If a church starts instructing their members who to vote for or what issues are important to them, should they have to pay taxes. If a not-for-profit does this, then they lose their tax exempt status, so shouldn't churches be held to the same statute? If not, why? Imagine how much more money could go to health care, education, etc if we taxed some of those organizations.
2007-03-06 06:38:42 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! I am the pastor of a Church with 501(c)(3) Not for profit status - and I won't even let out people circulate petitions at the Church.
2007-03-06 06:42:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Religion addresses what is most important to people in the world. Churches should be free to speak out on issues of importance to them. But it should be up to individual members to make the effort to influence public policy.
Petition drives and political campaigns have no place on church property. Speaking with pastoral authority for or against a candidate, party or ballot measure amounts to political coersion. There is plenty to say about general public policy and the stewardship of the earth and humanity without identifying with a specific campaign. (I would expect that thinking co-religionists might disagree on how best to act politically.)
We've heard of the IRS moving against churches that dispute government policy while ignoring overt electioneering at "sympathetic" churches. This is clearly a violation of the First Amendment. There are always opportunities for abuse, but some clear lines can still be drawn. If it has anything to do with actually voting a ballot, it should be cause for yanking a church's tax exemption.
2007-03-06 07:12:55 · answer #2 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's fine for religions to take a stand on issues that have always been a part of their doctrines. I mean if a church has always thought it's wrong to skip with your hands in the air (just for a random example) and then something comes up to vote on about skipping with their hands in their air, they should be able to take a stand on that without being accused of suddenly being political - it's always been their belief.
Now if you get into things that aren't relevant to their doctrines, then I think the IRS should take a second look at them.
2007-03-06 06:46:43 · answer #3 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A church cannot endorse a candidate, but they certainly can talk about the moral implications of current social issues, including social issues that weigh heavily in the elections.
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2007-03-06 06:56:59 · answer #4 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By law they have to pay taxes if they mention names or parties. They lose their tax exempt status.
2007-03-06 06:46:01 · answer #5 · answered by pontiuspilatewsm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-03-06 06:43:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes thay are political thay tell govermants how to think with there out dated laws it thay want to govermant how to think then it is time for the people to vote for the people who run the church the see if we can vote for a new pope
2007-03-06 06:49:04 · answer #7 · answered by andrew w 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who to vote for? Yes
what issues are important to them? No
2007-03-06 06:41:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean by political? If they push for biblical
principles then NO. If they push for a favorite presidential candidate then YES.
2007-03-06 07:08:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, the moment they enter the political forum they give up their special rights, and rightly so.
2007-03-06 06:42:51 · answer #10 · answered by Murazor 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