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Militia leaders warn they will fight church's seizure
INDIANAPOLIS -- A $6 million tax feud is intensifying at an Indianapolis church as several militia leaders vow they will use force if...
Associated Press
Last updated 03:12 AM, EST, Tuesday, May 09, 2000
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- A $6 million tax feud is intensifying at an Indianapolis church as several militia leaders vow they will use force if necessary to defend the church from the federal government.
The Internal Revenue Service is seeking to collect the penalties, interest and taxes that it says Indianapolis Baptist Temple failed to withhold from employees between 1987 and 1993.
The Rev. Gregory A. Dixon, church pastor, is refusing to pay up, and he believes the federal government will try to seize the Baptist Temple at some point. The 44-year-old has asked supporters to leave their guns at home and resist nonviolently if that should happen.
"We're not going to give up the buildings, the Lord's property, voluntarily," he said. "We've said we're not going to use violence. If we thought our guns could outshoot their guns, we might. But the federal government has far bigger guns than we do."
But in a report to be aired tonight, Indianapolis television station WTHR says some militia members made a "reconnaissance tape, describing where snipers might position themselves" to defend the church.
"I think the majority of militia groups that have called in here, they have been very concerned about a few people that have espoused these things," Dixon told The Indianapolis Star for a report in its Tuesday editions.
The church argues it should not become an agent of the government and that the people who work there are self-employed ministers.
A U.S. district court didn't agree. But the church has appealed to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, where a hearing is scheduled Thursday.
About 300 to 500 church supporters are expected to rally at the hearing.
"All across the country, hundreds of militia groups are watching what's happening in Indianapolis. A lot of them wanted to go in shooting," said the Rev. Norm Olson, commander of the Northern Michigan Regional Militia.
"We have vowed there would never be another Waco, another Mount Carmel tragedy, and we mean that," Olson said.
Roger Stalcup, commander of the Southern Indiana Regional Militia, also warned that militias are prepared to use force to prevent another Waco.
More than 80 members of the Branch Davidian religious cult died in a 1993 fire at their Mount Carmel compound near Waco, Texas. Many militia members and some unaffiliated churches such as Baptist Temple believe the fire was set by federal agents.
"It's my understanding ... several members of the congregation are going to occupy that church, and they're not going to come out peacefully," Stalcup said. "If those people start to get killed, that's what I mean about this turning into another Waco."
But Stalcup, who leads militias in 19 southern Indiana counties, said he thinks federal agents have learned from the fire at Waco. Meanwhile, Olson said he won't bring a show of force to Indianapolis without Dixon's invitation.
"I think he is going to do his demonstration Ghandi-style. It wouldn't be the way I would do it. But again, I'm not him," Olson said.
© 2000 Indiana Newspapers Inc. AP materials © 2000 Associated Press.
Militia leaders warn they will fight church's seizure
INDIANAPOLIS -- A $6 million tax feud is intensifying at an Indianapolis church as several militia leaders vow they will use force if...
Associated Press
Last updated 03:12 AM, EST, Tuesday, May 09, 2000
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- A $6 million tax feud is intensifying at an Indianapolis church as several militia leaders vow they will use force if necessary to defend the church from the federal government.
The Internal Revenue Service is seeking to collect the penalties, interest and taxes that it says Indianapolis Baptist Temple failed to withhold from employees between 1987 and 1993.
The Rev. Gregory A. Dixon, church pastor, is refusing to pay up, and he believes the federal government will try to seize the Baptist Temple at some point. The 44-year-old has asked supporters to leave their guns at home and resist nonviolently if that should happen.
"We're not going to give up the buildings, the Lord's property, voluntarily," he said. "We've said we're not going to use violence. If we thought our guns could outshoot their guns, we might. But the federal government has far bigger guns than we do."
But in a report to be aired tonight, Indianapolis television station WTHR says some militia members made a "reconnaissance tape, describing where snipers might position themselves" to defend the church.
"I think the majority of militia groups that have called in here, they have been very concerned about a few people that have espoused these things," Dixon told The Indianapolis Star for a report in its Tuesday editions.
The church argues it should not become an agent of the government and that the people who work there are self-employed ministers.
A U.S. district court didn't agree. But the church has appealed to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, where a hearing is scheduled Thursday.
About 300 to 500 church supporters are expected to rally at the hearing.
"All across the country, hundreds of militia groups are watching what's happening in Indianapolis. A lot of them wanted to go in shooting," said the Rev. Norm Olson, commander of the Northern Michigan Regional Militia.
"We have vowed there would never be another Waco, another Mount Carmel tragedy, and we mean that," Olson said.
Roger Stalcup, commander of the Southern Indiana Regional Militia, also warned that militias are prepared to use force to prevent another Waco.
More than 80 members of the Branch Davidian religious cult died in a 1993 fire at their Mount Carmel compound near Waco, Texas. Many militia members and some unaffiliated churches such as Baptist Temple believe the fire was set by federal agents.
"It's my understanding ... several members of the congregation are going to occupy that church, and they're not going to come out peacefully," Stalcup said. "If those people start to get killed, that's what I mean about this turning into another Waco."
But Stalcup, who leads militias in 19 southern Indiana counties, said he thinks federal agents have learned from the fire at Waco. Meanwhile, Olson said he won't bring a show of force to Indianapolis without Dixon's invitation.
"I think he is going to do his demonstration Ghandi-style. It wouldn't be the way I would do it. But again, I'm not him," Olson said.
© 2000 Indiana Newspapers Inc. AP materials © 2000 Associated Press.