[xzins]

Speech is speech, regardless of the setting. There is no legal distinction between religious expression and political expression; both are equally protected by the First amendment. Religious believers do not drop their political opinions at the door of their place of worship, nor do they disregard their faith at the ballot box. Religious morality will always inform the voting choices of Americans of all faiths.

Starting to get to the heart of the issue.

The heart of the issue is that the government shouldn't be in the business of taking anything that belongs to God.

[dalereed]

"The heart of the issue is that the government shouldn't be in the business of taking anything that belongs to God."

Remove their tax exemption and they can say what they want.

Until then no fair!

[pepsionice]

"...taking anything from God."

The problem here is that churches often don't act like churches. When you have guys using churches to build financial empires or vocational villas or paying off mistresses or buying BMWs for their top 10 managers or talking straight up politics and telling you precisely who you should vote for....then there are issues. Scientology never should have been given tax-free status...Tammy & Jim Baker should have had their status pulled the minute they put the vacation village up on the air to sell to the public.

In Germany...they have a tax free status for churches...but you have to present your financial books...and they tell you precisely what is approved and disapproved. You can spend tons of money on church buildings...but the minute you buy a luxury BMW for a church boss...taxes are assessed against the organization. If you look across at Jesus and the twelve...none were selling politics. I'd rather not see religions setting themselves up to be the party of the Democrats or the party of the Republicans...it has a bad smell to it and nothing good can come of that attitude.

[napscoordinator]

My vote would be to do away with all tax exempt everything. I don't believe that these companies need this. Why should we support groups we don't believe in or even want to give to. That is what donations are for. Yes they will have to pay taxes on donations but will still have enough money to do good. Once this happens than all that extra funds would/could be given back to tax payers and some would give even more to charity.

[CDHart]

If the churches would render unto Caesar, they wouldn't have to worry about it.

carolyn

[Rockitz]

I guess I still want there to be a distinction because otherwise what's to keep a leftist PAC like MoveOn.org from insisting they are a church.

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed. Thanks for the ping!