Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act (Would allow free speech from the pulpits of America.)

[Happy2BMe]

Returning freedom of speech to our nation's Houses of Worship.

HR 235 was introduced to liberate clergy from the muzzle imposed by the absolute ban on all speech that may be regarded as "political," and thereby enable them to speak out on all vital and moral and political questions of the day. It will free houses of worship from the fear and anxiety and uncertainty created by the threat that the IRS will impose financial penalties or revoke tax-exempt status altogether.

KEY POINTS
To Understanding the Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act

• Above all else, HR 235 is about recognizing the need to return a stolen right from our nation's houses of worship. Prior to 1954, churches were free to speak out about any and every topic - without government limitations.
• Since the "Johnson Amendment" the IRS has had a gag order over houses of worship that forbids religious leaders to speak out on the moral issues of the day. If found in violation of this law, the church, mosque or synagogue would be in jeopardy of losing their tax-exempt status.
• HR 235 will do nothing more than allow religious leaders to educate their flock on the moral issues of the day, whether considered political or not. This legislation has to do with the issue of speech and nothing else.
• Those in opposition of this legislation have perpetuated the lie that there is no need for such a bill - claiming that there is no law that challenges the freedom of speech of our churches. That propaganda is a blatant miscommunication of reality.
• The truth is simple: pastors, priests, rabbis and clerics are forbidden to speak out on any topic that could be deemed "politically partisan." The IRS has even gone so far as to issue "code words" to tip them off to illegal activity. Words such as "pro choice," "pro life," "liberal," and "conservative" uttered from a pulpit even in an educationally motivated speech can warrant an investigation by the IRS.

• Even beyond the infringement on free speech, current law is unconstitutional merely by the fact that it is unequally enforced. Day after day, Democrats make headlines standing in the pulpits of America's churches. Ironically, the IRS rarely opens an investigation to such clear-cut violations of the law in the more liberal churches. Instead, the conservative churches are the ones intimidated into silence.
• To have allowed the IRS to stand in judgement over our men and women of the cloth for the last 50 years is incomprehensible! First Amendment rights clearly state that, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech..." If we believe in the Constitutional rights of our religious leaders, then we must come together and support HR 235 .
• HR 235 boasts 165 cosponsors, both Democrats and Republicans. More than two dozen groups from all walks of faith have also submitted their written endorsement of this essential legislation.

[Happy2BMe]

And hom many dozens and dozens of times during the height of the 2004 election campaign did we see John Kerry and Kompany bellowing their liberal sermons from pulpits all over this nation

[LauraleeBraswell]

I had no idea this was illegal?!

[LauraleeBraswell]

I'm outraged that this was even against the law. The audacity. Thank God for this bill.

[Happy2BMe]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE PULPIT - ping

[Happy2BMe]

HR235

Call now - Ask Congress to return Freedom of Speech to America's churches by passing the language in HR 235.

• Speaker of the House - Dennis Hastert: (202) 225-0600
• House Majority Leader - Tom Delay: (202) 225-4000
• Ways and Means Chairman - Bill Thomas: (202) 225-3625

[SC Swamp Fox]

It will free houses of worship from the fear and anxiety and uncertainty created by the threat that the IRS will impose financial penalties or revoke tax-exempt status altogether.

It's not illegal, but it does threaten their tax-exempt status. I believe the problem is that the existing IRS rules are only enforced when a conservative political view is voiced. Liberals can use churches at will.

[goldstategop]

Its sermons from conservative denominations the Left wants folks to shut up about.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[arepublicifyoucankeepit]

Thanks for posting. This is a good time to call our representatives and urge them to support this bill.

[LauraleeBraswell]

And Planned Parenthood's tax exempt status is still intact!

[Happy2BMe]

You are correct. Jerry Fallwell has been threatened many times of losing his tax exemption unless he backed off at the pulpit.

Yet Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton can spew anything they want, anywhere, anytime without skipping a liberal beat.

[mlmr]

All politics has a moral component that needs to be addressed by the churches. I am so tired of seeing churches marginalized by bullies in non elected cushy jobs.

[LibertarianInExile]

This bill is an ACLU dream come true.

If this passes, churches will have rights that other charities don't. The result will be declared discrimination against secular institutions like the Sierra Club and other charities with political axes to grind and a chance to get tax-deductible donations. The Johnson amendment is discrimination against religious organizations, but that doesn't count in today's Supreme Court. Today's Supreme Court, when it gets there, will overturn the law and make ALL charitable institutions able to speak on politics. And the ACLU will cash their reimbursement check to fund more leftist lawsuits. If you thought the left had a free pass before, wait until they get this through.

The objective should be to remove entirely ANY restrictions on freedom of speech by charities and religion, or to force the executive to enforce the laws as written on EVERYONE. Instead, here there is a dumbass political component that will get the law tossed so the Supremes can wipe their dirty hands with the Constitution again.

[processing please hold]

I'm against this bill. I remember during the election how angry everyone here was when the dims used the pulpit to preach the glories of sKerry. Church ain't about politicans, it's about God. If they wanna spew political crap, let 'em rent a hall.

[Onelifetogive]

If this passes, I predict an uptick in church attendance:

The Church of MoveOn.org
The Church of the Sierra Club
The Church of the DU
The Church of NARAL

[Happy2BMe]

Those churches already are exempt and preach liberalism non-stop without penalty.

Try again.

[processing please hold]

I agree. As time goes by, eventually God will be replaced in the church by politicans and leftist with agendas.

This will weaken our churches till they are churches in name only.

"Members, we are passing the plate for a donation to help elect John Kerry, please dig deeply, America needs a strong leader".

No thank you. Not the way a church should be. Isn't this a separation of church and state example?

[LibertarianInExile]

Well said. I'm agin' it not because I think spewing political crap in church is something the government should do something about, but because the government should not be involved in any regulation of political speech, and I don't see why churches should get off easier than the CWA or NAACP or some other charity.

We agree as to church not being about politicians. I won't attend a church that tells me Jesus told me to vote for politician X. Jesus, to my knowledge, didn't say crap about the Roman government being evil or wrong. In fact, he seemed pretty laid back about the whole crucifixion thing, too. I don't want MY church involved in government. More power to those who want THEIRS involved.

But I just don't want government to have anything to do with where we can speak about politics, and this is basically saying that you can talk politics here--but you still can't talk politics there. The gag law should be done away with entirely, not selectively lifted as they're doing here. Or it should be left as is and enforced equally.

[Larry Lucido]

The FreeRepublic Cathedral will now host the "Hour of Power" with Pastor Jim Robinson.

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I don't want government to grow larger. If it becomes involved in churches it will be gargantuan. It makes me very uneasy when preachers are talking politics to their parishioners instead of Gods word.

[Paleo Conservative]

I had no idea this was illegal?!

It's only illegal to promote conservative policies or Republican politicians or issues. DemocRATS get a free ride when they campaign at black churches or when black ministers promote DemocRAT politicians.