Coming to a Pulpit Near You

Religious Right leaders have long tried to fudge the rules regarding partisan politicking from the pulpit -- but this might be something new, even for them! The socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund is encouraging pastors to openly violate IRS regulations, and endorse candidates from the pulpit. This action is set to take place on Sunday, September 28.

Declaring that clergy have a constitutional right to endorse political candidates from their pulpits, the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund is recruiting several dozen pastors to do just that on Sept. 28, in defiance of Internal Revenue Service rules.

The effort by the Arizona-based legal consortium is designed to trigger an IRS investigation that ADF lawyers would then challenge in federal court. The ultimate goal is to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a 54-year-old ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship.

"For so long, there has been this cloud of intimidation over the church," ADF attorney Erik Stanley said. "It is the job of the pastors of America to debate the proper role of church in society. It's not for the government to mandate the role of church in society."

Let's be clear about one thing. Houses of worship are governed by THE SAME regulations as any other 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. So if there is a "cloud of intimidation" over the church, it's over EVERY tax exempt group, too!

Houses of worship, as much as we might not like it, are perfectly free to express views about issues until the cows come home ... they can rant about how much of a sin they think same-sex marriage is, or talk about the "evils" of abortion ... they just can't take their rhetoric to the next level and explicitly tell their followers who to vote FOR or AGAINST.

There are a few religious leaders who get it!

Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued this press release today:

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today commended a group of Ohio clergy for opposing pulpit-based electioneering and unveiled a new Web site designed to counter Religious Right propaganda about federal tax law.

The Rev. Eric Williams of North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus is urging clergy all over America to give sermons on Sept. 21 in support of church-state separation and against partisan politics in houses of worship.

At a press conference in Columbus today, Williams and other religious leaders also called on the Internal Revenue Service to take action against the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) for encouraging churches to break the law and endorse candidates. The ADF, a Religious Right legal group based in Arizona, is urging pastors to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit on Sept. 28.

Americans United is led by the Rev. Barry Lynn, an ordained United Church of Christ minister. He and Rev. Williams understand the basic value of keeping church and state separate. Clearly the ADF would rather see churches become smoke-filled political machines. Which begs the question, WWJD? I'll leave that to my more spiritual/religious friends to answer.

In the meantime, if you are aware of partisan political activity taking place in your community contact Americans United and let them know. They have a specific web site for reporting these activities.

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