Does anyone have evidence of a church promoting * campaign?

[Ugnmoose]

I am conducting a little research project into separation of church and state. As many know this is a very hot issue in Congress right now. I am interested in knowing if any DU'ers have specific documented evidence they can provide.
Thanks

[kwolf68]

1. Been out of church for a while

As we've shut it down with the wife expecting and all, but our preacher stayed clear of politics. Then again, I go to a Methodist Church (generally more Liberal) and have already told my wife that the first hint of pro-Conservative promotion and I walk, and not quietly. So far this church seems fine.

[SeekingTruth]

2. Tonight on Paula Zahn's CNN show...

they did a segment on a church that was coming very, very close to encouraging members to vote for Bush. It was scary as hell watching this segment.

The minister was getting around violating laws by telling his members that he couldn't tell them who to vote for, but to vote "their values"...it was very clear what he was after.

This particular church was also just "claiming" to be registering voters.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. You need to get your hands on

one of the voter guides the churches are handing out with their registration drive. Saw something on the cable news about it this week. The 'guides' are the key.

Here's an article with some info:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9753571.htm
<snip>
"I feel a responsibility," said Bob Paquet, a pastor from Hankins, N.Y., "to use what influence I can so that the values I believe in, biblical values, will be upheld."

<snip>
After listening to inspirational speeches on Thursday and Friday from a long line of conservatives, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Falwell, the conference participants on Saturday are to attend seminars on election laws, voter education, becoming a church liaison and other ways to get like-minded Christians to the polls.

Hastert cheered the audience by telling them the House next week will take up a constitutional amendment on gay marriage.

"We want to have a vote so people in every state will know where their elected representatives stand," said Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., a chief sponsor of the gay marriage legislation.

...more

edit to add: about that vote next week and seeing where their elected representatives are. What do you think the odds are they are trying to set up Kerry and Edwards on this one?

[Barney Rocks]

4. I go to church regularly.

I keep hearing rumors of churches supporting candidates, but have never seen this personally. My church does raise $$$ for a lot of social causes--but I would say that these causes tend to be liberal (I have attended this weekly church for 7 years and we give part of the offering to a charity each week--to my knowledge we have never given to any group with RW leanings. We give to planned parenthood--things like that. Parishioners suggest groups to give to--so I guess that if a RW group was suggested and approved we may give some $$$ to them.) That is the extent of my churches "political" activity--we would never endorse a candidate. If they did, I would look for another church.

[catchthefever]

5. My sister's wedding - a political agenda?

The priest at the wedding said, and I quote: "God bless the president and the troops."

After I rolled my eyes, he scowled at me the rest of the ceremony.

[HuskerDem]

8. I would have gone biblical on his ass............

And asked him what right he had to politicize your sisters wedding. That's inexcusable. Some pastors get to feeling that the church they work in is THEIRS. It is not. It's Gods house. Just like The White House does not belong to any pResident. It is our house.

He had no right to push HIS personal politics in Gods house.

[AuntPatsy]

6. I would assume this is proof....

http://www.ericblumrich.com/faith.html

[ogsball]

7. I got a mailing the other day

From some group doing encouraging me to do a voter registtration drive at the church. I don't think I saved it.

Oh yea, I purchased the van from my last church. It still has the name on it and I stuck a Kerry-Edwards sticker on it. I got a letter in the mail from them saying that they want to remove their name from the van--they said they'd pay for it. I guess they have gotten a couple of calls complaining.

[HuskerDem]

9. You realize of course you have NO obligation to comply?

It's the :evilgrin: in me I guess, but they sold it to you as is and it's yours now. I'm sure it's set many a Christian thinking and that is worth something important. Maybe as a comprimise you could just block over PART of the name? If you are concerned about offending.

[ogsball]

27. I'll probably just paint through the church name

and leave the Methodist cross.

I'd bet that a poll of Methodist Pastors would reveal that Kerry has strong support in Edward's denomination. The people in the pews tend to be much more conservative politically than the clergy.

[Jane Austin]

10. Yes, I do, and I was wondering where to report it.

n/t

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Winkel!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[AuntPatsy]

12. I have a friend who is a member of a Pentecostal church,

I hope that I spelled that right, she told me that Bush is one of the very sermons that are preached to them, she believes what they tell her in that Bush is a God fearing man and they should do all in their power to ensure he gets reelected...

Needless to say I imparted my views, we are still on speaking terms, she does have a good heart but seems terrifed of being left behind when Armegeddon begins..I kid you not, she is adamant that such is gospel...and only Bush can keep them safe from hell...

