Did Saddleback Church Violate it's Tax Exempt Status?

Presumptive presidential nominees Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) have agreed to attend a forum at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., on Aug. 16, the New York Times reports.

According to the Times, the candidates will appear together for the first time since presidential campaign efforts began. The Rev. Rick Warren, who called the candidates personally to invite them to the forum, said that the event will focus on how they make decisions and on some of Warren's main focus areas, such as HIV/AIDS, poverty and the environment (Rutenberg, New York Times, 7/21). [1]


The only people getting into the event are Obama, McCain and those who reportedly paid $500 to $2,000 to the church to sit in the audience. [2]


Dr. UnSpin~

Okay, lets examine the situation. We have a church that has involved itself in politics, and apperantly has benefited financially. Saddleback Church is under the tax-exempt status, let's see what the law says about what rules a church or organization have to operate under to be tax-exempt....

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an
organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes
set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any
private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action
organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial
part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for
or against political candidates. [3]

Saddleback Church has violated their tax-exempt status by involving themselves in politics, whether they received any monies or not.

And speaking of money... Barack Obama feels that being President of the United States does not invovle making decisions for, We The People, that are above his "pay grade."

...Asked at what point a baby gets “human rights,” Obama, who strongly supports abortion rights, said: “… whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific
perspective, answering that question with specificity … is above my pay grade.” ...[4]

Don't get me wrong, Jesus Is Just Alright With Me...

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To Protect and Taser

HELENA-WEST HELENA, Arkansas (AP) -- Officers armed with military rifles, some with laser sights, have been stopping and questioning passers-by in a neighborhood plagued by violence that's been under a 24-hour curfew for a week.

On Tuesday, the Helena-West Helena City Council voted 9-0 to allow police to expand that program into any area of the city, despite a warning from a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas that the police stops were unconstitutional.

Police Chief Fred Fielder said the patrols have netted 32 arrests since they began last week in a 10-block neighborhood in this small town on the banks of the Mississippi River long troubled by poverty.

"Now, if somebody wants to sue us, they have an option to sue, but I'm fairly certain that a judge will see it the way the way the citizens see it here," Mayor James Valley said. "The citizens deserve peace, that some infringement on constitutional rights is OK, and we have not violated anything as far as the Constitution."

Among the curfew operation's arrests, 10 came from felony charges, including the arrest of two people carrying both drugs and weapons, Fielder said. The police chief said the officers in the field carry military-style M-16 or M-4 rifles, some equipped with laser sights. Other officers carry short-barrel shotguns.

Many dealing crack cocaine and marijuana in the city carry pistols and AK-47 assault rifles, he said. ..."We've had people call us, expressing concern for their children," Fielder said. "They had to sleep on the floor because of stray bullets."

Fielder said officers had not arrested anyone for violating the curfew, only questioned people about why they were outside. Those without good answers or those who are acting nervously get additional attention, Fielder said.

However, such stops probably violate residents' constitutional rights to freely assemble and protections against unreasonable police searches, said Holly Dickson, a lawyer for the ACLU of Arkansas who addressed the council at its packed Tuesday meeting. Because of that, Dickson said, any convictions coming from the arrests probably would be overturned.

"The residents of these high-crime areas are already victims," she said. "They're victims of what are happening in the neighborhoods; they're victims of fear. But for them to be subject to unlawful stops and questioning ... that is not going to ultimately going to help this situation."

The council rejected Dickson's claims, at one point asking the Little Rock-based attorney if she'd live in a neighborhood they described as under siege by wild gunfire and gangs. [1]

Dr. UnSpin's Examination:

...Okay, looks like we have a multiple symptom problem here with our patient, Lady Justice.

On one hand we have an American town under a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week curfew enforced by the Police... under the request and by the approval of the city council.

On the other hand we have the town citizens having to sleep on the floor to avoid stray bullets, obviously from drug dealers who have had business arrangements gone bad.

Now... as far as this right to Freedom of Assembly... Do well armed drug dealers have the right to assemble? Apparently the ACLU thinks so!

[1] News Source Link