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Not At My Table - Political Discussions => National & International Politics => Topic started by: BierGarten on March 19, 2008, 01:46:19 PM

Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: BierGarten on March 19, 2008, 01:46:19 PM
I ran into this link on Drudge today of a pastor ripping, and I mean ripping, into Obama.  

youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU (//%22http://%22)

A non-profit church is not allowed involve itself in political campaigns pursuant to the non-profit regulations.  Why is the IRS not clamping down on this type of preaching and yanking non-profit status from these churches?
Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: Conan71 on March 19, 2008, 02:09:32 PM
I've heard Carlton Pearson state his support for Obama standing in the pulpit at New Dimensions (Trinity Episcopal downtown).  Only as an individual, mind you, not as a pastor.  [8)]

It's hard to police and a hair-splitting law much like the open-meeting law Recyclemichael was mentioning yesterday.

Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: cannon_fodder on March 19, 2008, 02:16:45 PM
They actually did cut into some churches in 2006 for "campaigning" from a religious platform.  Religions can campaign as much as they like... but the non-profit status and regulation is different so they really need to watch their stuff.  They can criticize immoral behavior, they can remind congregations what the churches belief's are and they can suggest we need to elect official who uphold our belief.

But from there, it gets fuzzy.  They can NOT suggest nor of course dictate a candidate.
Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: hoodlum on March 19, 2008, 06:15:47 PM
i know its an old argument, but if churches want to be involved in politics they should pay taxes.
Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: Wrinkle on March 19, 2008, 11:52:38 PM
Now that the hiarchy of ORU has been reset and is old news, when are we going to get on to the Main Event.....the Randi Miller-ORU campaign initiative. Let the investigation begin.

Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: sgrizzle on March 20, 2008, 06:33:52 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle

Now that the hiarchy of ORU has been reset and is old news, when are we going to get on to the Main Event.....the Randi Miller-ORU campaign initiative. Let the investigation begin.





Thought that was ongoing. If not, it should be.

Randi Miller is dirty, the kind even a Karen Silkwood shower won't clean up.
Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: bugo on March 20, 2008, 02:54:03 PM
I saw that video yesterday and that was the first thing that I thought.  This church's tax exempt status should be revoked immediately.  In fact, all church's tax exempt statuses should be revoked immediately.
Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: guido911 on March 24, 2008, 03:54:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by bugo

I saw that video yesterday and that was the first thing that I thought.  This church's tax exempt status should be revoked immediately.  In fact, all church's tax exempt statuses should be revoked immediately.



Yeah, all that charity work such as feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, collecting clothes for the homeless, and caring for ill and ederly done by the church should be taxed. There is no free lunch in this country for this sort of activity.
Title: Churches Involved in Campaigning
Post by: YoungTulsan on March 24, 2008, 08:45:42 PM
I clicked the topic hoping we would be talking about tasty chicken, not religious institutions :(

Mmm, chicken...