability, Character, Motivation or other qualification in getting in Schools, Jobs, etc. etc.
6.They have a hard time understanding why when Whites kill Blacks it is a hate crime but just crime when Black kill Whites.
7.Finally they just cannot comprehend how 2 very big wrongs make 1 great Right!

Posted by: Black Saint | May 22, 2008 7:53 AM
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Wow! I had no idea the IRS could be targeting candidate's churches. We are becoming exactly what we hate. (and god knows how america's "religious" can hate)

Posted by: Flo | May 22, 2008 7:47 AM
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hate sppech aparently does not disqualify it from the federal exemption. sad...

Posted by: Dwight | May 22, 2008 7:40 AM
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Bush ought to be ashamed, but of course, he's not.

Posted by: All American---> | May 22, 2008 4:30 AM
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