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Recently, one church in my area booted two members (an interracial couple) for voting for Obama. Another required members to go to communion for voting for Obama, as they said it was a "sin".
So, given the Church's clear direct interference in politics, I think these two churches should lose their non profit status and start to be charged property tax, as well as regular taxes like any other club or private, non church business. What do you think?
They may deny membership to anyone unless it violates that person's civil rights but they MAY not show support for a particular candidate when representing the church and keep their tax emempt status. According to the IRS - Political Campaign Activity Under the Internal Revenue Code, all IRC section 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches and religious organizations, are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax. Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including the presentation of public forums and the publication of voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not constitute prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner. On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that: (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
So, yes, religious organizations that support a candidate from a pulpit or the examples that you give, should have their tax-exempt status revoked.
I certainly don't think it's right that people were kicked out just because of who they voted for in the elections.
Infact it's ridiculous, and I was under the impression that today, we should have the ability to vote for who we want and shouldn't be treat differently just because we don't necessarily want to vote for the same person as the church.
As for it being a 'sin', it's ridiculous. There's so many worse 'sins' in the world. You hear about murderers, for example, finding god and starting to attend church and it's fine, but because you vote for obama, you're kicked out.
Doesn't make sense to me.
You can not bridge the gap between church and state only when it suites you. The church is a private sector; now you believe that you should interfear with the church. What is next? Forcing a church to wed gay couples when doing so would be a sin against God? Get real if I were to eat a ham sandwich in a muslim chuch I would be kicked out as well. Granted its kind of a dumb reason to kick someone out of a church, and defeats the whole point of the church which is to help with spiritual growth. But you have to take the good with the bad when you voted in the seperation of church and state.
"You can not bridge the gap between church and state only when it suites you."
The church is the one "bridging the gap", by interfering in government activities - specifically, politics. Churches and other non-profits are granted non-profit status explicitly on the basis that they do not get involved in politics or try and directly affect the voting of their members.
"What is next? Forcing a church to wed gay couples when doing so would be a sin against God?"
Slippery slope argument - nobody's proposing that, and there's no reason anyone would.
"That is why I call it a gate way, it wont happen now but it could set precedence for other arguments. "
That's called a "slippery slope" argument, and it's completely invalid. You can't logically criticize a measure based on what you think people might do at a later point, especially when there's no logical connection. US tax law clearly states that this is not permitted by a non-profit or church, so it ought to be enforced. Simple.
In the US, it's pretty clear that they should indeed lose their tax-exempt status for interfering in politics. Whether or not they shut down depends on how well they survive once they have to pay tax.
And wasn't the catholic priest saying they shouldn't take communion if they voted for Obama, until they had gone to confession?
I think that is not gods church cause real people of god would not kick someone out of church and reguardless of how they feel about whoever is in office they would pray for their leaders they would know god is the auothority above all authority and no matter who is elected the lords will will be done
what kind of church would kick out a couple especially because of who they voted for. if my church kicked someone out especially for a bogus reason like that id leave myself. I think the ones who got kicked out are better off. that dont sound like a church id want to go to. and yes they should pay.
Phrannie, you are right, the catholic church is not going to lose its tax exempt status any time in the near future. But they should publicly and conspicuously declare that they do not believe that catholics who voted for Obama did not do anyhting to break with the church's teaching.
There is no doubt that what they've done, if you described it accurately, counts as electioneering from the pulpit. It doesn't matter that the election is over, because the message it sends applies to the next election.
So yes, the IRS should revoke their tax exempt status.
"And wasn't the catholic priest saying they shouldn't take communion if they voted for Obama, until they had gone to confession?"
Is this the same incident thedude is talking about or another?
So voting for Obama was a sin? Unbelievable...
I find this as despicable as I find those churches who "preached" vote for Obama. Politics has no place in church. It gets checked at the door along with the umbrella. One of a number of reasons I do not belong to an organized religion.
this is a tuff question. I think that they should have to pay the tax for the land, but I think that the less the government messes with peoples lives the better. but in this case the church is very misled and should have to pay taxes.
LOL...I doubt you'll see the Catholic church lose it's tax exempt status...Stupid priest did a stupid thing, on the abortion issue...he'll get yanked and moved somewhere else...
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jimahl - I believe it ia another incident... I saw this on the news a couple of days ago, some priest had said they shouldnt be taking communion
Abso-f@#cking-lutely they should have the tax exemption revoked.
Was this a catholic church?
Those members should sue their asses...
I think that as a private organization, they have the right to deny or terminate membership for anyone at any time.
YES I THINK CHURCH SHOULD BE FOR ANYONE WANTING TO FOLLOW THE FAITH
BUT POLICTICS SHOULDNT GO TO CHURCH
That is why I call it a gate way, it wont happen now but it could set precedence for other arguments.
Yea, I agree nicnil, your postings are a joke. Keep them coming though, we need the levity.
They should be shutdown completely that's ridiculous
