Pastors Across the U.S. Say They Will Defy Law and Talk Politics

[democracy1st]

Nearly 100 pastors across the country planned to take part in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an in-your-face challenge Sunday to what the government says can and cannot be said in church.

The pastors, along with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based nonprofit Alliance Defense Fund, are reacting to a law stating that churches are not allowed to support politicians from the pulpit, according to the ADF.

The growing trend is a challenge to the IRS from the churches, and may jeopardize their all-important tax-exempt status. But some pastors and church leaders said they are willing to defy the law to defending their right to freedom of speech.

Federal tax law, established in 1954, prohibits churches and tax exempt entities from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

Pulpit Freedom Sunday is an initiative organized by the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian nonprofit organization, which according to its website seeks to "defend the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation."

"We believe that a pastor has a right to speak whatever he believes without fearing the government will somehow censor what he says or threaten to take away his tax exemption," ADF spokesman Erik Stanley said.

He said the group believes that the 1954 amendment, sponsored by then Sen. Lyndon Johnson, D-Texas, is a violation of the Constitution. According to the ADF, the government's monitoring of the content of pastors' and churches' speech is a violation of the Free Speech Clause.

The IRS will be keeping an eye on the planned activities.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/definat-pastors-irs/story?id=11726610

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Johnson sponsored this amendment and the churches at that time agreed to stay out of politics

They haven't kept their end of the bargain.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Never ever believe the GOPer Bullies....

[Scuba]

3. Fine, then tax them.

[ixion]

5. Exactly. A simple solution to a stupid situation

[madrchsod]

4. if i remember jesus did`t endorse anyone in his day......

he did`t rely on politicians to get his message to the people. oh ye of little faith.

[clarence swinney]

6. SPLIT A CHURCH

one half R one half D It will happen.
My Pastor put an insert in Sunday bulletin few years ago which said Vote For Dole and Burr they are against Abortion and Gay marriage.

He did not say how they were ANTI JESUS CHRIST in policies of
PRO RICH ANTI POOR which was not the major theme of Jesus in all his teachings.
The Poor was his major theme.
He did not tell us how they were for KILLING of other humans in support of huge killing factories for $$$$$.

I have named the Republican Party the TRIPLE A PARTY
ANTI-CHRIST
ANTI-AMERICA
ANTI-WORLD
olduglymeanhonestT

[DeltaLitProf]

7. Is there a single case of the IRS going after a church for this?

Churches make a big deal out of being oppressed by this law, but I can't think of a single example of one being challenged for what a preacher said in the pulpit.

[rpannier]

9. Not that I am aware of. But take heart

I'm sure a harshly worded letter is in store for these pastors
It might even rise to the level of tersely worded

[Catshrink]

11. Yeah - it was a liberal Episcopal church in CA

Guess it's okay when the fundies do it though.

[old mark]

8. Great - I hope they will take ALL church property into consideration -

including all real estate and all their business enterprises. May help bring down the defecit!


mark

[Quantess]

10. They need to start contributing their fair share!

I hope the IRS cracks down.

[The Wizard]

12. Any time the Church is tax exempt

there is no separation of Church and State. Marx was right about the opiate of the masses.

[Bitwit1234]

13. I think it is time the IRS or the DOJ put

their foot down. It is not right for the churches to receive tax free status. That they don't have to pay taxes and then they go out and preach politics. Damn it all what would happen if every American screamed to be tax free and then preached politics. This has got to stop and right now. If we flooded the IRS with LETTERS demanding the tax free status be revoked when they start preaching politics they would stop. Getting to keep all that money is going to out way them turning politicians. Cause all most churches want now is MONEY. If the IRS had cracked down on these preachers in the past they wouldn't be blatantly ignoring the agreements to not preach politics. But they have been allowed to get away with it. It takes a little bit of work to just write a letter and say,,,you no longer enjoy the tax free status, you are becoming involved in politics.

[WVRICK13]

14. What's New

the churches around here always preach politics and the brainwashed masses blindly vote as they are instructed. It is so strange to think god is against poor people and supports tax cuts for the wealthy. Even more strange is the serfs voting for that nonsense. Rushing headlong into total slavery and subjugation.

[WillyT]

15. K & R !!!

:kick:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

16. I would immediately and unhesitatingly slap a hefty tax on every single one of them...

...and I say that as a Christian.

I was extremely offended when my church crossed the line in 2004 and offered "informational evenings" on the presidential election and used portions of the Mass to encourage us to "vote for candidates who respect the rights of the unborn" (playing into the popular "Kerry supports abortion and wants to kill unborn babies" meme of the time).

Just tax them. Tax the ever-loving shit out of them. Then they can enjoy their free speech while paying taxes.