I have to ask, is it legal for a pastor to endorse a political candidate, in a church?

[Skip Intro]

Many here were concerned about rw "preachers" pushing bush, because that was, as I recall, somehow illegal.

Anyone who has seen the particular youtube video of Wright praising Obama and slamming Hillary, for being white it seemed to me, would have to be blind to not see that as a campaign event for Obama.

Would we stand for a pastor praising in direct language g w bush, while slamming Kerry? Many here were upset about that. But if it was wrong, or even in violation of campaign laws, then, wouldn't that also be the case with Wright?

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. Nope, not legal, cause for revocation of tax-exempt status.

Campaigning for or specifically endorsing a candidate is a no-no (but it's still a common thing to see happen, both in black churches for Democratic candidates, and in evangelical churches for the GOP).

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. Yeah, and they totally went after those RW preachers.

Fined them and stripped them of their tax exempt status...oh wait...they didn't.

Your point?

[Skip Intro]

4. No, they didn't. And they won't now. I didn't have a point, I had a question.

[grantcart]

6. It is a good question

It is not legal - they can support issues but not specific candidates.

It is very difficult to enforce because they can say Candidate X is the devil or Candidate X is wise but they cannot say


go out tomorrow and vote for Candidate X

[mrreowwr_kittty]

9. No, they are going after him. Because he supports a Democrat.

Has your Clinton-worship overridden your common sense? The IRS is already investigating Black churches that Obama has spoken at, just like went after ones Kerry and Clinton did. They'll go after Wright too. Trust me, if Hillary were in front right now, they'd be scrutinizing every religious leader she ever had a conversation with. Particularly if they were Black.

[Skip Intro]

10. Oh Good God. How can you expect me to take anything you say seriously when you start by insulting me

Has my "Clinton-worship" overridden my common sense? Really, why would I feel a need to entertain anything else you have to say when you open with an insult? I asked a question.

However, I did read the rest of your post. They will go after Wright, you're right about that. But no, I don't think this has anything to do with repukes going after Dem pastors, preachers, etc. Wright opened himself up to this controversy.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

19. Bullcrap.

Right wing preachers say outrageous things all the damn time. Jerry Falwell's statement about 9-11 didn't get GOP leaders in trouble. Pat Robertson runs off the mouth all the time and goes on to help GOP politicians get elected. Daddy Dobson thinks boys should shower with their fathers. What Republican politician has been asked to justify a relationship with him?

[ProSense]

3. Are you thinking they should go after Obama's church?

Trinity United Church of Christ is a megachurch, the largest congregation of the United Church of Christ, with 10,000 members.<1> It is also one of the largest African-American churches in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama, the junior United States Senator from Illinois and candidate for the Democratic Party Presidential nomination, is the most notable congregant, and a member since 1988.<1><2><3><4> The pastor has most recently been the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.<5><6><7> Wright announced his retirement to Senior Pastor status in early 2008, and he is being replaced by the Rev. Otis Moss III.<8>

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, generally considered within the Reformed tradition, and formed in 1957 by the union of two denominations, the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches.

According to the 2007 yearbook, the United Church of Christ has approximately 1.2 million members and is composed of approximately 5,518 local congregations.

Although similar in name, the UCC denomination is theologically and, for the most part, historically distinct from the Churches of Christ, a loose affiliation of conservative congregations<1> that arose primarily from the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement in the 19th century.

[Skip Intro]

7. I was asking a question. You did not answer it.

[ProSense]

8. I need more information. Is that what you're thinking? n/t

[Skip Intro]

11. I'll answer your questions when you answer mine.

[Catherina]

5. Too many glass houses

With bizarre southern drawl and all.

Audio if you're interested: http://www.spike.com/profile/breitbart/video/2829104

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. not suppose to..but if the IRS does go after him it will only be because he's a Democrat

[Hippo_Tron]

18. You can bet on that

Unfortunately the IRS takes orders from the assholes currently in the white house. They won't dare go after any of the RW preachers but they would go after Obama's preacher.

[americanstranger]

13. The words to look for are 'endorse' or 'vote.'

Those are the trigger words which can lead to a church losing its tax-exempt status.

If Wright said them on that video, then the church will be penalized. If not, no harm, no foul.

- as

[LulaMay]

14. No, but it happens all the time. It's not legal for them to suggest how to vote on anything.

[bowens43]

17. really? What law prohibits it?

[LulaMay]

22. It has to do with their tax exempt status.

[JDPriestly]

15. A pastor has the same right to free speech as any other person,

however, a church can lose its non-profit IRS status under certain circumstances.

Churches and religious organizations, like many other
charitable organizations, qualify for exemption from
federal income tax under IRC section 501(c)(3) and
are generally eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
To qualify for tax-exempt status, such an
organization must meet the following requirements
(covered in greater detail throughout this publication):
■ the organization must be organized and operated
exclusively for religious, educational, scientific, or other
charitable purposes,
■ net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any
private individual or shareholder,
■ no substantial part of its activity may be attempting
to influence legislation,
■ the organization may not intervene in political
campaigns, and
■ the organization’s purposes and activities may not
be illegal or violate fundamental public policy.
Recognition of Tax-Exempt Status

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

Substantial Lobbying Activity
In general, no organization, including a church, may
qualify for IRC section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial
part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation
(commonly known as lobbying). An IRC section
501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but
too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.

. . .

A church or religious organization will be regarded as
attempting to influence legislation if it contacts, or urges
the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative
body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or
opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the
adoption or rejection of legislation.
Churches and religious organizations may, however,
involve themselves in issues of public policy without the
activity being considered as lobbying. For example,
churches may conduct educational meetings, prepare
and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider
public policy issues in an educational manner without
jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

. . .
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all IRC section
501(c)(3) organizations, including churches and religious
organizations, are absolutely prohibited from directly or
indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political
campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate
for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign
funds or public statements of position (verbal or
written) made by or on behalf of the organization in favor
of or in opposition to any candidate for public office
clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign
activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial
or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of
certain excise tax.

Same website link

[bowens43]

16. Yes, it's legal.

it may, in extreme cases, cause the loss of tax exempt status but isn't illegal.

[JPZenger]

20. Cannot endorse candidate as pastor in church

The IRS rules say a religious leader cannot officially endorse a candidate in their church as a religious leader. They can endorse a candidate as an individual, and they can discuss issues in a church, as long as it is not a candidate endorsement.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. no churches can invite guest speakers but to constantly endorse a candidate from the pulpit ........

endangers your 501c tax exempt status and invites the IRS to come pounding on your churches doors....but, only if your pastor is a Democrat

[backscatter712]

23. Only if he doesn't mind his church paying taxes at the full rate.

If the church is non-profit and takes the tax breaks, then it can't get political.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

24. It's not illegal, i.e., criminal, but it may risk the church's tax exempt status.

At least that's my understanding. Why is that an issue?

[indimuse]

25. good question.

indimuse (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-14-08 07:41 AM
Response to Original message
63. problem...
He was attacking Hillary...from the pulpit...wasn't just words...was an attack on Hillary and campaigning for Barack!

it was sooo obvious ...:)

[rucky]

26. I believe that church is currently under IRS investigation.

But consider this:

The Civil Rights Movement was organized through the black churches.

Just some food for thought. I'm kinda torn on the underlying issue.