Thirty Churches To Challenge IRS By Endorsing Candidate From The Pulpit

• September 28, 2008

As most of you know, churches as organizations aren’t allowed to get political. They can’t endorse campaigns and they can’t criticize political candidates in an official way. This is because of their non-profit, tax exempt status. But now thirty churches are going to challenge that policy by making official political endorsements from the pulpit today.
Will they succeed? Should they succeed?
I’m all for free speech myself, but I think the real problem here isn’t that churches aren’t allowed to get political. It’s that we have organizations in this country enjoying a special tax status. Seems to me that if these churches want to get political they can pay taxes like the rest of us do. They have a right to free speech, but by entering into an agreement with the federal government to avoid paying taxes they voluntarily give up part of that right.
They can’t have their cake and eat it too.
Personally, even though I hate increasing taxes generally and don’t think the government needs any more revenue than it already has, I don’t like the non-profit exemptions in the tax code. Far too often they’re used to control political speech, or at least inhibit it, and I don’t see where they’re doing anyone any real good.
These churches are playing a dangerous political game, I think. They want their right to free speech, but they should be careful what they wish for as they could end up losing their cushy tax exempt status as well.

Tags: Freedom Of Speech, Religion

http://insanereindeer.blogspot.com/ Kenny

But it is an entanglement of government and religion. By giving tax exempt status the government has a hammer with which they can control the message of churches. The government should not be able to control the message of churches.

The same can be said for ALL non-profits though. The government has unneccessary sway over all of us with the tax code.

Though, I can certainly see why every real Christian would endorce McCain, as keeping Obama out of office coincides with Christian teaching.
Rick

Somebdy better start praying. The democrats have been in control of Congress for less than 2 years. Gas prices have almost tripled and we are in a financial meltdown. Thin of the damage they will do in four years.
Neiman

1. I already posted this in the reader blogs yesterday!
2. I am surprised at Rob as you would think he would at least rage against the government using taxes for purposes of social engineering.
3. To use the tax code to infringe upon the rights in the Bill of Rights is to violate those rights as the Bill of Rights is, if nothing else, a loud and absolute prohibition against Congress passing any laws whatsoever restricting those rights in any manner, even using tax laws.
4. Most people protesting churches having tax exempt status are ignorant of our foundations, wherein for over 150 years no one saw any such limitations wherein the government could not support Christian Churches. Those protesting tax exempt status for Churches are using taxes solely as an excuse to attack people of faith,
5. Notice, these same malcontents have no problem with using taxes in schools to promote the faith based religion of evolution, because they are disciples of that religion and want to shut down the Christian faith.

All that being said, I don’t believe that churches will die, as many might hope, if their tax exempt status is removed. The question is, does this policy have a positive social benefit; that is, does this tax exemption help maintain the influence of the church in our communities for the advancement of moral, ethical and family values? I believe it does, but in 1949 we, as a people, through the SCOTUS outlawed the Christian God in a total rejection of the history of our nation and in opposition to the will of our Founding Fathers.
robert108

But it is an entanglement of government and religion. By giving tax exempt status the government has a hammer with which they can control the message of churches. The government should not be able to control the message of churches.

Sheer idiocy. The purpose of the First Amendment was to protect the church from the State, not the other way around. You lefties, aided by KKK member Hugo Black, have perverted that message, and you morons have all swallowed that KoolAid.
It is precisely the granting of tax exempt status that keeps the “separation” you claim to worship, intact.
Try not to be so stupid.
The requirements of non-profit church status is that the non-profit not enter into politics, like Wright’s “church” has done since its inception.
Ombre Rose

“THE LAW” is that it was the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that was RATIFIED by a SUPERMAJORITY of the votes of THE PEOPLE.

McCain Feingold Thompson is patently UNCONSTITUIONAL.

I find it absolutely sick, one of the most pathetic acts I’ve ever witnessed, that at least ONE of these pastors (seen on Fox News a few days ago) is facing off against the IRS for the sake of PROMOTING THE CAUSE OF JOHN McCAIN!!!

The fight must be taken to the IRS and the Federal Govt for setting itself up ABOVE the Constitution – but to do so FOR THE SAKE OF THE MAN WHO WROTE THE LAW THAT THUS VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION???????????

A bill AIMED at RIGHT WING Christian Evangelicals – since everyone KNOWS it will never be enforced against minority LEFTWING “CHURCHES”!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t know how anyone can look themselves in the mirror and do this “for the sake of McCain”!!!
robert108

They shouldn’t have tax exempt status at all. For their specific acts of charity they should get deductions, but by giving tax exempt status it just entangles religion and government which is antithetical to the founding principles of this country.

Pure leftie bullshit. As long as they stick to what they should be doing, churches should get tax exempt status. When they stray into the political arena, like Wright’s church, they should be stripped of that status immediately. The tax exempt status is an expression of the line between religion and politics. It’s not a free speech issue.
Individuals have free speech; organizations do not.
Lefties always get that one backwards.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Betcha that threat isn’t being enforced against black churches and the likes of Father Pfleger too much.

Exactly.

Why limit free speech. If you want to draw a line then at the very least don’t restrict what they can say inside the church. Draw the line on transfering church money to political campaigns….
Lestat

They shouldn’t have tax exempt status at all. For their specific acts of charity they should get deductions, but by giving tax exempt status it just entangles religion and government which is antithetical to the founding principles of this country.
robert108

Pray tell, where in the constitution does it say that churchs must abstain from anything politicsl? Of course, the constitution doesn’t prohibit politics from the pulpit which is really just speech that is supposed to be protected by the 1st amendment. The assumed prhibition is just a government ploy tied to tax exempt status cleverly included to silence the churchs from taking a political stance.

It’s not constitutional, dd. Church status is the highest non-profit status, and has certain rules and requirements in order for it to be maintained. The main aspect is that all monies go for the purpose of the church, not for any outside purposes, like political action. It’s actually a very good idea.
http://dougeefargo.blogspot.com/ dougee

Pull their exempt status and TX THE HELL OUT OF THEM

More examples of liberals showing their love and tolerance of God and religion…
Jerry

Lestat, Dude..

Keeping Religious Organizations “Out” of Politics is the “Only” way to “Separate” Church and State..

Why you think this is done??
Lestat

I didn’t say it was a free speech issue.

But it is an entanglement of government and religion. By giving tax exempt status the government has a hammer with which they can control the message of churches. The government should not be able to control the message of churches.
Jerry

It’s a “LAW”..
Break the Law, Pay the Price.. Hope They pay “all” of it!

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.

John Stuart Mill

F-Off, Mike….

A Conservative is a Liberal who’s been Mugged..
docdave

I think it’s one thing for a church to take a position on a political issue but to endorse a specific candidate or party is out of bounds if it wants tax exempt status

That requirement doesn’t apply to other tax exempt organizations (e.g. the many green orginizations that promotes green candidates, unions, etc) so why should it apply to churchs?
http://www.jeremiahfims.com/released/ Wayne

I have linked to your post from Pulpit Endorsements: The Sky Will Not Fall

Personally I think all political speech should be on an even playing field.
ollie-B

Since it seems that churches are bound and determined to become of a part of the political process, I think that tax
exempt status should be removed immediately. You can’t have it both ways. There are millionaire pastors preaching politics to their poor congregations. Plus, they are taking in millions every Sunday. That money would go a long way toward debt relief.
http://insanereindeer.blogspot.com/ Kenny

They want tax-free money to stand there, prosthelatize, press for discriminatory laws, and tell 2 people they can’t marry because they do not fit the gender requirements….

On a secular level:
Marriage is a societal contsruct. As such, it is simply whatever society says it is. It is not a right any more than if we made a new construct called “flimsleflag” and decided only one legged former prostitutes who are now Hinduists fit that term. Such as society decides that this group has value to society, and deserves this term, it is not discriminatory. It’s hardly a right.

On a religious level:
Marriage is an institution defined by God.

On neither count does your argument hold weight.
http://www.willisms.com/ Zsa Zsa

Then the Federal Govt. needs to quit making Tax Payers support the likes of Planned Parenthood, ACORN etc.
docdave

Pray tell, where in the constitution does it say that churchs must abstain from anything politicsl? Of course, the constitution doesn’t prohibit politics from the pulpit which is really just speech that is supposed to be protected by the 1st amendment. The assumed prhibition is just a government ploy tied to tax exempt status cleverly included to silence the churchs from taking a political stance.
http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/ Norma

1) ACORN gets to be partisan and tax exempt.

2) Churches do all the grunt work for the government in the faith based initiatives, (USDA, HHS, DOL, etc.).
MikeAdamson

What Rob said. I think it’s one thing for a church to take a position on a political issue but to endorse a specific candidate or party is out of bounds if it wants tax exempt status.
http://sayanythingblog.com/ likwidshoe

Ty – They want tax-free money to stand there, prosthelatize, press for discriminatory laws…

All laws are discriminatory.

and tell 2 people they can’t marry because they do not fit the gender requirements

You mean they hold to the definition of marriage? Oh no!

Do you also subscribe to the idea that marriage can mean one man and six women? How about two men and three women? Just make it a group.

No, wait – just make marriage mean whatever the hell you want it to mean, that way we don’t get crying about how the definition is “discriminatory”.

Now we’ve lost the language. What does marriage mean? It means whatever anybody wants and you’re a “bigot” if you disagree with such an open-ended definition.

Horse___t. Pull their exempt status and TX THE HELL OUT OF THEM

Just because you do not agree with them? That’s not very logical.
pparets

The whole tax-exempt status for churches and the corresponding threat to confiscate their money by taxation is a long-standing liberal ploy to take them out of the arena of political commentary.

Betcha that threat isn’t being enforced against black churches and the likes of Father Pfleger too much.
dakotaninoregon

Rob!

Which church is that picture from in? Is it in Bismarck? It looks really familiar! I’m guessing St. George’s.

I know, I’m completely off topic, but I love that church.
Ty

They want tax-free money to stand there, prosthelatize, press for discriminatory laws, and tell 2 people they can’t marry because they do not fit the gender requirements…. Horse___t. Pull their exempt status and TX THE HELL OUT OF THEM
Jerry

They shouldn’t have tax exempt status at all.

It’s separating Church, and State just fine as it is, Lestat..

The fairness of it lies in “any” bonafied Religion can benefit, as long as they stay out of Politics.
http://bullwinkleblog.com/ Bullwinkle

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.

John Stuart Mill

A Conservative is a Liberal who’s been Mugged..

Jerry

Liberals are the ones doing all the mugging. Lying too, if the comment section here shows anything.
gd17

the problem I have with these rules is that the law isnt applied uniformly to all citizens or organizations. churches and labor unions claim the same 501c3 tax exempt status, yet unions routinely endorse candidates and churches do not. someone help me understand this.

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