Pastors encouraged to violate IRS ban on partisan politics

IRS should be urged to lift tax-exempt status of these political organizations that masquerade as institutions of "faith."

Pay to play, folks. Typical conservatives, wanting the power but not wanting to pay the taxes to secure that power and displaying a total disregard for the highest law of the land.

FACE wrote:

IRS should be urged to lift tax-exempt status of these political organizations that masquerade as institutions of "faith."
Pay to play, folks. Typical conservatives, wanting the power but not wanting to pay the taxes to secure that power and displaying a total disregard for the highest law of the land.

Take it easy Face. I am sure the good Reverend Jesse endorses the Dem candidate every election cycle. Religious idiots on all sides, as we have seen with Jerry Wright. Don't point fingers

I agree, it's also about time we started making them pay their fair share of taxes too.

IRS rules are not a violation of free speech rights for these churches. They are 100% free to enndorse any candidate they wish.

However, if they engage in partisan politics on behalf of or against any specific candidates or parties, they lose their tax exempt status. The taxpayers of the US are not to be forced to subsidize political activity.

Political activity is considered voluntary in this country. Providing tax exemption for organizations that engage in partisan political activity is tantamount to forcing US taxpayers to subsidize such activity, which is a violation of their rights under the constitution.

So, I'll say it again. Churches, endorse whomever you want, encourage your parishioners to vote against candidates you don't like. However, do not try to claim tax exemption as a religious organization when you act as a political organization.

Liberal and African-American churches have made a mockery of the rule for years, so why doesn't the conservative churches play the same game. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

One problem from a civic standpoint is that pastors have positions of authority and influence, which can be misused. From a theological standpoint it is a disaster for a church to engage in partisan politics. The church is supposed to preach the gospel, which should include speaking out on issues of concern. Congregants are not dumb. They can draw conclusions on whom to vote for based upon issues that matter to them. Politicking changes the church into an instrument of the politicans and eventually of the government.

man, these churches sit on tons of prime real estate.

a lot of communities will receive a huge tax revenue boost if they get this overturned.

No free rides for churches.

well if my preacher starts telling me if I don't vote right I'm going to hell then thats when I tell ole preach that I PAY HIS SALARY then tell him I will no longer PAY his salary! good bye preacher been nice to know ya!go mooch somewhere else get a real job.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Religions have a free choice to endorse any candidate if they want to. They just don't get free money (tax exemptions) from the government (and the tax paying citizens) when they choose to do it. If any thing, the fact they get the free money at all is unconstitutional. Atheistic organizations don't get the free money implying that the government is "respecting a establishment of religion". Remember not giving free undeserved money away because a church is going political is not the same as "prohibiting free exercise thereof".

So they figure if they can get enough pastors to 'break the law', the law will be changed or ignored? That is not how it is done, civil disobedience has gone way, way, way too far these days. Do what the rest of us have to do, work within the system if you want to change it. Just because Oprahma might be the Democratic candidate is not a free pass to do whatever one wants. If this is any indication of what awaits the rest of the taxpaying society having him in the White House will do for America, we are in big trouble.

Tobias wrote:

Liberal and African-American churches have made a mockery of the rule for years, so why doesn't the conservative churches play the same game. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

A better idea is that no religion Liberal, Conservative or neutral gets the free money. The law of the land prohibits racism so black or white shouldn't enter into the picture, as you have atempted to slip in.

Say anything you want but be prepared to pay taxes and get your non profit status taken away. I do not care if the Muslims, Christians, Buddists or Jews like it or not the IRS Rule should stand and be enforced just like it has on all businessmen.

If you are political you must pay taxes!
Pipe down or Pay UP you phoney TV bible thumping Preachers!

"So they figure if they can get enough pastors to 'break the law', the law will be changed or ignored? That is not how it is done, civil disobedience has gone way, way, way too far these days."
Well Rock, Civil disobedience only works for unjust laws or actions. Ones like riding in any section of a bus you want, protesting an unjust war, throwing tea in Boston Harbor to protest unjust taxes. Not ones like the ones churches extorting (from taxpayers) money to favor a political outcome, the ones demanding US status when they are here illegally at the expense of honest immigration candidates, honest american companies that do legal hiring and US workers and the ones demand "moment of silence" (religious prayer) in public schools. So, civil disobedience is only out of hand if people are stupid or ignorant enough not to know that these are not the ones protesting unjust rules, but just out for themselves. They have a right to attempt it, but they won't get very far.

Hey, Government!! You want enough money to cover the war? Tax Churches.

"Americans United for Separation of Church and State, an advocacy group in Washington, monitors church political activity and consistently files complaints with the IRS. They said Friday that they will notify the agency of any pastor who participates in the ADF campaign"
Sounds like they have a decent solution.

Tobias wrote:

Liberal and African-American churches have made a mockery of the rule for years, so why doesn't the conservative churches play the same game. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

I thought all Libs were godless and going to hell any way. Why don't the holier-then-thou GOP preachers call up God and tell him to strike down the IRS? I hear they have a direct line.

Fine with me if the IRS lifts the tax exemptions of preachers who push candidates from the pulpit, as long as they also go into the mosques and do the same thing.

I am clergy, and I agree with those who've posted their disagreement with political stance.

We ARE supposed to be separate from state; politics has no place in the pulpit. If introduced, then the church should lose its tax exempt status.

kent wrote:

<quoted text>
A better idea is that no religion Liberal, Conservative or neutral gets the free money. The law of the land prohibits racism so black or white shouldn't enter into the picture, as you have atempted to slip in.

What Baloney you spout. The black churches are infamous for doing just this and getting away with it because if they were cited, the first thing you'd hear would be cries of racism for applying the rules. Tell it to Jessie (love child) Jackion, Al ("White cops raped Tawanna Brawley") Sharpton, and the so-called Rev.("The government invented AIDS to kill black people") Wright. Its always been about race to them.

Tobias wrote:

Liberal and African-American churches have made a mockery of the rule for years, so why doesn't the conservative churches play the same game. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

That's very true.

It would be profoundly unfair to praise liberal churches for promoting liberal social policies and politics and then condemn the conservative churches for doing the mirror image.