22 votes

Inside Ziklag, the secret organization of wealthy Christians trying to sway the US election and change the country

Posted by shiruken
Tags: religion, usa, politics, christianity, charities, ziklag, conservatism, elections, law, funding, hobby lobby, uline, author.andy kroll, author.nick surgey, source.propublica, long read
https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-ziklag-secret-christian-charity-2024-election

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Authors
Andy Kroll, Nick Surgey
Word count
3766 words

4 comments

  1. TMarkos
    Link
    I think we're beyond the point where it's useful to pretend that the IRS will ever enforce those laws against churches, charities, etc. Churches have been endorsing political candidates openly for...

    I think we're beyond the point where it's useful to pretend that the IRS will ever enforce those laws against churches, charities, etc. Churches have been endorsing political candidates openly for decades now. If anyone remembers the film Jesus Camp, there was that one particular scene with the cardboard cutout of George W. Bush - that was 2006, or thereabouts, and it wasn't new then.

    Going after churches and nonprofits for violating the Johnson Amendment was never an easy task due to the nuclear PR hit it would represent for whoever ordered it, but the legislature has sought to make this harder by severely curtailing the IRS's ability to do so, and that was against the hypothetical threat of such action, under the Trump administration.

    The IRS is not going to be our fix here. The only way politicians will muster the will to take on that illegal lobby is if there is a demonstrated, voiced will from the public that intervention of religious organizations in government is unacceptable; thus far I do not see that stated in any fashion that would embolden them, despite it being a widely-held opinion.

    9 votes
  2. [3]
    shiruken
    Link

    Ziklag, an invitation-only charity organization for rich Christians, aims to take dominion over what it sees as the seven major spheres of public life, which it calls “mountains”: business, science and technology, family, arts and media, church, education and government.

    The little-known charity is backed by famous conservative donors, including the families behind Hobby Lobby and Uline. It’s spending millions to make a big political push for this election — but it may be violating the law.

    5 votes
    1. rosco
      Link Parent
      Luckily for them, there is a court that would likely be happy to change those laws...

      It’s spending millions to make a big political push for this election — but it may be violating the law.

      Luckily for them, there is a court that would likely be happy to change those laws...

      4 votes
    2. Bwerf
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I think I'm using another definition of charity than they are EDIT: after reading the full article it seems I'm not the only one with that concern.

      I think I'm using another definition of charity than they are

      EDIT: after reading the full article it seems I'm not the only one with that concern.

      1 vote