Government drops fine against alliance of Baptists.The U.S. Department of the Treasury has dropped a potential fine against a group of Baptist churches over allegations of violating federal regulations on travel to Cuba. Last year, the Treasury Department issued a notice to the Alliance of Baptists The Alliance of Baptists is a fellowship of Baptist churches and individuals espousing moderate-to-liberal theological and social stances. The Alliance was formed in 1987 by congregations in schism from the Southern Baptist Convention as a result of the 1980s that several of the group's member churches between 2003-2005 violated vi·o·late tr.v. vi·o·lat·ed, vi·o·lat·ing, vi·o·lates 1. To break or disregard (a law or promise, for example). 2. To assault (a person) sexually. 3. their Cuba travel licenses by not engaging in "full-time religious activity." The notice from Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury under the auspices of the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U. (OFAC OFAC Office of Foreign Assets Control (US Treasury) OFAC Ontario Farm Animal Council (Canada) OFAC Olmsted Falls Airport Committee OFAC Organic Fertilizer Association of California ) accused Alliance members of abusing their travel privileges because of "sightseeing and beach time," and said the group faced a potential fine of $34,000. The Alliance appealed the notice. In May, Religion News Service reported that federal officials had told the Alliance that it would not be fined after all. A Treasury department letter stated that "after a careful review of the entire file, OFAC has decided to withdraw the notice." The Alliance for Baptists' leader, the Rev. Stan Hastey, told RNS RNS Regulatory News Service (UK stock market) RnS Rinnovamento Nello Spirito (Italian: Renewal in the Spirit) RNS Ribonukleinsäure (German: RNA) RNS Residue Number System that he was "grateful" that the notice was rescinded. |
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