Religious right group faxing ‘voter guides’ to area churches

Wouldn’t distributing these be a violation of a church’s tax free status?

Okay, the “church” has taken a political position. What’s the church’s position on free trade? I think now we all have a right to know.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/09/30/tea-partiers-trade-bad/

Is the “church” in favor of maintaining a “defense” establishment capable of wiping out life as we know it on this planet 40 times over? I’m breathlessly waiting for a response from the moral guides and leaders of our great Nation.

“The church wasn’t happy to receive them.”

What’s the basis for this statement? Who wasn’t happy? Can the statement be backed up with a quote, in context? Thx.

The “Pray in Jesus Name” Project seems to not have any clue about Jesus and his Name. I’ll pray for these clueless ones that they come to know the True God and what He sent His Son to do. But also I’ll say that the “church” at this time in America, i.e. North America USA (not all of America) doesn’t need to alienate any more people than it already has with political posturing. Not that the Right has made it easier by aligning political correctness with hating and disparaging the poor and social justice measures to ameliorate their condition.

[...] Religious right group faxing ‘voter guides’ to area churches [...]

It’s definitely time to start stripping churches of their 501(c)(3) status. There is no WAY that these voter’s guides can be defined as ANYTHING other than an explicit endorsement of a particular candidate (and Collin Peterson has GOT to go).

It is VERY shocking to me to learn that churches can’t voice their political preferences without risking persecution. So much for freedom of religion.

Can the Chaplain campaign in his military regalia?

@Jimmy/Rudy/Raymond: That is the condition of their 501(c)(3) tax exemption: They are not permitted to interfere substantively with legislation or elections. No one can stop them from preaching the politics of hate and destruction from the pulpit – or any other type of politics – but they must pay their taxes if they do so.

Jimmy/Judy/Raymond, churches have every right to voice their political preferences. They can do so anytime they like. But if they do, they forfeit their right to tax-exempt status under the law–and rightfully so. Therefore, if the churches wish to continue enjoying non-taxation, perhaps they’d better stay out of politics and stop with the obviously political “voter guides.” Here’s a radical thought: maybe the churches could start focusing on the primary aspects of Jesus’ message and ministry such as assisting the poor. Jesus said a lot about that. He was mostly silent on politics, and the churches would be wise to follow His example (for a change).

I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that our sick twisted tax system is used to silence opposition, especially opposition to tyrannical Marxists who are hurt the most by freedom of speech.

It’s very simple: Under law, if an organization wants to get involved in politics, IT MUST BE TAXED. You can preach all day long about whatever subject you want to, BUT IF YOU ADVOCATE ON LEGISLATION OR FOR OR AGAINST ANY POLITICIANS, YOU MUST PAY TAXES.

Render unto Caeser what is Caesar’s.

It’s very simple, Katie B.: Jimmy/Rudy/Raymond aka “Sybil” believes that you cannot be a “Christian” unless you are a right-wing Republican. Think of him as a kind of anti-Bill Hybels.

If the Marxists thought enough Chrisitians would endorse leftist candidates, the rules that quiet churches never would have been enacted. Apparently privilege of speech requires a user fee.

¿Por qué no te callas?

So if you’re just bothering people, and you admit this, then you are doing nothing but lowering the signal:noise ratio of the Internet and should not be posting.

That is not what I said. I think you are reading what you want to read and not what is written. A common albeit sad mistake.

@Katie B. – Thank you for pointing out that the operating business of this blog is a 401(c)(3) and in direct violation of its tax exempt status.

This blog regularly violates its tax exemption by directly supporting candidates, encouraging political fundraising for political parties and engaging in political debates.

What more could you ask for? The Catholic Church has a long way to go to get to this level of illegal activity.

Sighs.

No, Timmy boy.

That’s not how 501(c)(3) works. Issue advocacy alone does not comprise a violation of 501(c)(3). What constitutes violation is spending money on lobbying, is directly endorsing or opposing a particular political candidate.

The fact that you do not like the news being reported by AINN does not mean that it’s violating the law.

The Catholic Church, however, is SPENDING MONEY to affect the legislative process. Particularly doing so in ways that the Supreme Court has determined to be unconstitutional (see Romer v. Evans, which specifically declares that the government may not put a special disability on a population for the reason of moral animus; see also Lawrence v. Texas which clarifies that laws made on basis of moral animus are explicitly unconstitutional; see also Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, which clarifies that there is no substantive difference between conduct and status).