Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pastors test ban on pulpit politicking
firstamendmentcenter.org ^ | September 29, 2008 | Associated Press

Posted on 09/29/2008 9:51:31 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

Pastor Luke Emrich prepared his sermon this week knowing his remarks could invite an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. But that was the whole point, so Emrich forged ahead with his message: Thou shalt vote according to the Scriptures.

“I’m telling you straight up, I would choose life,” Emrich told about 100 worshippers yesterday at New Life Church, a nondenominational evangelical congregation about 40 miles from Milwaukee.

“I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin,” he said. “But friends, it’s your choice to make, it’s not my choice. I won’t be in the voting booth with you.”

All told, 33 pastors in 22 states were to make pointed recommendations about political candidates yesterday, an effort orchestrated by the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund.

The conservative legal group plans to send copies of the pastors’ sermons to the IRS with hope of setting off a legal fight and abolishing restrictions on church involvement in politics. Critics call it unnecessary, divisive and unlikely to succeed.

(Excerpt) Read more at firstamendmentcenter.org ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; adf; irs; pastor; politicking

1 posted on 09/29/2008 9:51:36 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: Berlin_Freeper

“I’m telling you straight up, I would choose life.”

Amen.


3 posted on 09/29/2008 9:58:30 AM PDT by constant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper; metmom; DaveLoneRanger; editor-surveyor; betty boop; Alamo-Girl; MrB; GourmetDan; ..

Excellent find! The First Amendment was designed to be applied against/restrict the Federal Government, not the states, not the people, and certainly not religion. The Feds have no business telling pastors what they can and can’t say in the pulpit.


4 posted on 09/29/2008 9:58:43 AM PDT by GodGunsGuts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

A HUGE, ENORMOUS bump for the Constitution. God Bless these pastors mightily!


5 posted on 09/29/2008 10:09:01 AM PDT by dcwusmc (We need to make government so small that it can be drowned in a bathtub.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

You want free speech? pay your taxes.
You want no taxes? limit your speech.

That’s how the system works. They’re gonna have a hard time fighting it.


6 posted on 09/29/2008 10:11:52 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (The average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. - Ratatouille)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

How refreshing to see that there are Christians waking up to the fact that the state has taken away their right of freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
When every Democrat campaigns in Black churches, the state is definitely selectively enforcing this unjust IRS law.
This needs to go to the Supreme Court before the next justice is appointed.


7 posted on 09/29/2008 10:13:49 AM PDT by kittymyrib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kittymyrib

Pastors are free to discuss whatever they want in a sermon. Period. Tax exemption, however, is not available to organizations that advocate for political candidates. The concept is being misrepresented.


8 posted on 09/29/2008 10:16:08 AM PDT by JustRight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2

“....That’s how the system works. They’re gonna have a hard time fighting it....”

You have 50 years precedent of political speech being ignored by the IRS in black churches. I think they are on pretty firm ground under the Equal Protection Clause.


9 posted on 09/29/2008 10:16:20 AM PDT by Islander7 ("Common sense and common decency are uncommon virtues among America's left.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2

“You want no taxes? limit your speech.”

When the IRS applies their censorship to imams in U.S. mosques and pastors of Black churches, then you may have a point. However, it seems only pastors of White evangelical churches are subject to this censorship.


10 posted on 09/29/2008 10:18:04 AM PDT by kittymyrib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GodGunsGuts

Thanks for the ping!


11 posted on 09/29/2008 11:02:42 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: kittymyrib

You said it!! The IRS has ignored the Black and Muslim churches openly campaigning for the Democrats and churches that supported Republicans have been punished. I’d say easily there is no equal enforcement of the law.


12 posted on 09/29/2008 11:26:38 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2
"You want free speech? pay your taxes. You want no taxes? limit your speech. That’s how the system works. They’re gonna have a hard time fighting it."

Sorry, but taxing churches for free speech is a violation of the 1st Amendment because it falls under the 'or prohibiting the free exercise thereof' part of the amendment. There is a reason that freedom of religion and freedom of speech are in the same and 1st Amendment.

Churches then and now are an important voice against the tyranny of government and the framers recognized that fact. People today, not being as educated in basic liberty as the framers were, do not recognize that truth.

What you are arguing is that the 16th Amendment overrides the 1st Amendment and that is not the case unless specifically voted on like the 21st Amendment repealing the 18th.

The 16th Amendment didn't repeal the 1st Amendment.

13 posted on 09/29/2008 4:05:29 PM PDT by GourmetDan (Eccl 10:2 - The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2

Show us where in the Constitution freedom of speech is conditional on paying taxes and you MIGHT have a point.

Except for the complicating factor that the federal government is prohibited by that Constitution from restricting speech or the free exercise of religion.

Thankfully, that protects us from the communism that people like you advocate.


14 posted on 09/29/2008 6:54:57 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: metmom

Don’t confuse making an observation with agreeing with it.


15 posted on 09/29/2008 7:08:33 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (The average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. - Ratatouille)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: GodGunsGuts

I see ADF got bored!


16 posted on 09/29/2008 8:43:50 PM PDT by Fichori (ironic: adj. 1 Characterized by or constituting irony. 2 Obamy getting beat up by a girl.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Fichori

ADF???


17 posted on 09/30/2008 9:40:21 AM PDT by GodGunsGuts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: GodGunsGuts

Alliance Defense Fund.

Their sole purpose in life is to sue the bad guys on behalf of the good guys.

If you have a child in school and your child gets in trouble from the school for handing out candy canes with cards explaining the history of the candy cane....

The ADF wants to represent your child.(For free)

I remember seeing ADF adds in Focus on the Family’s Citizen magazine, saying that they were looking for cases.

My understanding is that they are a bunch of Christian lawyers who like doing pro-bono work. (and like beating up the bad guys)

ADF also accepts monetary donations to cover the cost of operating.

(All from memory)


18 posted on 09/30/2008 10:00:11 AM PDT by Fichori (ironic: adj. 1 Characterized by or constituting irony. 2 Obamy getting beat up by a girl.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Fichori

ADF is cool, cool, cool! Now if they can just figure out a way to go after the ACLU DIRECTLY!!!


19 posted on 09/30/2008 10:22:53 AM PDT by GodGunsGuts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson