Leading Pastor Endorses Ted Cruz

Charisma News ^ | November 25, 2015 | Bob Eschliman

[Jim W N]

Absolutely OK to disagree. But sometimes one can insert reasoning the other hasn’t thought of. If you’re set, you’re set but for the reasons given I try to influence as many as I can about our true freedom to exercise religion in or out of government.

God bless and Happy Thanksgiving.

[EternalVigilance]

When pastors endorse a candidate they then lose the tax-exempt status.

I don't know where you got that idea.

When a man gets behind a pulpit, he doesn't shed his God-given, unalienable rights. Far from it. In fact, if there's one place that free speech must always be unfettered, it's in the pulpit.

[Salvation]

The Catholic Church can speak to issues, but they cannot endorse candidates.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

Did you even read my post? The law makes a distinction between an individual pastor who can endorse and a church which can’t. Your original statement was wrong.

[Osage Orange]

You must hate the Founders of this country...........

[okie01]

I don’t want gov’t in my church.
And I don’t want my church in government.

I understand what you are saying. But I don't have any idea why you're saying it -- other than a personal quirk. What principle underlays your thinking?

If government ha no impact upon the church, I could understand it. But government does have an impact upon the church -- more than it justifiably should, actually.

In which case, shouldn't the church be allowed to have an opinion -- just like any other institution impacted by government? Like education? Like businesses? Like municipalities?

[BlueNgold]

Yes, clearly, the founders who had the radical sense to prohibit the establishment of a state religion are hated by people who dont want government in their church...

[Salvation]

The priest is the leader of the local parish and as such, I don’t believe he can endorse a candidate. Yes, he can speak to issues, but as a representative of the church, endorsements are off the table. That’s what I’ve always been taught.

[Salvation]

I am speaking of the priest speaking from the pulpit to the people of the congregation.

Of course, he can have his personal opinions voiced elsewhere — such as in voting.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

The priest can say “ I Father Jones endorse Ted Cruz.....”
He can’t say “ the Catholic Church endorses Ted Cruz”
And it doesn’t matter where he says it pulpit or not. First Amendment rights don’t end when speaking fro the pulpit. You were taught wrong, which is typical for the Catholic Church the last 50 years.