No, not that man upstairs. I mean Seth P. Waxman, a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.
Waxman’s firm has agreed to represent the United Church of Christ on a pro bono basis during the IRS investigation of the church’s tax-exempt status. The entire denomination’s status is at risk due to the IRS inquiry following Obama’s address at the UCC annual convention.
Legal fees were expected to reach six figures during the investigation (ouch!). The church has now ceased its attempts to collect money for legal fees; it had collected $59,564 to pay for the expected legal costs.
UCC minister and president Rev. John H. Thomas thanked the firm for its participation, saying, “While we know there will be other significant expenses associated with our defense, we are profoundly grateful to WilmerHale for offering its attorney time without the customary hourly fee.” Referring to the money collected to date, he continued, “Thanks to the immediate and generous outpouring from our members and supporters, we now believe we will have sufficient resources to cover other related legal costs.”
Loved the title and opening sentence of this post. I was looking for a little humor in politics today!
That’s kinda what happens when you have political figures speak at Church when they are running for office.
It’s not like he was doing a 10 point presentation on what not to do if you want to be saved.. ya think?
Our pastor atttended the conference in Hartford. He noted that in addition to Sen. Obama, speakers included Lynne Redgrave and Bill Moyers. He noted the Senator’s remarks did not concern politics.
He did state there were some campaign tables but they were well outside the conference facilities and were on public sidewalks.
This would all seem to be well outside the IRS scrutiny.
As tax time does draw near for many Americans, these controversies are also reminiscent of Christ’s Tax Return itself as noted by that First Century CPA Saint Matthew, in The Gospel According to Saint Matthew 17:24-27 .
‘… “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes – ”from their own sons or from others?”
“From others,” Peter answered.’
Peter and Jesus had to go fishing for their tax money.
Maybe this time it is the IRS which has nothing to do but fish.
🙂
Does this make sense – not reallly, but if the IRS goes after other 501c(3)s it should go after the UCC as well. Personally, while I think think its a tragedy for any non-profit to be in this situation, I also think that it was stupid on the part of Obama and the UCC to have him speak. I don’t care what their legal counsel advised them if they are trying to skirt the law in an election year they are crazy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1wxnC25txg&feature=related is a pretty good video. A little unsettling but hits the nail on the head.
I wonder when the powers that be will wake up and realize that all the stimulus packages and interest rate reductions aren’t going to help the man on the street until those 18-35% interest rates on credit card and $39 late payment and other onerous, overpriced fees are brought under control. All the interest rate reductions are doing is allowing the banks to make more money. They certainly haven’t passed any of that on to the consumer. Much of the stimulus package monies will be eaten up by usurious interest rates and profit driven fees.
Can someone explain how a christian church can celebrate kwanza, a pagan ritual begun by a black militant atheist?
The reverand has accused us of taking him out of context. Since no one seems to be able or willing to put him in context, I did some research. And yes rev I have read Cone and Malcolm X.
I supported the civl rights in the 60’s and know many others who did. But in researching I discovered, we have been erased from the movement. A few people are mentioned. No wonder they believe all whites are racist.
Is this why Oprah left Obama and the TUC?
Another new age world religeon.
Oprah supports New Age
Oprah’s Views. Even though Oprah was raised in a Baptist Church as a child, she has departed from the faith. During one of her television programs she made the following statement to her audience,
God is not something to believe. God is. God is a feeling experience and not a believing experience. If your religion is a believing experience, if God for you is still about a belief; then it is not truly God.[8]
How can America elect a president that attends a church that has such radical racist thoughts. Sure he denounced his church, but only because he wants to become the President. They say we whites are racist, but they the so called civile rights leaders are the ones keeping racist thoughts alive. That should never be talked about in church. How is that relevant to you going to heaven? This is Obama’s church, wake up and realize it people.