Pastors in 22 states participate in “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” — a protest of the 54-year-old Supreme Court ruling that spelled out the separation of church and state — by telling parishioners what they expect from their presidential candidates.
The outside of the Word of Outreach Christian Church is seen, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 in Little Rock, Ark. On Sunday, ministers around the country plan to break the law, endorsing presidential candidates during their sermons despite IRS rules prohibiting such endorsements for tax-exempt non-profits. A minister was scheduled to fly into Little Rock Sunday to endorse a presidential candidate at the Word of Outreach Christian Church, but because of flight delays, did not make it.
For more than half a century, members of the clergy in the United States have been prevented by federal law from endorsing political candidates from the pulpit. But now, with five weeks to go until Election Day, some clergy are saying the 2008 presidential election is too important to remain publicly impartial, and they are openly breaking the ban.
On Sunday, the Rev. Wiley Drake, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, California, put his congregation at risk of losing its tax-exempt status by endorsing third-party candidate Alan Keyes for president.
“If I’ve been asked once, I’ve been asked a dozen or more times, why are you doing what you are doing,” said Drake, who was once targeted by the IRS for supporting political candidates from the pulpit.
“Well I’m doing what I’m doing because I’m angry, I’m mad.
I believe this “rule” will be tested in the supreme court some day soon and it won’t end good for some of you anti-christians. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech….” I understand many can’t get past their hatred of Church’s..but please read it again. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…..”
We have the IRS that is using “LAW” to restrict what is the church wants to do at the pulpit. How can you as a american sit idle and even allow this? I don’t care if you worship zip-zoe and moe as your savior. I do not want my Government at all to place restrictions on religon.
Well the media was OK with Barack Obama trying to use the law to shut down speech he didn’t like. So this should be OK too.
#32 – Dave C
>>I do not want my Government at all to place
>>restrictions on religon.
They don’t. Religions are free to do and say whatever they wish, as long as it’s legal for others to do.
They just don’t get a free pass on Tax Day, just like others don’t.
I don’t see a problem with that.
In fact, I have MUCH more of a problem with the tax-exempt status of any “church”, over and above things that are tax-exempt (or tax deductible) for the rest of the folks.
#35 – Fredo
>>Black churches freely endorse politicians,
>>never are they warned by the irs…
Them thar danged bluegums are alway gettin’ unfair breaks, isn’t they? Time for you to don the white hood and start burning crosses…
Anyone that doesn’t condemn the scondrels running our nation any chance they get doesn’t deserve to be a preacher.
Exaclty why is it racist to treat white and black preachers the same? I thought it was racist when you didn’t.
Oh I forgot whites need to be punished because their, or at least somebody’s, ancestors owned slaves.
Of course that sort of crap is illegal and immoral but hey, don’t let that stop a great thinker like yourself.
If a citizen gets up and tells a group what he thinks, no problem. The group can ignore him, make their own judgements and move on.
If a preacher gets up and tells his congregation they should vote for X because his god tells him so, the group can’t ignore him in the same way. People can be ostracized and even booted from such groups because they actually have their own independent thoughts.
As a consequence, you HAVE to make a distinction for political speech in a religious context. That thing at the pulpit is trying to sway those in the pews with beliefs and force them to accept his take on politics… effectively a theocracy.
The constitution is clear about religious separation — and that has to extend to all interactions between the government and organizations. The government doesn’t tax them, and they don’t try to directly modify the government.
They can certainly suggest that certain actions are good or bad, and perhaps even bring up examples of legislation that they think is bad or good. However, when they start naming names and demanding their “flock” vote the way they want, they should lose their tax exemption and become a PAC like all the other PACs.
Or, of course, we can just wipe all exemptions for religious organizations and let them come up with deductions like every other business.
Tax the snot of them, then use to money to do good, like subsidizing the oil companies to try and keep gas prices down.
#32, Dave,
You not only make a very good point, but you are also correct. The government should NOT dictate what may or may not be preached in a church. If a newspaper, magazine, TV or radio station, or auditorium may be taxed for exercising their right to speak freely, then so should any church that goes past religious doctrine and preaches politics.
Churches have always been free to rent out their facilities for other uses. When that happens they are expected to pay taxes. There are narrow rules for when churches may be involved with political action, such as a community projects, without being taxed, but they do not include endorsing one political candidate or position over another and may not be exclusive.
If preachers feel that strongly about an issue, they can either frame it in a neutral manner or step outside the church and spout their nonsense.
#33, Lyin’ Mike,
Well the media was OK with Barack Obama trying to use the law to shut down speech he didn’t like.
Yup. Me too.
#38 – Jim
>>People can be ostracized and even booted
>>from such groups because they actually have
>>their own independent thoughts.
That’s why we have a secret ballot. No one has to know whom you vote for.
If you’re a blabbermouth and feel the need to discuss voting for an unpopular candidate in church, tough tits.
When a ministry opts for the 501 C3 corporate status, they become “wards of the state” and the state becomes their “god”. In other words, the church becomes just another corporate intity that is legally obligated to the state and NOT to God. In the mid-1960’s the Supreme Court made the adjudication that the church is tax exempt without a corporate status. The contemporary churhes seem to be too busy to do their homework and remain ignorant of such things and therefore remain in subjection to the state and NOT GOD. All that is required to “beat the system” is to stop being a “church” and make a sign that says something along the lines of “This building is where the church of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ meets”. The ediface becomes just another building where people meet and NOBODY….NOBODY…can touch the church since NOBODY (including the IRS) has authority over it but GOD! Let’s do some homework, folks. We CAN beat the system by using their own laws.