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The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

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Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

FreshFish said:
while you, of course, think right past Democrat talking points, right? :rolleyes:
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Oh noes! You got me! All those times I've posted things that were blatant talking points! All the Maddow links!

....

You incompetent boor.
<img src=https://40.media.tumblr.com/f4ce55ba547d9607dc3f6840ee95633b/tumblr_n7lc7uYEl61qmfjj7o1_500.png></img>
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Bob Gray said:
Houston isn't big on freedom of speech these days.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/
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Interesting. I suppose they subpoenad sermons because the discovery itself did not restrict speech that had already been made public. It's always hard to be certain when there is pending litigation, and the reasons given for resisting the subpoenas were not what you would expect. But forcing clergy to produce copies of sermons is extremely offensive if it is not a First Amendment problem.
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Bob Gray said:
Houston isn't big on freedom of speech these days.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/
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Funny how they don't mention that these churches are likely using their position on a stage to gather signatures to try and influence the government. One of those pesky things they aren't supposed to do as 'tax exempt' organizations. That they signed up and agreed to be.

Well, not funny, cause fox news lies and sheeple like you listen. Snopes on the event
Abc's version mentioning the why

TL, you're an idiot and not going to read.
So while the City of Houston indeed subpoenaed pastors' sermons, it appears it did so to investigate whether the churches engaged in political organization activities under the guise of preaching
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Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Foxton said:
Funny how they don't mention that these churches are likely using their position on a stage to gather signatures to try and influence the government. One of those pesky things they aren't supposed to do as 'tax exempt' organizations. That they signed up and agreed to be.

Well, not funny, cause fox news lies and sheeple like you listen. Snopes on the event
Abc's version mentioning the why

TL, you're an idiot and not going to read.
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And if they find the evidence they're looking for they should YANK their non-profit status immediately.
 
ScoobyDoo said:
And if they find the evidence they're looking for they should YANK their non-profit status immediately.
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Don't churches have voter registration signups? But let's say a local government closes all the homeless shelters as a cost cutting measure. Can't the local churches speak out against the policy?

Say the governor was living with a women, not his wife. Can't a church speak out against concubinage?

This may be a case of IRS regs conflicting with the Bill of Rights.
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

joecct said:
Don't churches have voter registration signups? But let's say a local government closes all the homeless shelters as a cost cutting measure. Can't the local churches speak out against the policy?

Say the governor was living with a women, not his wife. Can't a church speak out against concubinage?

This may be a case of IRS regs conflicting with the Bill of Rights.
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These people either don't support freedom of speech or don't understand it. Pastors/preachers are free to advocate their views on issues from the pulpit. It's always been so, at least so far. The only issue would be if their primary function was such advocacy, which I haven't seen anyone claim. This is nothing more than a crass attempt to intimidate those who opposed the HERO measure pushed by Houston's lesbian mayor.

Oh, and the almost total silence from the usually liberals I find interesting. Normally I post something and the wailing is almost instantaneous.
 
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Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

joecct said:
Don't churches have voter registration signups? But let's say a local government closes all the homeless shelters as a cost cutting measure. Can't the local churches speak out against the policy?

Say the governor was living with a women, not his wife. Can't a church speak out against concubinage?

This may be a case of IRS regs conflicting with the Bill of Rights.
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There's nothing wrong with voter signups, and there's nothing wrong with "issues" advocacy, but churches are not allowed to campaign for or against any particular politician (similar to SuperPACs), . If the pastors were specifically calling out Ms. Parker, it seems reasonable to wonder whether they were crossing the line and investigate further.
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Bob Gray said:
These people either don't support freedom of speech or don't understand it. Pastors/preachers are free to advocate their views on issues from the pulpit. It's always been so, at least so far.
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But surely you know there are limits, defined by case law. A pastor cannot say "vote for Ronald Reagan" from the pulpit. That violates the conditions that allow the church to be tax-free. The pastor of course finds ways around it by fulminating against "forces today that drive us into demonic hands that (PLOT POINT... PLOT POINT... PLOT POINT...) harm the unborn." But if a church sends out a flier saying they endorse Senator Bedfellow, they're in trouble. That's not a conspiracy against religion, it's part of the way churches are allowed to preserve their special status.
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Kepler said:
But surely you know there are limits, defined by case law. A pastor cannot say "vote for Ronald Reagan" from the pulpit. That violates the conditions that allow the church to be tax-free. The pastor of course finds ways around it by fulminating against "forces today that drive us into demonic hands that (PLOT POINT... PLOT POINT... PLOT POINT...) harm the unborn." But if a church sends out a flier saying they endorse Senator Bedfellow, they're in trouble. That's not a conspiracy against religion, it's part of the way churches are allowed to preserve their special status.
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Lots of backpedaling going on now, with the mayor and city attorney saying they knew nothing about this. Not to mention that these five pastors are not even part of the lawsuit against the city regarding the city's rejection of the ballot initiative that the subpoena is supposedly related to. These folks need to learn that there's lot of ways to intimidate without looking this bad.
 
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Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Bob Gray said:
Lots of backpedaling going on now, with the mayor and city attorney saying they knew nothing about this. Not to mention that these five pastors are not even part of the lawsuit against the city regarding the city's rejection of the ballot initiative that the subpoena is supposedly related to. These folks need to learn that there's lot of ways to intimidate without looking this bad.
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In a country that still self-identifies something like 85% Christian and 95% religious, you think there's a conspiracy against religion?

Baby, I wish you could walk a mile in my shoes.
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Kepler said:
In a country that still self-identifies something like 85% Christian and 95% religious, you think there's a conspiracy against religion?
.
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I've always found that to be both amusing and aggravating.
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Kepler said:
In a country that still self-identifies something like 85% Christian and 95% religious, you think there's a conspiracy against religion?

Baby, I wish you could walk a mile in my shoes.
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We had that discussion not that long ago. Have you forgotten already?

So, you're ok with Houston's antics?
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Bob Gray said:
We had that discussion not that long ago. Have you forgotten already?

So, you're ok with Houston's antics?
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I don't remember. This happens more often than you would think and it is not making me happy.

I have no idea what's going on in this situation. At some point there will be real information; for now it's just gorillas throwing feces at each other.
 
Re: The Power of SCOTUS V: The Final Frontier

Kepler said:
I don't remember. This happens more often than you would think and it is not making me happy.

I have no idea what's going on in this situation. At some point there will be real information; for now it's just gorillas throwing feces at each other.
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Wow, not very often I see you not wanting to comment on a new and interesting issue. Guess it's harder to comment when the derp is on the other side of things.
 
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