Christian churches in Maine whose leaders encouraged support for a referendum that repealed a law allowing same-sex marriage are being targeted in an intimidation campaign urging homosexuals to file complaints against them with the Internal Revenue Service.
-- From "Churches targeted by 'gay' intimidation campaign" by Bob Unruh © 2009 WorldNetDaily 11/12/09
A "Maine Marriage Equality" website that lobbied for the same-sex marriage measure is asking its followers to file the complaints.
The homosexual activists are telling supporters IRS policy allows the withdrawal of church-status recognition if "a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying)."
The campaign was launched after a decision by Maine voters, by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin, to restore the definition of marriage to only one man and one woman. State lawmakers had expanded it to include same-sex duos, but voters made Maine the 31st state out of 31 to limit marriage to one man and one woman.
Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, said pastors and churches have a right to discuss biblical truths from the pulpit without fear of being punished for their religious beliefs.
"This is an all-too-obvious attempt to use the IRS to intimidate pastors and churches as a means of punishment and to get them to be quiet," said Stanley. "We encourage the churches of Maine not to be intimidated and to contact us if they are contacted by the IRS."
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