church entering politics

[Randy_Refeld]

I reeived a letter asking me to vote for Bush in Nov. I plan to vote for Bush, but this letter caused me great concern. It had a hateful tone to it and it came from my wife's church. Her church has our address wrong adn this letter came to that address. I beleive it either originated from her church orthe church sold our info. These both feel wrong to me does anyone know off the top of their head if any law has been violated here (I don't care much for her church).

RR

[Stu Pidasso]

Religion isn't entering politics, its always been a part of politics.

I doubt the church has violated any laws by sending you the letter asking that you vote for Bush. I think any law that was restricting churches from endorsing politcal candidates would be unconstitutional.

Stu

[Cyrus]

in the head.

They are religious fundamentalists -- yet they want us to believe that they are fighting against religious fundamentalism.

They are the last of the big time spenders -- yet they want us to believe that the Democrats are worse.

They take away civil rights and individual freedoms (and promise us more such thievery) -- yet they want us to believe that thet Dems are a threat to liberty.

They are mostly chicken (or, even worse, chickenhawks) -- yet they want us to believe that the liberals are soft in matters of war.

...What is this?? In poker, it's called "bluffing yer way to the poor house". What's it caled in politics?

[lastchance]

If the letter is threatening, sue for harrassment or something.

Make a lot of noise about what happened. If your wife agrees with you, go to the people who run your wife's church. I don't think they want this out in the open.

[GWB]

Being religious does not disqualify you from participating in politics. It is called Free Speech.

Are we to say that Atheists can politic, but Christians and Jews can not?

Jesse Jackson is a Religious Leader, Martin Luther King Jr. was a Religious Leader. The anti-slavery activists of the 19th century were led by Religious Leaders.

Objection to the free speech of religious leaders says more about the recipient of the speech than about the speaker. Free speech belongs to everyone.

Sadly, in this country, one of the few groups it is socially acceptable to discriminate against are people of religious beliefs.

[adios]

Kerry Campaigns in Church

For a long time, a double standard has been applied to the parties' efforts to use religious groups to organize support. When conservative, evangelical churches encourage their members to vote for culturally conservative candidates, they are viewed with suspicion in the press and, in some instances, by the Internal Revenue Service. In the early 1990s, the IRS harassed the Church at Pierce Creek in New York, ultimately revoking its tax-exempt status, an action that was upheld by the federal courts. The American Center for Law and Justice reports:

The case revolves around an open letter that was published in the fall of 1992 by The Church at Pierce Creek in Binghamton, New York. The letter, which was published in USA Today, challenged candidate Bill Clinton's stance on abortion, homosexuality and sexual abstinence outside of marriage. The church used biblical passages to support its position on these issues.

In January 1993, the IRS began its investigation of the incident and following a two-year campaign of intimidation and harassment, the IRS revoked the tax-exempt status of The Church at Pierce Creek in January 1995 because it said the church violated the IRS code which prohibits organizations that receive tax-deductible contributions from participating in partisan politics.

Current IRS regulations, as summarized just one month ago by Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ's Chief Counsel, provide that "pastors and churches cannot endorse or oppose a candidate for political office."

Yesterday, John Kerry made a campaign appearance at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Miami. Kerry gave a campaign speech disguised as a sermon, held hands with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and was applauded by a sign-waving congregation. Here are some photos from the event; click to enlarge:

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/Church.jpg
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/KerryChurch2.jpg

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/KerryChurch3.jpg

This wasn't a church service, it was a campaign rally. To suggest that this church and its minister did not endorse Kerry would be absurd. It's time to level the playing field, and either abandon the principle that churches can't endorse candidates, or apply the current rules equally to both sides.

[andyfox]

I believe Kerry is going to give a speech (today?) about his "faith."