Posted on 10/15/2011 12:13:05 PM PDT by ReformationFan
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the IRS to investigate First Baptist Church of Dallas and its pastor for posting videos that endorse a presidential candidate, but the pastor isn't concerned about it. Pastor Robert Jeffress, who is familiar with Americans United's executive director Barry Lynn, introduced Rick Perry at last weekend's Values Voter Summit at the request of the Family Research Council. Following the scuffle about the pastor's subsequent comments on Mormonism being a "cult," the church-state separation advocacy group targeted Jeffress. "Barry Lynn has spent his whole career writing letters to the IRS trying to intimidate churches. This is absolutely nothing but an attempt by Barry Lynn to get some much-needed publicity," the First Baptist pastor contends. "Look -- they are challenging my right as a pastor to endorse a candidate, and of course I would never officially endorse a candidate as pastor of First Baptist Church Dallas." But he says that he personally has every right, as does every American, to say whatever he wants to say and to endorse whomever we wants to endorse. "Barry Lynn has been trying to muzzle pastors for years [by] threatening their tax-exempt status," Jeffress notes. "And what Barry never tells anybody is that there has never been a church in American history that has ever lost its tax-exempt status." He further argues that this attack from Americans United is just a lot of hot air designed to corner pastors into being silent, but he assures that "Lynn is not going to succeed." He believes the watchdog advocate is just trying to become relevant again, but "it's just not going to work." And Jeffress reiterates that any endorsement of his was a personal one, as he would never make a political endorsement from the pulpit.
(Excerpt) Read more at onenewsnow.com ...
Pastor Robert Jeffress, sounds like a damned fool to me,but when the investigations start let’s investigate all of the black Church’s that Hillary went to, Let’s investigate Al Sharptongue, and Jeremiah Wright.
Let’s be fair and investigate them all.
Damfool or not, it appears he did all legally, keeping his political pronouncements outside of the 401(c)(3) registered church he presides at.
Since he was apparently trying to hurt Romney, the Rats won’t cotton to this very well.
The local chapter of the ACLU has its offices in Fountain Street Church here in Grand Rapids.
Thanks ReformationFan.
Catholic priests can talk about issues, but NEVER endorse a candidate.
Ping?
Religious speech is speech.
period.
next subject.
If you believe in the freedom of speech anyways.
It would be nice if the purveyors of militant secularism would face similar fines and penalties.
Nor will the RINO’s
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