Sounds like a bunch of preachers will defy law and endorse McCain

[rurallib]

from the pulpit this Sunday.
When I think of the days when pastors would use their credibility to fight for civil rights and hunger and women's issues, this seems so perverted. They make a stand for for a guy who is so ....... just out of it.
They must think he is biblical because he is so old.

[iceman66]

1. They're counting on

a McCain Supreme Court to change that law in their favor.

When Obama wins he should sic the IRS on these bastards big time!

[SoonerPride]

2. If only the courts would then revoke their tax exempt status permanently.

You are free to endorse any candidate you want, but then you lose your tax free status.

Hell, we could pay down the debt with a program like that. Gimme some of that church money!!

[demokatgurrl]

3. I think they already did that....

(it's almost funny that these people want to vote for McBush, they think those people are practcicing Christians? I'm not one myself but I have a passing familiarity with the teachings of Christ and I don't think the repukes are anywhere close to following him).
Anyway, for those who feel strongly about state/church separation, this is a great organization to support.


Americans United Urges IRS To Take Action Against Six Churches That Joined Pulpit-Politicking Scheme
Monday, September 29, 2008

Church-State Watchdog Group Criticizes Religious Right Lawyers For Luring Congregations Into Intentional Violation Of Federal Tax Law

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about six churches whose pastors endorsed candidates from the pulpit during a mass defiance of federal tax law last Sunday.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group in Scottsdale, Ariz., urged pastors to defy federal tax law by endorsing or opposing candidates during a so-called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” Sept. 28. Under the IRS Code, churches and other 501(c)(3) tax-exempt groups may not intervene in elections.

....Calvary Chapel, Philadelphia, Pa.: The Rev. Francis Pultro told the congregation, “As Christians it’s clear we should vote for John McCain. He is the only candidate I believe a Christian can vote for.”

First Southern Baptist Church, Buena Park, Calif.: The Rev. Wiley Drake said, “I am angry because the government and the IRS and some Christians have taken away the rights of pastors. I have a right to endorse anybody I doggone well please. And if they don’t like that, too bad….According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Mr. Obama is not standing up for anything that is tradition in America

http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=10055&JServSessionIdr001=lw5vqy9x63.app1b

[tanyev]

9. Yes. The Alliance Defense Fund has released a list of churches that did.

http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/PFSparticipants.pdf

[vanderBeth]

4. They're free to endorse any candidate they want

Just make sure they start paying taxes.

[LynneSin]

5. Before you blame all churches check the denomination

Mainstream protestant churches and even the catholic churches won't go there. But the fundamentalist nut-job churches who already defy what Jesus really did are the ones that go there.

[wasleeper]

6. Fair is Fair

I am a fairly moderate person in my political views and I do consider myself a Christian. With that I have two simply points I would like to interject. 1. I am a christian and I have my view and I don't slam them onto everyone else, I also don't like to be treated like I am some how dumber or less intelligent about things just because of my faith. 2. People easily forget that the African-American Churchs has been preaching politics from the pulpit for more than 20 years, so if we should pull the tax-exempt status of the evangelical or conservative churches for preaching McCain. We also need to be fair and pull the tax-exempt status of all of the African-American churches that preach Obama.

[olegramps]

7. How about some specifics?

I would like you to back up your claim about Black congregations. As for the Catholic Church several bishops came out saying that Kerry and now Biden should be denied communion since they will not endorse making abortion a crime. This amounted to a tacit endorsement of Bush and now McCain. I say to hell with all of these hypocrites, especially the Catholic bishops who harbored priests that molested little boys. I sure as hell don't need them preaching to me about morality. As far as I am concerned the endorsement of Bush and McCain amounts to the endorsement of murderers. If you don't believe that just ask the relatives of thousands of Iraqis who have been slaughtered.

[WeDidIt]

8. Examples please

Sorry, but you're just plain WRONG.

Speech is free, but 501c3 status comes with strings attached. If a church wants to preach politics, it's a PAC, not a church.