State/Church Bulletin

IRS Reigns in Theopolitics

IRS investigations found nearly 3 out of 4 churches and other nonprofits suspected of illegal political activity in the 2004 election were guilty of improprieties.

In a February statement, the IRS called most violations isolated incidents. It recommended revoking tax-exempt status of three unidentified violators, none churches.

IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson noted "our examinations substantiated a disturbing amount of political intervention in the 2004 electoral cycle." Of 82 closed cases (28 remain open), the IRS found prohibited politicking and sent a warning letter to 55 organizations, including 37 churches, and 19 other groups saying no bias for or against candidates by 501(c)3 groups will be tolerated. Prohibited activity included distribution of printed material for preferred candidates, and assembly of improper voter guides or candidate ratings. Other charities and churches made improper cash contributions to a political campaign.

Voter registration drives must be unbiased in theory and in fact. Tax-exempt groups must monitor website links to avoid favoring candidates.

HHS Stops Ring Thing Funding

The federal government in late February agreed to stop funding a nationwide religious program promoting teen abstinence to settle a lawsuit in Massachusetts.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the American Civil Liberties Union agreed the Silver Ring Thing program won't be eligible for funding until it ensures money won't be used for religious purposes.

"Public funds were being used to fund a road show, really, to convert teens to Christianity," said Julie Sternberg, ACLU attorney.

The Silver Ring Thing has received more than $1 million in federal funds during the past three years. Teens are given a silver ring with a biblical inscription to pledge abstinence from sex.

Rhode Island Bans Federal Program

Rhode Island education officials have banned a federally funded abstinence program developed by Heritage of Rhode Island from its schools, for promoting sexist stereotypes and including a "voluntary" student health survey violating privacy laws.

A program video features a speaker mentioning how abstinence helped him "honor my relationship with Jesus."

Heritage of Rhode Island has a three-year grant from the Department of Health and Human Services providing $400,200 annually. Its curriculum has been presented to more than 600 public school students. School officials said they had pulled the curriculum prior to an ACLU complaint.

School Wins Poster Dispute

A Virginia school district did not violate a teacher's free speech rights by removing Christian-themed postings from his classroom walls, ruled a federal judge in late February.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith said William Lee's posters at Tabb High School were instructional tools subject to school review.

Lee, a Spanish teacher who advises the school's Christian student club, had placed articles about Bush's religious faith, a National Day of Prayer flier and a (bogus) depiction of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge.

Lee was defended by the rightwing Rutherford Institute.

Hallucinogens OK'd for Services

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in a February decision that a small congregation in New Mexico may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a four-hour ritual to "connect with God." The tea contains an illegal drug known as DMT (considered sacred to the new church), which blends Christian and South American traditions. Chief Justice John Roberts called the drug-drinking "the sect's sincere religious practice." The drug violates a federal narcotics law and a treaty. The federal government can return to the lower court to try to demonstrate it has a compelling interest in banning the tea.

BSA Cutoff OK'd

A unanimous California Supreme Court ruled on March 9 that a decision by the City of Berkeley to cut off exclusive subsidies to Sea Scouts because they discriminate against gays and atheists is perfectly legal.

Associate Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar wrote the decision, approving the 1998 city council vote to stop subsidizing free berths at the Berkeley Marina. The cutoff does not interfere with Sea Scouts' constitutional rights of association, free speech or equal protection.

The city's action was upheld in Alameda County Superior Court in November 2002 and by the state Court of Appeal in 2003. The city had been supplying free berths since the 1930s.

Sea Scouts is a branch of Boy Scouts of America.

$5 Million Funds Antis

Five million dollars in Texas state family planning funds has been awarded to a "crisis pregnancy" antiabortion center set to open in San Antonio that will not provide birth control or Medicare. Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured residents; only 20% of women eligible for subsidized contraceptive care get it.

Theocrat Pol Convicted

Scott Jenson, formerly the powerful Wisconsin Assembly speaker and an avid promoter of "faith-based" funding, was convicted in March on three felony misconduct charges and a misdemeanor ethics charge for illegally using staff, offices and equipment at the legislature to run Republican campaigns.