2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumMore than 1,000 pastors plan to challenge IRS by endorsing presidential candidate
More than 1,000 pastors plan to openly defy the IRS by telling their congregation on October 7 to vote for a particular presidential candidate, according to Fox News.
The annual event, dubbed Pulpit Freedom Sunday, has been organized by the conservative Christian group Alliance Defending Freedom. The pastors participating in the event plan to preach about the election, endorse a candidate, and send video of their sermon to the IRS.
The purpose is to make sure that the pastor and not the IRS decides what is said from the pulpit, Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for the group, told FoxNews.com. It is a head-on constitutional challenge.
Raw Story (http://s.tt/1o8pK)
get the red out
(13,466 posts)I'm shocked the number is so low. I guess that is the number that actually want publicity for what they do every Sunday anyway.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)I'm all for separation of church and state and I don't see a need to tax religionists, but if they preach politics from the pulpit, then issue fines.
Severe fines.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)Make the congregation (whose money it is) wonder what their leadership was thinking.
Daemonaquila
(1,712 posts)What a fabulous win that would be all around.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)...however, wouldn't this give religionists a stronger argument for meddling in government? I mean, they could say, "We're taxpayers now, so we can mix religion with politics!" Essentially saying their particular prophet has endorsed Candidate X, so therefore the congregation will vote for that person?
Government should remain secular.
But, when a religionist instructs his/her congregation to vote a certain way, fine the Hell out of them! Base the fine on the market-value of their properties.
Proletariatprincess
(718 posts)This could be a tipping point. Let them have their free speech, but don't let them continue to have their tax free status. Religious institutions are political in every way in every age. Sometimes for good and sometimes not so good. I say let them be involved as much as they wish, but don't give them any more advantages than any other polital group. Make them pay their fair share of taxes and adhere to all the laws and rules that apply to political speech and fundraising.
Lasher
(27,597 posts)They just need to decide what's more important to them: Endorsing a political candidate or their tax exempt status.
NYC Liberal
(20,136 posts)They simply say you can't do so IF you want tax-free, 501(c) status. The rule applies to ALL non-profit organizations, not just religious ones.
Want to get political? Totally fine. You'll just have to pay your taxes likes everyone else.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)loudsue
(14,087 posts)since the 1980's, and it's time they just came out and admitted it like this. Now maybe we can do a SERIOUS backlash. What kind of country do we really want? Taliban or American?
I go with American...the original way.
So much for "READ THE CONSTITUTION!!"
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)...now revoke their tax-exempt status.
No problemo.
brooklynite
(94,585 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)No one is saying they can't politicize their special brand of ridiculousness... BUT.. the taxpayers are NOT going to pay for them to do anymore. So fuck them. Fuck them and their luxury cars and nice homes, and their tax free vacation residences, and all the perks we allow them.
Frankly, I'd love to see the entire tax free church thing go away.
bigdarryl
(13,190 posts)this is the same bullshit Whitman did in NJ years ago by beating then Governor Florio
mary195149
(379 posts)to walk out during the service and also report them, if the church feels they need to tell people who to vote for. Enough is enough.
The people have the power, we just don't use it enough. They are obviously not worried about their tax exempt status, but they will be if parishioners exercise their rights!
importDavid
(219 posts)Considering that the charitable donation tax loophole might be one of the deductions that Mitt eliminates.
Who in the hell would contribute to charity (i.e. the church) if they couldn't deduct it from their federal taxes?
Charities would be decimated.