[Robert A Cook PE]

Nothing like the “white” (conservative, Roman Catholic, suburban) churches where we are EXPRESSING FORBIDDEN to even put literature under windshields in the parking lot near elections ... because otherwise the IRS has threatened to revoke the church's tax-exempt charters.

But separation of church and state is only for Christian principles, Christian values, and Christian morals.

[wildandcrazyrussian]

Where I live, people from various political organizations who put leaflets under windshield wipers are specifically advised that -- as long as they do NOT ask permission in advance and thus "involve" the church in any way -- they have a constitutional right to enter "public areas" like church parking lots (which, although private property, generally invite the public in) and leave flyers on cars just like any advertisement. This is based on federal case law, and people can not legally be arrested for trespassing up until the moment an employee or officer of the church comes out and demands they leave. Then they must leave or risk arrest for trespassing, but then at that point they can NOT be forced to remove existing flyers from cars.

Suppose, as a thought experiment, that a left-wing group decided to leave flyers advocating the election of a militant atheist and inviting churchgoers to think for themselves instead of listening to the pastor. How would the leaving of such flyers cause the IRS to be suspicious of the church for the actions of unknown persons contrary to its assumed interestss They would obviously be an expression of free speech by people who have a legal right to enter a "public area". Obviously, the IRS would have no cause.

On the other hand, suppose such candidate's opponents leave flyers exhorting the opposite. How could the IRS be suspicious of the church for the actions of unknown persons? They would obviously be an expression of free speech by people who have a legal right to enter a "public area". Obviously, again in this case, the IRS would have no cause.

Therefore, if the IRS were to take any action because some conservatives left pro-conservative flyers, that would be attempted censorship based on content, which would be found unconstitutional.

Hence, any pastor who comes out and shouts about your leafletting causing him to be threatened by the IRS literally does not know the settled law on this and is allowing himself to be used. Another possibility (of which I have seen examples here) is that such as pastor is using the supposed threat from the IRS for his own purposes since he is not pro-life and just wants them to go away, and this gives him perfect cover.

[Hardastarboard]

But separation of church and state is only for Christian principles, Christian values, and Christian morals.

And "white" churches. What isn't readily apparent from the article, unless you read carefully, is that these were "black" churches. Politicians can campaign in black churches and get away with it, but not in white ones.

[MrB]

It’s not as if we weren’t told that that’s the way it would be.

Rejoice if you’re persecuted and hated by the world. It tells you you’re on the right team.