First up from the God machine this week is some follow up to a religion story we’ve been following closely for several weeks: the IRS’s decision to investigate the entire United Church of Christ denomination — Barack Obama’s denomination — in a presidential election year.
As we’ve discussed, the IRS probe seems almost inexplicable. The law prevents tax-exempt ministries from intervening in political campaigns, but all the UCC did was invite Obama to give a speech at its annual convention about his perspective on the role of faith in public life. It wasn’t a campaign event, and the church did not endorse him. (Indeed, campaign volunteers who were on hand for the event were told by UCC officials that they could not enter the building.) Nevertheless, in an extremely unusual move, the IRS has launched an investigation into the entire denomination anyway.
This week, Joe Lieberman, of all people, took a break from the McCain campaign long enough to ask the IRS what on Earth it’s doing.
Lieberman asked the IRS in a letter to explain how it could meet the required threshold of a “reasonable belief” that a church has engaged in improper political activity if had not contacted church officials before starting the investigation.
He also called the inquiry “especially troubling” because the agency hasn’t given churches adequate guidance about what’s allowed.
“Throughout my career in the Senate, I have supported the strong and fair enforcement of our nation’s tax laws, including laws applicable to religious institutions,” wrote Lieberman, an independent and former Democratic vice presidential candidate. “But I am concerned about the chilling effect on legitimate activity by religious organizations …”
I think Lieberman’s right to ask questions, but I think he’s asking the wrong ones. The problem isn’t that the UCC lacked adequate guidance about what’s allowed — UCC officials were cognizant of possible problems, and even contacted legal counsel beforehand to ensure that the event and speech were permissible — the problem is that the IRS seems to be engaged in selective enforcement of the law.
Did Obama use his appearance as a campaign event? No. Did UCC officials use the opportunity to endorse his campaign? No. Did anything happen at the conference that amounted to “intervention” in a political campaign? Not as far as I can tell.
What we’re left with is an awkward set of circumstances — in an election year, the Bush administration’s IRS is investigating a liberal denomination for allowing the Democratic frontrunner to give a non-partisan speech. I’m hesitant to jump to the disconcerting conclusion — this investigation is politically motivated and intended to intimidate left-leaning religious leaders — but the evidence against the UCC in this matter is so thin, it’s hard not to question what prompted this investigation.
What’s worse, it wouldn’t be the first time questions very similar to these have come up.
Lieberman is at least aware of the situation, and he’s sent a letter. We’ll see what comes of it.
Also from the God Machine this week is a very amusing story about what happens when creationists screen a creationist film, and how they deal with those who believe in modern science. P. Z. Myers of the University of Minnesota explains:
I went to attend a screening of the creationist propaganda movie, Expelled, a few minutes ago. Well, I tried … but I was Expelled! It was kind of weird — I was standing in line, hadn’t even gotten to the point where I had to sign in and show ID, and a policeman pulled me out of line and told me I could not go in. I asked why, of course, and he said that a producer of the film had specifically instructed him that I was not to be allowed to attend. The officer also told me that if I tried to go in, I would be arrested. I assured him that I wasn’t going to cause any trouble.
I went back to my family and talked with them for a while, and then the officer came back with a theater manager, and I was told that not only wasn’t I allowed in, but I had to leave the premises immediately. Like right that instant.
I complied.
Myers’ guest at the movie was none other than Richard Dawkins, who was allowed into the theater. How odd.
Nevertheless, I can’t help but appreciate the irony here. The creationist movie alleges that people in academia who embrace supernatural explanations for scientific phenomena are shunned by their reality-based colleagues. And when screening the movie, the producers went out of their way to exclude a real life scientist — who had been interviewed for the “film” — from even sitting in the theater.
It’d be funny if it weren’t so ridiculous.