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Interesting IRS/religious freedom case
God is his running mate: Pastor Wiley Drake is spiritual leader of the First Southern Baptist Church near Los Angeles. He is also the vice-presidential running mate of Alan Keyes, who is on the ballot in California as the presidential nominee of the American Independent Party. He is challenging the IRS code which prohibits pastors from making political endorsements from the pulpit. "According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama," Drake said. "Mr. Obama is not standing up for anything that is tradition in America." He urged his congregation to vote for him and his running mate, and to pray for the success of the American Independent Party. He also proclaimed, "I am angry because the government and the IRS and some Christians have taken away the rights of pastors," Drake said to about 45 people at his service. "I have a right to endorse anybody I doggone well please. And if they don't like that, too bad." I suspect the good pastor will quickly find out the IRS can take away tax-exempt status from anybody they doggone well please too.
Comments (2)
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State."--Thomas Jefferson
"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical."--Thomas Jefferson
"And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together."--James Madison
These religious leaders need to read up on US history, there is a very good reason why we do not tax churches and why churches are not allowed to mess with politics.
October 5, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is not a matter of religion, it is a matter of the IRS code which prohibits non-profits, tax-exempt organizations from engaging in partisan political activities.
When organizations assume a partisan stanch they are not “serve[ing] the general welfare”; and thus, are not, according to Supreme Court precedents, entitled to the privilege of tax exempt status.
October 5, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
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