Posted on 11/03/2014 12:38:59 PM PST by SeekAndFind
A record number of rogue Christian pastors are endorsing candidates from the pulpit this election cycle, using Sunday sermons to defiantly flout tax rules.
Their message to the IRS: Sue me.
But the tax agency is doing anything but. Although the IRS was sued itself for not enforcing the law and admitted about 100 churches may be breaking the rules, the pastors and their critics alike say the agency is looking the other way. The agency refuses to say if it is acting.
At the same time, the number of pastors endorsing candidates in what they call Pulpit Freedom Sunday jumped from 33 people in 2008 to more than 1,600 this year, according to organizers, Alliance Defending Freedom. And this year, they’ve stepped up their drive, telling pastors to back candidates any Sunday up until the election, not just one Sunday as in past years.
The church leaders are jumping in high-profile races that will help decide the Senate and tight governor races across the country, endorsing candidates from Thom Tillis (R) over Sen. Kay Hagan (D) in North Carolina to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) over Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) in Kentucky.
Rev. Mark Cowart, pastor at Colorado Springs-based Church For All Nations, suggested good Christians should vote Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper out of office in an Oct. 19 sermon, where he endorsed his GOP rival, Bob Beauprez.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Why should only black churches be able to do politics?
Boo boo Rachael. Your side doesn’t seem to care when libtard clergy do it.
So how many of these are Democrats?
The IRS will apply the melanin rule to prosecutions. Above an appropriate melanin level in the pastor will result in no prosecution. This rule will be approved by the Justice Department.
Most black churches double as the local Democrat HQ, so they can’t enforce the rules at this time.
Politico “fire up the ‘Government is God’ base” propaganda.
Black churches have been doing it for years.
Non Profits are not supposed to be political? NAACP?
LBJ was dishonest and needed to keep churches from preaching against him.
Well, since they have never gone after black pastors in the last 60 years they have no ground to stand on with any pastor.
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Fascinating:
http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/content/docs/issues/church/Pulpit-Freedom-Sunday-FAQ.pdf
Would a temporary loss of tax-exempt status have a
significant impact on the taxes of our church members?
A Only those church members who “itemize” their deductions (roughly 30 percent of
church-goers nationwide) could be affected by the possible loss of tax exempt status.
Those who take the “standard” deduction (roughly 70 percent of church-goers
nationwide) would not be affected at all because they do not itemize their
contributions to the church as deductions. There is an argument to be made that
SPEAK UP.
Protect and Promote the Rights of Our Churches
PULPIT FREEDOM SUNDAY
SpeakUpMovement.org
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of 4
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSSpeakUpMovement.org
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those who “itemize” may still consider their contributions tax deductible, as churches
are automatically tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code. For instance, if a church
loses its tax-exempt status for the pastor speaking from the pulpit, there is an argument
to be made that because the church is automatically exempt under section 508(c)(1)
(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, the tax-exempt status is only lost for the day the
sermon was preached, and any contributions made at other times would still be
deductible. It is important to note that this argument has not been tested and taxpayers
should seek professional advice before claiming any such deduction for itemization.
That's something well-embedded in the Republican and Democrat parties both — they're both infested with statists.
My pastor simply said to vote in a godly manner. I dare them to make something of that.
My church has participated in Pulpit Freedom Sunday. If only ALL Bible-believing churches would do the same.
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