| Perhaps you have already heard. The
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| | prophetic voices from our nation's
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| United States Internal Revenue Service is
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| | pulpits, but it would seek to close
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| investigating All Saints Episcopal Church
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| | houses of worship permanently. Keeping
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| of Pasadena, California.
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| | most churches running is a pray as you go
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| The Los Angeles Times reported that the
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| | venture. Taking away tax exempt status,
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| IRS targeted All Saints because it is
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| | or simply the threat of that being held
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| stepping up its probe of allegedly
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| | over a congregation's head, will make
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| improper campaigning by churches. All
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| | many, many preachers think twice before
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| Saints has historically been involved in
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| | quoting Jesus or expounding on his
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| social activism, so it was a surprise
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| | message in ways that clearly inflamed a
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| that an antiwar sermon delivered by its
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| | few other Pharisees. They will feel, and
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| former rector should trigger such a
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| | potentially will be, forced to choose:
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| response. Our tax code bars nonprofits
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| | Will it be faith they will live or the
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| from endorsing or campaigning against
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| | fear of financial reprisal on both their
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| candidates in an election. This includes
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| | personal and vocational lives? And, if
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| churches. Although no candidate was
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| | their church is choosing faith, do they
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| endorsed in the aforementioned sermon,
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| | and their people have enough money to
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| the IRS is treating the matter as if All
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| | fight the legal battle against their own
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| Saints had publicly supported a
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| | government for their very right to exist
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| particular candidate.
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| | and worship?
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| Facing a potential loss of their
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| | These are the times, the moments, that
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| nonprofit status has ramifications for
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| | call us to look at what we believe and
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| All Saints, as well as the understanding
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| | how we will choose. We may not personally
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| of how we are to live our faith in
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| | be opening a letter from the IRS. We may
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| churches across this country. All Saints
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| | not be sitting in the pew of a parish
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| must decide if they will comply by
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| | about to realize the literal cost the
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| turning over all documentation related to
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| | government is putting on discipleship.
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| the sermon in question. If they choose
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| | But if we believe that God called us into
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| not to, the case could be turned over to
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| | being as a community as the body of
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| the Department of Justice or the U.S.
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| | Christ, then we are as much a part of the
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| District Court in Los Angeles. The Rev.
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| | scenario being played out at All Saints
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| Bob Edgar, general secretary of the
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| | Church as its rector and parishioners .
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| National Council of Churches, USA,
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| | They are a part of us and we are a part
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| stated, "I'm outraged. Preachers ought to
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| | of them by virtue of Who lives among us
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| have the liberty to speak truth to power.
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| | and gives us life.
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| There is a lot more to be done about
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| | Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, I
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| this, and it may include some actions of
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| | know them, and they follow me (John
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| nonviolent civil disobedience. Since 9
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| | 10:27)." The people of All Saints Church
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| 11, the IRS, like the FBI, has been
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| | have heard God's voice over the years,
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| moving back to the 1950's and 1960's when
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| | and have shared what they have heard with
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| a great deal of such activity was
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| | great consistency. The sermon that
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| propagated against church leaders like
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| | attracted the IRS' attention was
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| Martin Luther King," said Rev. Edgar.
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| | delivered in the same church that heard
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| If you aren't sitting up in your chair at
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| | sermons that opposed the Vietnam War and
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| this point, you should be because timing
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| | sermons that supported women clergy and
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| certainly is everything. The midterm
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| | gays and lesbians in the church. Its
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| elections are weeks away, and since
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| | rector spoke out against the internment
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| President Bush did no achieve a landslide
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| | of Japanese Americans during World War
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| victory from his reelection campaign,
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| | II. It is the congregation which will
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| threatening the voices calling people to
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| | determine whether they will comply with
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| think before they vote more of Bush's
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| | the IRS or face what comes next. Having
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| policies in through senators and
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| | heard God's voice all these years is a
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| representatives who support him, must
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| | reminder that this is a two-way
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| seem like an effective strategy. The IRS
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| | conversation initiated by God, who is
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| holds great power in our country, much
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| | known for sticking around when the going
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| more than it should. Not only would this
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| | gets tough. God speaks, and if we have
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| investigation, also reportedly being
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| | been listening, we know the voice we must
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| waged against numerous other
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| | follow.
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| congregations, attempt to silence the
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