OPERATION PULPIT WATCH: 2008 Presidential Election Edition

[Pab Sungenis]

On November 4, 2006, I issued a call to action to Democrats:

I'm now asking DU'ers to do something that might seem odd to a few of them.

I want you to go to Church this Sunday.

With this, the final sermonizing day before the midterm elections, upon us, this is our best chance to protect the First Amendment's guarantee of Separation of Church and State. We need to ensure that the preachers who use their pulpits as political rostra are held to account.

With only a few more weeks to go in Election 2008, it's time to once again kick Operation Pulpit Watch into action. The presence of an acknowledged dominionist wacko on the Republican ticket makes this action even more important, as the alleged Christian mega-churches are sure to be beating the drum even louder than before.

The Wall of Separation needs to be sacrosanct. Keep government out of religion, and religion out of government.

Here are the basics of Operation Pulpit Watch, and how you can (and should) take part:

Please pick a Church near you to go to Sunday. If you regularly to go a Church, please pick a different one. Pick the most right-wing, frothing at the mouth, evangelical church you can locate, and attend at least one service each week, preferably more than one.

When you attend, bring a recorder in with you. Either a microcassette or digital voice recorder would be best, since they're small enough to be convenient and inconspicuous. Be sure to tape the preacher's ENTIRE sermon, along with any other relevant portions. Get as much as you can.

Now, here's what to look for:

Blatant, unmistakable, polticking. I'm not talking about encouraging parishoners to "vote their conscience" or "vote pro-life" or similar statements. Those are fair game under free speech and freedom to worship. HOWEVER, if any part of the service crosses the line, and the flock is blatantly told to vote for a specific candidate, or "vote Republican," then they need to be called on it.

The handing out of "voter's guides" or other literature. Again, this would be a perfect example of a church stepping over the line, and telling its members to vote for specific candidates. If such literature is handed out, carefully save it.

Candidates speaking from the pulpit. This is the worst example I can imagine, and it happens way too often.

If any of these happen at the Church you visit (and this is the weekend they're most likely to, if they happen) then preserve all evidence. Make copies. Burn CD's. Make sure you have plenty of proof. Then call the IRS. File complaints immediately. Give them copies (NOT THE ORIGINALS) of your evidence.

As always, we have to protect the Wall of Separation. We are the eyes and ears of democracy. We have to remain vigilant to help stop people from using religion to advance their political agendas. Please consider joining this effort. Thank you.

[napi21]

1. I heard yesterday that a RW group, Focus on the Family I think,

has contacted all their affiliated preachers and asked them to deliberately tell their congregation who to vote for and why this morning at church. I don't know how many did, but their intent is to force a lawsuit to the SCOTUS to grant them permission to always do this but still keep their IRS status. I heard this on "State of Belief" on AAR yesterday. I haven't heard any results.

[Clio the Leo]

2. My preacher says all the time.........

...... "I believe God chooses men in times of need."

Newsflash: He is NOT talking about John McCain. ;)

He's also my father .......... he never mentions a name, but has been dropping subtle hints for months. I called him out on it a couple of weeks ago, "did you notice that? Think of all the things that had to have happened for Barack to get to where he is now?" he smiled.

Now, I am not saying Barack is the chosen one ........ but it's something to think about.

Our cars are emblazoned with Obama stickers ...... up one side and down the other. Most of our congregation agrees with us, and spend most of their time telling me "I want a t-shirt! how do I get one?" but apparently someone told my father that someone ELSE said they didn't think the preacher should have a bumper sticker supporting a political candidate on their car (as if the Church owned it, please.)

My father, who is also an attorney, politely suggested that anyone who had a problem should speak to him personally.

Fear not kids ......... there are a FEW of us Christian southerners who have good sense. Strange but true.

[napi21]

3. I'm actually hoping that these nuts succeed in their efforts to get

their case to the SCOTUS. It takes a long time to get a case presented there, and it's even more iffy that they would take it, but by the time that happens, Obama will have nominated several justices and manybe we can finally put an end to this BS!

[Pab Sungenis]

4. Yes, but your father is not telling people WHO to vote for FROM the pulpit.

That's the difference. Politick all you want, but not in sermons.