Should churches whose preachers give political sermons & engage in political activism retain tax exempt status

Answer 1

Nope...not at all.

Answer 2

Churches have ALWAYS engaged in political activism. That's why tyrants historically have outlawed the clergy and killed or persecuted priests, monks, and other religious officials.

If you want to outlaw such behavior in Conservative circles, and make political statements by Jerry Fallwell or Oral Roberts, for example, then you must also outlaw the same behavior on the parts of Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and company.

You must stop all the Churches that run buses to the polls on election day, since many of those programs are merely efforts to turn out votes for one side only.

You must also stop local precincts from using churches as polling places. Believe me-- this happens. And there may not be a suitable public space other than a local church.

All in all, its a lot harder to outlaw this than you might think. Also maybe not a good idea after all.

Answer 3

It should be removed immediatly.

The laws for that exist so that the church is not the one deciding gov't policies. They exist so that people cant be coerced with fear of hell into voting for a certain person. These laws are to protect the churches, the people, and the gov't. Everyone is hurt when churches allowed to make politics into a religioug issue. Look at what is happening now with the GOP making politics into a religious issue; it needs to stop now.

It is fine for your religion to influence your vote, but a religious based authority figure should never tell people how to vote. That is disgraceful to everyone involved.

Answer 4

Churches are tax-exempt constitutionally. Some get 501c3 status, but they don't need it. They should have free speech like everyone else. This is what "separtation of church and state" is all about. The state has no business regulating the church and the church can't regulate the state...otherwise it is a state church and that is unconstitutional. Right now 98% of all churches are contracted with the state through 501c3...this is the true problem!!

Answer 5

just few days ago i found a recording made by Alan Lomax of a preacher from the beginning of the 20's century and it was all political sermon.
i am not a religious person, and i can even call my self an atheist. but i believe that if some thing in this world heppens that is ageinst your principles you should raise your voice against it. and a preacher is a man who leads his community.
and he should lead them in with the principles of the Christianity . preachers should give political sermons

Answer 6

Um, that would make them unable to retain 501(c)3 status. They cannot use their pulpit to endorse any political party, position or candidate. However, engaging in politcal activism is not illegal unless they are using church funds/property/time, etc.

Answer 7

No. There is a big problem with some Evangelical pro-Israel factions clamoring for war with Iran. So-called "religious" groups whose primary function is pro-Jewish war lobby should lost tax-exempt status, as political lobbying for war is not the purpose of religion and is nothing less that church interference in government.

Answer 8

No, they should not. Jesus said that his followers would be no part of the world. That meant that they would not involve themselves in politics nor support the world's governments. Jesus said that his Kingdom was no part of the world. He also told Satan that he was not to be worshiped, only the one true God, Jehovah, was to be. When Satan offered Jesus all the Kingdoms of the earth if he did one act of worship to him, Jesus was so much as saying that Satan was in control of the world's governments. He never once said to him that he could not offer them because they were controlled by his father. He knew that Satan is the "god of this system of things." Therefore, any "church" who supports or meddles in politics should pay the governments for their actions.

Answer 9

The truth of the matter is that churches do not belong in politics. But a church is a church and they are all non profit which would fall into the tax exempt status. It is not a matter of how they get the money but how they use it and that is what makes the differences in our world. Just think of all the people they do help that really need it. Do you want to take away from them because I woulden't.

Answer 10

No. I think I know where you're coming from, but recently many 'churches and church elders' have involved themselves in politics.
There's a so called Christian who thinks he can rule the world. Does his church benefit from tax exemption?

Answer 11

No. I don't understand how people like Pat Robertson and James Dobson get away with telling people who to vote for and still not pay taxes. Churches can own businesses and still not pay taxes. There was one that was on TV years ago that owned a bra factory. And Pat Robertson's group owns diamond mines in South Africa.