Posted on 10/22/2008 8:38:24 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Church-State Watchdog Group Says Pastor Violated Federal Tax Law With Call To Vote For McCain
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is advising houses of worship nationwide to respect federal tax law and stay out of partisan politics.
Americans United announced today that 100,000 letters have been mailed to clergy and lay leaders reminding them that federal tax law prohibits tax-exempt entities, including houses of worship, from endorsing candidates.
“Houses of worship are supposed to tend to spiritual needs and do charitable work, not act as political action committees,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “Our letter reminds religious leaders about what the law requires, why it makes sense and how it could affect them.”
The AU letters were sent to a broad cross-section of Christian denominations, as well as a selection of synagogues and mosques.
Said Lynn, “The vast majority of clergy of all faiths reject the idea that houses of worship should be politicized. But misguided religious and political forces persist in pressuring religious leaders to violate federal tax law. We urge clergy to just say no.”
The mass mailing comes on the heels of a project by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group, which last month urged evangelical Christian pastors to violate the law by endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit. Reportedly, 33 pastors took part in the ADF effort; Americans United has already filed complaints with the IRS about seven of them.
In addition to its mass mailing to houses of worship, Americans United is making various resources about church politicking available to religious leaders and laypeople through a Web site it created called projectfairplay.org.
Several recent polls, Lynn noted, have shown a majority of Americans opposing pulpit politicking. Americans of all political persuasions and faith backgrounds are increasingly saying they want their houses of worship to unite people, not divide them by introducing partisan politics.
“Church-based electioneering drives wedges into congregations, violates federal tax law and distracts from the true mission of the religious community,” Lynn said. “It’s a bad deal all around.”
Was I away when Barry Lynn was elected Grand Czar, in charge of all religions? Who is he to tell everyone of every religion what their religion means? I didn't realize the First Ammendment was void for anyone who belonged to a religion.
Nazis
They want us Christians to be quiet. Why can’t a pastor give a sermon illustrating why a candidate is incompatible with Christian beliefs?
If you ain’t a “Christian for Obama,” you’ve got a bullseye on your back.
What a crock! Where were these people in 2004 when Kerry was visiting all of those Black churches? I wonder how often Kerry sets foot in one now.
Yeah, hypocrites! I met you guys before. Tell that to Rev. Jackson 7 all the black churches!
Tell that to Rev. Wright’s old church!
And from there, go talk to Rev. Jeremiah "God D@mn America!" Wright.
Then Calypso Louie.
Don't forget to write about your adventures.
Cheers!
Ping to read later
I don’t recall them throwing a fit when Democrat politicians stand at the pulpit of black churches on the Sunday before election Tuesday.
They should send letters to every Pacifica and NPR station as well. They are aware they cannot engage in “advocacy” for a party or candidate or proposition; but the Green Party literature in their lobby giveaway rack betrays that agreement.
>>... federal tax law prohibits tax-exempt entities, including houses of worship, from endorsing candidates.
Thank LBJ in for that one. In 1954, he silenced a pastor in Texas who was railing against him. I guess gay “marriage”, gambling, baby killing, etc. aren’t religious issues.
Now, the only two bulwarks preventing a socialist takeover in America are Evangelical Christians and talk radio. If Obama wins they both will fall.
I'm sure he fails to see the slightest irony in his position.
When a nation’s politicians call for that nation’s premier arbiters of morality and ethics to be silent on issues of right and wrong, that nation cannot last much longer. If the Law of God does not guide the hand that rules the nation, the nation will fall, taking its people with it.
What a joke! Is there a black church that wouldn’t permit a Democrat politician at the podium? I’d say very few.
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