Your email address is safe with us. View our Privacy policy.
IRS gets complaints about pulpit politics
Pastors across the United States preached politics from the pulpit Sunday, saying they hope to provoke a federal tax investigation that could lead to a lawsuit. Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed complaints Monday with the IRS about six churches whose pastors took part in the defiance of federal tax law.
The pastors said they offered their endorsements during "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" to break the IRS rules, hoping to provoke a lawsuit that could prompt federal courts to throw out a half-century ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship, The Washington Post reported Monday.
The IRS bars church leaders from using their pulpits to espouse political views, which could jeopardize their tax-exempt status.
"These pastors flagrantly violated the law and now must deal with the consequences," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The effort -- organized by the Alliance Defense Fund, a socially conservative legal group based in Scottsdale, Ariz. -- has drawn IRS attention, the Post said. The agency pledged to "monitor the situation and take action as appropriate."
Other clerics condemned the pastors' actions, saying pulpit politicking undercut the independence churches have to speak out about moral and ethical issues, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"Pastors have a responsibility to the whole of their flock to provide spiritual support and guidance," not partisan political advice, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, told the Times.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International.
This news arrived on: 09/30/2008
Printer Friendly Version | Send this page to a friend | Post Comment
Rate This Story:
Great - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - Bad
Posted Comments:
10-03-2008 12:38
The Lioness wrote:
Separate!
Separation of Church and State is ultimately better for both Church AND State! Why do people not get this?
Geez!
~The Lioness
Geez!
~The Lioness
10-01-2008 12:50
wrote:
"FOR IT IS NOT THE HEARERS OF THE LAW WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, BUT THE DOERS OF THE LAW WHO WILL BE JUSTIFIED". ROMANS 2:13
"WHOEVER THEN ANNULS ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, SHALL BE CALLED THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN..." MATTHEW 5:19
"WHOEVER THEN ANNULS ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, SHALL BE CALLED THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN..." MATTHEW 5:19
10-01-2008 12:25
bystander wrote:
wrote
Short of biting the hand that has nurtured this country? True, not one denomination had total say, but Biblical fundamentals were placed as the cornerstones for our American government's foundation. When you remove the cornerstones, the building will fall. We're crumbling now. As morals, standards, etc. cheapen, we'll be trying to pull ourselves from the irreversible ruins. As any honest law enforcer will agree, if each citizen would practice trying to keep the 10 Commandments, they would be out of a job.
10-01-2008 09:32
geno wrote:
what is wrong with it
what is wrong with it is they have added things like homosexuality, and abortion,and same sex marriage in it and that is the bible and a pastor and churches place to take a stand and to endorse the candiate that stands for what is right because if you dont you will answer to god for it and you dont want to do that it will be bad when you give in to same sex marriage and abortion and sin you will burn in hell forever and ever
10-01-2008 08:51
Dore wrote:
my posts
My posts are being deleted from these forums. It is clear that people can't handle the truth and that there are NO true Christians on this planet and that is WHY destruction is coming. You people have NO idea of what you are doing. But you will find out the hard way! Judgment has come and hellfire is your reward!
Comment archive | Comment FAQ's
 |
 |
|
View Religious News ezine stories by date or visit the complete archive |
The ArcaMax Politics channel is one of 70 content categories offered by ArcaMax Publishing on this ... |
Body Mass
