The Pulpit Initiative
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The Pulpit Initiative
| 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.

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