Gay Benefits Issue Could Get El Paso Pastor In Trouble
A complaint has been filed with the IRS against Texas Pastor Tom Brown, claiming that he violated his church's non-profit status when he openly promoted the recall of city officials in El Paso.
The citizens of El Paso last November voted against allowing gay and unmarried partners to receive healthcare benefits from the city. But when government officials overturned the vote, Brown began endorsing the recall of Mayor John Cook and two city council members, Steve Ortega and Susie Byrd.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued a statement this week saying that it has filed a complaint to the IRS because Word of Life Church pastor, Tom Brown, abused the church’s tax exempt status by using the church to promote a political position.
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Brown had posted an “Open Letter to City Council” on Tom Brown Ministries' website, saying, “City Council and the Mayor disrespected the will of the people. They overturned the legitimate vote for the Traditional Family Ordinance...You lost the most basic, fundamental civil right of all, and that is to have your vote count.”
He later writes, “If you are upset at this action and would like to sign and/or circulate a recall petition against Mayor John Cook and Representatives Susie Byrd and Steve Ortega, then fill out the form below.”
In addition to this, AU also accuses Brown of distributing emails from the ministry and claims that the Texas pastor even made announcements about the recall during church services.
“This is a ministry, not a political action committee,” says the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn. “If Pastor Brown wants to engage in partisan politics, he should do it on his own time and his own dime. He should not misuse the resources of his tax-exempt religious organization.”`
But Brown argues that he did not do anything wrong. At the bottom of the letter to the city council on his ministry's website, a disclaimer reads, “This internet site is owned by Tom Brown and not the church.”
AU, however, contends that his website is still the official site for his ministry, putting him in violation of federal tax law.
The El Paso Times reported that Brown made an announcement about the recall drive during a June 28 gathering with some 1,500 members of his congregation. But his lawyer had reportedly told him that being involved in a recall election is different from promoting a candidate during a regular election.
Earlier this year, Brown was accused of a separate IRS violation case involving his wife, Sonia, who ran for city council. Brown reportedly announced the chance for Word of Life congregants to help with the campaign during one of the church's services. It is unknown if anyone complained to the IRS about that particular incident.
Brown believes the latest run in with the AU is not solely because of tax-exemption violation.
“It's just harassment and persecution of anti-religious people against people of faith,” Brown asserted.
If his church is found to be in violation, it could lose its tax-exempt status.
