Posted on 05/15/2009 6:11:28 AM PDT by Graybeard58
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that church leaders can keep their tax-exempt status and speak out on social issues. Ad Feedback
The decision comes in response to a complaint against a group of Texas pastors, but churches can still not endorse or oppose political candidates.
Social and Political Issues from the Pulpit
Pastor Wally Sherbon strolls the campus of Regent University each Wednesday, repairing and meditating on his Sunday sermon.
But lately, he's also been thinking about what it would mean if he couldn't talk about social and political issues from the pulpit.
"It's hard enough to come up with what God's thoughts are and what He is saying in the text, let alone having to put some external pressure and filter on what I am saying," Sherbon explained. "I just couldn't do it."
IRS Ruling
What sparked the concern for him and others was a complaint that the Texas Freedom Network filed with the IRS against a group of pastors in the state for their work with a moral values group.
But the IRS has now ruled that the religious group can keep it's tax exempt status, despite the political and social activity.
"Our position has always been that pastors are free to exercise their moral authority from the pulpit," said Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice.
The group has argued that position in court for more than 20 years.
"If you look at what has triggered these audits in the past for churches, it's been the issue of abortion, marriage and sometimes gambling," Sekulow added. "Those are three key issues that have triggered the audits, and now the IRS position says there is no violation of non-profit law when a pastor from the pulpit address the issue, even if its during an election. That is a major victory."
"The implications of denial of tax exempt status would be so significant, that it would chill First Amendment free speech," he continued.
Dragging Churches into Partisan Political Campaigns?
CBN News spoke with Dan Quinn of the group that filed the IRS complaint against the pastors.
"The unfortunate thing here is that it will now pretty much embolden wealthy special interests who see funneling money into non-profits like this as a back doorway to drag houses of worships into partisan political campaigns," he said. "And we think it's sleazy to use faith as a political weapon."
Pastors across the country would call this latest IRS decision a victory. But when it comes to maintaining the that tax exempt status and being politically active, there are still limits to what can be done inside the walls of a church.
"The individual pastor or church cannot endorse or oppose a political candidate, but that does not mean they can't address issues that those candidates address from a biblical perspective," Sekulow explained.
That makes preparing Sunday sermon a little easier for Pastor Sherbon.
"It's amazing how dark it is out there in terms of what is right, how do you raise children right, how you have a wonderful marriage and keep it like that," he said. "You don't learn that anywhere, and when that goes there is no other place."
We have a conservative Pastor and small mostly conservative congregation.
I would love to hear the Pastor say from the pulpit, "Don't vote for baby killing liberals" and then name them.
Government-approved sermons are double-plus good! [/s]
Sin is a social issue. Democrats are making sin a political issue via hate crime laws. Time for churches to go non-profit.
John the Baptist did not have a “tax-exemption”.
He paid with his head. We should be prepared to do the same.
Churches shouldn’t have to give up tax-exemption in order for the people to have the freedom of speech with which their Creator, not the government, endowed them.
Then you are just feeding the beast. The less tax dollars that go to feed the beast, the better. Take away the tax exempt status, and the government will have more money to regulate your life and your church.
You can’t imagine how flattered this pastor is that the IRS has deigned to give me the authority to speak out on moral issues. /s
These people are nuts. They’re absolutely power-drunk insane.
They don’t give me any “tax exempt status.” What constitution are they reading, anyway???
I’ll speak on anything I want.
I’ve thought that myself. I almost think we need a movement of Christian churces that says they don’t care about their tax-exempt status because they can no longer stay quiet about candidates.
And I will write off any donation I make to your church.
Amen.
Your gift to God is for the worship of God.
For the state to believe they own a part of it is for the state to say that you OWE for a piece of your worship.
Therefore, it is not FREE (it costs) Expression. They want a piece of the action.
Also, it is CONGRESS making a rule about the religions (those who say what they want) they find acceptable! Congress shall make NO LAW regarding an establishment of religions who refrain from saying things that disturb politicians.
Sorry, but NO ONE needs the government's permission to possess/read the Bible, teach/spread the word of God or preach on social issues. Unless I missed it somehow the last time I checked the 1st Amendment hasn't been repealed. This is a very slippery slope folks. If they are able to censor pastors for preaching about social issues then they can censor/destroy anyone who dares criticize the government, individuals or groups who are determined to destroy our great nation.
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