Today is 'Pulpit Freedom Sunday'-they're throwing down the gauntlet

[babylonsister]

http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/107788/churches-obama-tax-us-we-dare-you#


Churches to Obama: Tax Us, We Dare You

Amy Sullivan
September 26, 2012 | 3:56 pm


Mario Tama/Getty Images News/Getty Images


On Sunday, October 7, pastors around the country will try to bait the federal government into investigating them by preaching explicitly partisan sermons. As part of a conservative movement organizers call “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” some religious leaders will endorse Mitt Romney from the pulpit. Others may refrain from an endorsement but vigorously criticize President Obama. And some will tell their congregations that a good Christian can only vote for a candidate who opposes gay marriage and abortion. Then they’ll send tapes of their sermons to the Internal Revenue Service in the hopes of being audited.

The point of this exercise—now in its fifth year—is twofold. Federal law prohibits tax-exempt organizations from participating in partisan politicking, and conservative activists want to invite an investigation by the IRS so they can challenge the law in court. And if an audit of churches by the IRS provides fuel for the charge that the Obama administration is waging a war on religion, then all the better.

snip//

Supporters of Pulpit Freedom Sunday argue that current law violates religious liberty and free speech by placing restrictions on what religious leaders can say. Jim Garlow, who pastors Skyline Church in California, is one of the most outspoken activists on this issue. He recently appeared on Mike Huckabee’s Fox News show to charge that the law imposes a “muzzle on churches.” Glenn Beck, who has trumpeted the Pulpit Freedom cause in the past few years, held a tele-conference on Tuesday night that was sponsored by CatholicVote.org. According to a Commonweal magazine reporter who was on the call, Beck said there should be no limits on what priests and other religious leaders can say about politics, telling listeners: “If priests can’t speak out on public issues, then what’s the Church good for?”

snip//

Religious leaders have long been active in political movements—and partisan campaigns—but Americans are growing less tolerant of that intermingling of the religious and the political. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has found that more Americans now oppose church involvement in politics than support it, a shift from 15 years ago. In their latest survey, 54 percent of Americans were opposed to churches expressing views on social and political questions—an activity that is perfectly legal, as opposed to partisan endorsements and politicking. And the partisan divide that has emerged on the question is startling. In 1996, 42 percent of Republicans and 44 percent of Democrats said that churches should stay out of politics. Today, the breakdown is 44 percent of Republicans, 60 percent of Democrats, and 58 percent of Independents.

The willingness—and indeed eagerness—of many conservative pastors and priests to flout the law by endorsing Romney may not swing the election in the Republican’s favor. And a court challenge of the law under a potential second Obama term might just devolve into yet another culture war charge that Democratic administrations and activist judges are restricting the rights of religious Americans. But there must be some alternative to the status quo, in which select religious organizations enthusiastically engage in government-subsidized campaigning while happily claiming their tax exemption.

[peacebird]

1. The IRS investigations are notoriously slow, I say investigate and remove tax free status nov 7th

[AC_Mem]

3. i agree

Let them become political, but if that is their choice then they forfeit their tax exempt status.

They really do want to take us back to the 14th century don't they......sigh

[greymattermom]

4. investigating everyone that sends them tapes is a good thing

The will have to show a lot of documents to the irs folks. That by itself should make them uncomfortable enough, even if the final verdict takes years. In the meantime, the explanation is that they requested an audit.

[Bohunk68]

2. Mr. Beck asks "what's the churches good for?

Short answer, or long one?

[Stargazer09]

5. Why audit them?

If they are clearly in violation of the tax code, then the IRS should just send them a bill for the taxes they owe. After the election, of course.

Of course, I have no idea if churches are required to file any sort of income/expense statement with the IRS, so I don't know if the IRS can even do such a thing. But I still like the idea of taking the wind out of their sails and penalizing them for their stupidity without hurting our President.

[asjr]

6. What is that old saying? -- "Looking a gift horse in the mouth?"

Do they really think we are buying this garbage?

[BanTheGOP]

7. We should tax churches by fundamentalist belief, not activist beliefs

We have to not only tax fundamental churches, we also have to ensure that activist churchs, specifically those that cater to African American practitioners, are NOT taxed, because they represent a fabric in our progressive society that needs to be maintained and nurtured. I'd even go so far as to subsidize certain African American churches so they can continue to preach the Gospel in accordance to our country's, and our planet's, progressive, secular agenda.

The fascist rethugs may call it hypocrisy, but we all know better. This is fundamental to our OWN system, and needs to be highlighted. Tax the hell out of the evangelicals, and leave churches that actually do good to society alone.

[Missycim]

10. Well thank God you don't make the rules

because it is Hypocrisy and its also unconstitutional.

[Blue Idaho]

8. Persecution Theology

Some Christians need to feel persecuted in order to feel a spiritual connection to Jesus. I say tax 'em all and help them on their way to cosmic bliss.

[Cha]

9. That's right Scammers.. Brainwash your Flock of..

hypocrites into voting for the demonic barber from hell.

[brooklynite]

11. Not worried...

Anyone who attends a Church fundamentalist enough to violate the Constitution and the Internal Revenue Code wasn't going to vote for Obama anyway.