James Coburn
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND —
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ.
Based in Washington, D.C., AU is a national non-sectarian organization with members from all faiths and advocates for the separation of church and state, said Rob Boston, senior policy analyst.
“Apparently, according to them when you become a Christian you must forfeit your citizenship in the United States,” said Fairview Baptist Church Pastor Paul Blair, president of Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ.
Boston said that Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ is in violation of federal law by promoting a Warr Acres political campaign rally for the Nov. 2 re-election of state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City.
“Federal tax law is very clear. It bars tax exempt organizations from intervening in political races by endorsing or opposing candidates,” Boston told The Edmond Sun. “Now it does not bar discussion of issues, but it does prohibit intervention in campaigns between individuals.”
Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ is a tax-exempt group accepting donations at its Web site, Boston said. So Boston said the Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ violated federal law with an e-mail, “Rally for Sally on Thursday!!,” distributed in June.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, AU executive director, said Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ must first relinquish tax-exempt status if it is to partake in partisan politics.
“Barry Lynn and Americans United are well-known for frivolous accusations and allegations,” Blair said. “They have had a concentrated effort for years trying to intimidate and silence Christians in America.”
Blair confirmed that the e-mail stated, “… The homosexual lobby has recruited an individual that has had a sex change operation to run against Rep. Kern. The homosexual lobby from across America will be pouring money into this local race in an attempt to make a statement to the country by knocking out an outspoken Christian, pro-family representative. If they succeed, it will serve as a warning shot across the (bow) of all elected officials who defend Biblical values. Even if this is not your district, this race will effect you! Once a person is elected to the Legislature, their voting impacts ALL Oklahomans.”
Republican incumbent Kern will challenge against Democrat Brittany Novotny, an Oklahoma City attorney and the state’s first openly transgender candidate, on the Nov. 2 statewide election for House District 84.
Blair said AU is a “tattle-tale” organization that has made thousands of frivolous accusations regarding Christian organizations.
“We have done nothing. I am a Christian and I am an American,” Blair said of preaching the Bible and exercising his First Amendment rights.
AU was founded in 1947 to educate Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom, Boston said. Since 1996, AU has asked the IRS to investigate 105 examples of tax exempt religious organizations abusing federal law, Boston said. But he said his organization represents neither liberal nor conservative interests.
The 1988 presidential campaign of the Rev. Jesse Jackson was the first time Americans United for Separation of Church and State opposed the ethics of a political campaign, Boston said.
“He (Jackson) was actually collecting money at churches for his campaign,” Boston said. “And we warned him he was putting those churches’ tax exemptions at risk.”
Blair hopes more pastors will join Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ.
“Any time Christians start to awaken and do something, people like Barry Lynn work as fast as they can to try to intimidate and get us to go back into hiding,” Blair said.
Hiding is not what Blair is about, he said.
“That’s just not me. I haven’t been in hiding for some time,” he chuckled. “… We’ve been on the front lines for quite a few years now.”
jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114
