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: 08-16-2005
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 8:44am

I think you run into an iffy situation....For instance Planned parenthood clearly makes endorsements, many don't agree with them at all, yet they do get tax exemptions.


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 8:53am
I agree it is a slippery slope. But Planned Parenthood is not a religous organization.....by funding they are not endorsing a specific dogma..only allowing low income women acess to GYN services. Whiel churches are not funded per say by the government...it does give the appearance that they are endorsing religion. There is a clear seperation of church and state asked for...and when the state comes to church in the form of church leasers campaigning for a certain canidate....it IMHO...lessens that divide...making it appear more that the church is in fact part of the state...not seperate. If that makes sense..I haven't had my coffee yet...so I'm sorry if it looks confusing...lol.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 8:58am

You make total sense, and I do believe PP does a lot of good, I think the slope comes into play when they also campaign for a specific candidate, if that makes sense?


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 9:20am
I'm afraid your argument is slipping into "it's ok for tax exempt institutions (except churches)

 


 


I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 9:54am
To me personally the line isn't crossed when a preachers or what have you endorses a canidate...or even promotes them. The line is crossed to me when they say...if you don't vote for ( insert name here) you are going to hell.....or you are letting the devil run the country.... that sort of thing. When a religious leader uses thier power to out right intimidate the congresgation into voting for a certain person that to me is abusing power and putting themselves less in the role of religious leader and more into the role of political bully with a cross. I think it is ok for tax exempt organizations to endorse who they choose....but I think it is morally reprehnsible to scare or coerce someone into voting how you think they should using your standing in the church.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-25-2008 - 10:21am

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Morally reprehensible-I totally agree.

 


 


I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure

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