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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Church Loses Charity Status

Canada Revenue Agency Becomes Thought Police

Kings Glory Fellowship received a letter from Canada Revenue Agency informing them that they are no longer eligible, after over thirty years of having charity status, to keep their status.  The agency cited that "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" as the reason for denial.

The head pastor, Artur Pawlowski, from Kings Glory Fellowship, is also involved in running Street Church Ministries in Calgary.  CRA made a connection between the two separate organizations and their directors and made a ruling against Kings Glory on that basis.  The thrust of their decision penalizes Pawlowski, and Kings Glory, for speech and activities outside of the organization.  Government is once again, through yet another branch, interfering with freedom of speech, expression and religion.

"This is simply a way of punishing me for defending our rights, and for standing up to bureaucracy, and speaking out against corruption and abuse of power.  Speaking about different sins is not a political behaviour but is rather a God and state given right.  We are a church, and I am a pastor, what is the government expecting me to talk about if not moral issues and God's laws?", stated Pawlowski.

Kings Glory is concerned that our government is coming increasingly close to a police state when it continues to use whatever means possible to silence speech and expression in what is supposed to be a democracy.  They further asked where we are headed, as a nation, when government tries to limit a ministry's ability to function by limiting the flow of donations by denying tax status, merely because individuals running the organization hold certain politically incorrect views. Pawlowski said that he will not stop preaching just because the government doesn't like his views or activities he is involved in, in another organization.

"Whether we have charity status or not, I will continue to exercise my right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression.  Various sins may be controversial to our government but they are not controversial to God, He is clear and to the point about them, as I will continue to be."

At this point, Kings Glory has no right to issue tax receipts to willing donors, but they have indicated that many of their supporters are upset at the government for this decision and will support the ministry in challenging this unconstitutional ruling.

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