From LifeSiteNews.com:
CALGARY, Alberta, January 21, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has revoked the charitable status of Kings Glory Fellowship (KGF), a Christian church in Calgary. CRA cites a number of issues with KGF’s application, but the decision is based, in part, on the ground that certain KGF Board members have spoken out strongly against abortion, and other moral issues.
“The members of the Board of Directors espouse strong negative views about sensitive and controversial issues, which may also be viewed as political, such as abortion, homosexuality, divorce, etc.,” wrote CRA agent Dian Prodanov in an October 29th letter.
These “political” views make the church ineligible because, according to the agent, a registered charity “may only engage in non-partisan political activities as long as it devotes substantially all (usually 90% or more) of its resources to charitable activities.”
…
In December, a provincial court judge sided with Pawlowski and SCM, striking down several city infractions against them. Further, the judge found that “the City’s attempts … to limit the scope of the efforts by the accused to minister to his congregants, fall precariously close to being excessive and, to any reasonable observer, an abuse of power.”
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via Calgary Church Loses Charity Status: Opposition to Abortion, Homosexuality Cited as Reasons.
Do you think something like this can or will happen in the United States?
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This doesn’t make sense to me. On the grounds listed here there would be so many churches in Calgary that would not qualify for charitable status. Makes me think there is more to this story than meets the eye. I’ve never heard of this church.
Cheryl is correct, this doesn’t make sense. So I researched this with Revenue Canada and there is more to the story. All anyone has to do to read about why this Church was revoked is go on-line to Revenue Canada Charities site then key in the name of the organization to search their records. There you will find a copy of the letter that was originally sent letting us, the general public/Canadian taxpayer, know that this Church did not file their Charity Report. Not only did they not file their Charity Report but after they received notification about this they did not respond.
I can’t find much on the subject. I looked up Kings Glory Fellowship in Google News and as of right now there is only one article that doesn’t point to the LifeSite article. It’s the Calgary Sun and they don’t mention anything about a charity report not being filed.
Where did you find your information? I am sure it is easy to find I just must be missing it.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/charity-eng.action?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%3A80%2Febci%2Fhaip%2Fsrch%2Fbasicsearchresult-eng.action%3Fs%3D%2B%26amp%3Bk%3DKings%2BGlory%2BFellowship%26amp%3Bp%3D1%26amp%3Bb%3Dtrue&bn=118887280RR0001
Insert the above url and you will be brought right to Revenue Canada’s charity site and to where they have posted the information about this Church. The reason for revocation line has a blue highlight to the right, this will take you to the standard letter they received for not replying to the request to file and for their subsequent revocation.
They state:
So, they revoked it because KGF didn’t respond to the first notice of Intention to Revoke. But if the original intent to revoke letter stated the allegations mentioned on the LifeSite article … isn’t both LifeSite and your added fact true?
That’s what the letter states; so yes it would appear open ended. If you go back to the original page though you will see the reason for the revocation, “Revocation for Failure to File”. That is why the first letter was sent, Revenue Canada did not receive their Charity Report. If it was for the reasons they are stating then it would say “Revocation for Cause”.
The Calgary Sun is not a very reputable news paper.
I know. That’s part of the point. No one else is reporting on this. The more information I found out might lead to another follow up post in the future.
It is only a matter of time until ALL CHURCHES that take a stand on moral issues (such as abortion) will have their charitable status revoked; and it will be a good thing, as finally it will be evident who is on the Lord’s side, and who is not. Let the liberals have it; they have already revealed that their only king is Caesar. An old Anglican priest, several years ago foresaw the day when not only this, but tax-free property will be cancelled by governments anxious to get hold of valuable properties occuppied by churches. True Christians will have to meet in homes as they did years ago. But did not Christ advise us, “Give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar?” But let us remember to “Give unto God what belongs to Him!” (Not just money, but our worship and service)