[catbert836]

14. Of course, the Catholic bishops

who said that since Kerry is pro-abortion, that he and anyone who votes for him would be stopped from recieving communion. Being a Catholic, I was revolted. Why don't they just poll us at the door and if we're going to vote Kerry, excommunicate us? And are they going to do the same for mostly pro-death penalty Bush voters?

[LizW]

15. My mom's church has "Sanctity of Human Life" Sunday

I think it's a Southern Baptist thing. She didn't say what the preacher talked about specifically. She said she had to sort of tune out. I wanted to know if they discussed the innocent civilians of Iraq and Afghanistan, but she didn't know.

She did mention that there was a voter registration table in the church lobby afterwards. I don't think that crosses the line, but it's clearly aimed at registering people who will vote Republican.

[randr]

16. We have a church in our neighborhood

that put up a Bush/Chaney sign during the last election.
The church sits on a large piece of land and they placed the sign on the corner post of the adjoining property along the highway. People thought the sign was put up by the neighbor until he made it clear to others in our small town that the sign was not his. Unfortunatly after the election and the sign was down. So far this year they have not put it back up. I carry my camera with me at all times just waiting for the chance to nail them.

[RoyalWickedness]

17. I saw a large banner

on a church I drove by, that said: "Support our troops and our President." Does that count?

[CDUman]

18. NPR has talked about this before

The problem is that African-American churches tend to be very vocal in their support of Democrats. NPR had one report in the 2000 election in which a African-American minister prayed from the pulpit for Gore to win since he was "God's man". I Mainline, liberal Protestant churches may be as well. I don't know. Evangelicals get all the attention because many of the support Bush, but it's simply not true that the seperation of church and state issue is just a right-wing issue. Plus, ever heard of the civil rights movement led by Dr. Rev. Martin Luther Kin Jr.? Or what about the revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? Ironically, the Democrats were the only party this year with a minister running in the primaries. But somehow that isn't a problem.

[Gin]

19. The Rock Church in Va Beach has a running banner ad saying..

"Jesus for America" and there is some rally or convention in DC in October with the same theme......also...several local churches are having "40" days of prayer and they are praying for all the leaders..(supposedly non partisan)

It started yesterday in an open air service on Mount Trashmore...and will continue in the churches for 40 days. I think I heard the word president mentioned...since I don't belong to any organized religion..can't come up with literature...checked the paper online but didnt see anything....who do we contact if we discover some?

If I see a Bush sign on any church property...I will take a picture and send it to the Governor of VA.

We could really increase our tax base if we took away that tax exemption from these billion dollar churches and all their holdings.
(such as CBN in Va Beach)

[nancyharris]

20. There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution

that prohibits churches or church leaders from supporting any political candidate or issue– quite the opposite! The Constitution says that the government cannot promote a religion. It doesn’t say a religious organization cannot promote political candidates or issues.

[WyLoochka]

22. They may promote a partisan view all they want

but if they do they can't also maintain their tax exemptions.

Religious organizations have to make a choice - refrain from partisan activities and keep tax exempt status or dive in and be bald faced partisan and lose the tax exemption.

Can't have it both ways.

[nancyharris]

23. There is also no law that prohibits ANY non-profit organization

from supporting political candidates or issues. WTF! Where do you think you are living? Have you any idea of the number of non-profit organizations you are implying should be silenced? Unions are non-profit organizations. Teachers associations are non-profit. Environmental organizations are non-profit. You may want to see these groups loose their non-profit exemption but I certainly do not.

[shivaji]

26. You are incorrect....The tax-exempt status of church is not because of

its purported religion. The tax-exempt status is based on the fact that the church is a not for profit organization. For example I can not make my family start a new fangled religion and claim our family is tax exempt. But if I am running an organization which is not for the purpose of making profits, I can file an application for tax exemption.

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. I just returned from a church where Barak Obama spoke.

For Kerry and the Democrats. :hi:

[Festivito]

24. During Clinton term no prayers for "president" now, there are.

A book of prayers, paperback, with prayers for "everything" was used in my church. Probably comes from http://www.cph.org on a quarterly or longer basis.

Other pre-fabbed prayers come from quarterly Portals of Prayer which include the usual hot-button issues much more carefully couched.

Lately, the weekly prayers for "leaders" have become much less prominent and seemingly partisan, as though at some higher levels there could be some awakenings.

[Zorbet55]

25. Politics in religion put an end to my faith

in religion. I had flashbacks to the 12th century and the Holy Roman Empire. This kind of thing has been going on in the South with the Baptists for 20 years. I had a Presbyterian minister exhort the congregation to invest more in the stock market, so that tithing could be enhanced. You know that Jesus encouraged this type of thing in Nazareth and elsewhere. It's all about the money!