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"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."
Further....
"The political campaign activity prohibition is not
intended to restrict free expression on political matters
by leaders of churches or religious organizations speaking for themselves, as individuals. Nor are leaders prohibited from speaking about important issues of public
policy . However, for their organizations to remain tax
exempt under IRC section 501(c)(3), religious leaders
cannot make partisan comments in official organization
publications or at official church functions . To avoid
potential attribution of their comments outside of church
functions and publications, religious leaders who speak
or write in their individual capacity are encouraged to
clearly indicate that their comments are personal and not
intended to represent the views of the organization."
And yet this political strategy wouldn't work if these issues weren't important to a large percentage of the country. That goes along with my point: if churches have always had teachings about certain issues, such as the ones you listed above, is there a point they have to stop teachings on these issues once they enter the political arena? Should they be forced to stop teachings on gays, abortion, & marriage because those issues have become politicized? I don't think that is the law, but it seems some would like it to be. I guess this would have prevented abolitionist churches from teaching about the evils of slavery!
Hank Hannegraff of the Bible Answer Man broadcast says that Christians should consider morality issues when voting. Anything that justifies taking innocent lives (such as abortion), according to him, are backed up by Biblical truths and are fair ground in politics as long as individual names are not being endorsed.
"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."
Further....
"The political campaign activity prohibition is not
intended to restrict free expression on political matters
by leaders of churches or religious organizations speaking for themselves, as individuals. Nor are leaders prohibited from speaking about important issues of public
policy . However, for their organizations to remain tax
exempt under IRC section 501(c)(3), religious leaders
cannot make partisan comments in official organization
publications or at official church functions . To avoid
potential attribution of their comments outside of church
functions and publications, religious leaders who speak
or write in their individual capacity are encouraged to
clearly indicate that their comments are personal and not
intended to represent the views of the organization."
There are some who would argue in court for the churches, that the Internal Revenue Act, which established the IRS in 1914 (prior to this there was no income tax) unconstitutionally imposed power over the churches in violation of the 1st amendment. And therefore whatever rules it has conjured up concerning what can be said and not said in a church are irrelevant.
There are some who would argue in court for the churches, that the Internal Revenue Act, which established the IRS in 1914 (prior to this there was no income tax) unconstitutionally imposed power over the churches in violation of the 1st amendment. And therefore whatever rules it has conjured up concerning what can be said and not said in a church are irrelevant.
Exactly. And that's why church pastors are BAITING the IRS to come after them.
"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."
Fascinating.
Isn't it funny how those "voter registration guides" magically pop-up in the vestibules of churches...issues that are presented are selective, and they *always* point to the GOP candidate (surprise!).
It's okay however: the GOP needs the votes, and the Church is content to play her role of battered wife, so long as she gets crumbs off of the kings table.
I went back and reread it (post 123) and realized I read too fast.
I thought the poster was saying his priest "clearly endorsed Romney", meaning he had mentioned him by name - but apparently that is not what happened.
But THAT is why I said he crossed a line. Thanks for giving me a chance to correct that
I agree with you, every pastor has the responsibility to preach the gospel.
Unfortunately, some out there misinterpret or misunderstand the gospel, but that's a subject for another thread
The "directly or indirectly" clause is key here and is being ignored.
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