The Pulpit Initiative

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2007
The Pulpit Initiative
16
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 8:07pm

Should churches lose their tax exempt status if their endorse a candidate?


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95003709


Except for the story above, where I first heard of this, everything I saw was pretty one sided on the Pulpit Initiative, but I did find this (pretty inflamatory) opinion piece on Dominionism and the Alliance Defense Fund.


http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/4489/81/

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2008
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 9:08pm

I think absolutely. When preachers get up in front of their congregations and support a candidate, they are basically campaigning for that candidate. Quite convincingly, might I add. Who would vote for Obama when your preacher tells you that you will burn in hell if you do? I mean c'mon.

I used to be a public school teacher. What would have happened if I had gotten up in front of my AP physics class and told them all they would fail if they didn't vote for someone? Jeez - it's an abuse of power! If I were in that congregation, I would turn them in - even if they were campaigning for the candidate I supported. It's just wrong to use your power of influence over people like that.

I grew up in NC and I know I heard stories from the Kerry-Bush election about preachers doing this sort of thing. It made me sick then and it makes me sick now.





~Ashley~




pregnancy week by week







~Ashley~

Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2007
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 9:16pm
Since people elect their own religious affiliation,
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2008
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 9:25pm
I'd argue they have more power, depending on your religious beliefs. What's more important in the long run, a grade or your *soul*?!? I think freedom of speech is all well and good but when you are representing a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, you need to follow the rules or lose your tax-exempt status. That's all I'm saying. Fire and brimstone about the candidates all you want, but when you do - you are campaigning and should lose that status. I'm certainly not saying that preachers shouldn't be allowed to say whatever they want - I'm just saying that their tax exempt status should be revoked if they publicly endorse a candidate and encourage their congregation to do the same.




~Ashley~




pregnancy week by week







~Ashley~

Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 10:10pm
Personally, I think churches shouldn't be tax exempt in the first place.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 10:10pm

No, "freedom of speech" doesn't mean the government is required to pay for it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2008
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 10:18pm
So just because an organization is tax-exempt it does not mean that it is subsidized by the government.


~Ashley~

Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Wed, 09-24-2008 - 10:18pm
I totally agree that churches should not be tax exempt.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 12:53am
Do you feel that way about all tax exempt organizations, or just the religious ones?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 12:56am

Without question, any church who specifically names a candidate from the pulpit as being endorsed by the church should lose its tax exempt status -- the would be in complete violation of IRS rules about tax-exempt organzations.


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 8:40am
I think charitable organizations should be tax exempt..as they are truly helping and contributing to the world. I feel that church charities should be tax exempt...simply not the church itself. Public schools also enjoy tax exempt status and I also belive they should.
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