Pastors' political endorsements draw complaints

Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:03 PM EDT
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WEST BEND — A church-state separation group filed complaints Monday with the Internal Revenue Service against six churches whose pastors either endorsed or made pointed comments about political candidates from their pulpits Sunday in defiance of federal tax law.

The Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based conservative legal group, orchestrated the pulpit protest to invite IRS scrutiny and a legal fight it hopes will lead to the restrictions being found unconstitutional.

The group released a list Monday of 33 participating pastors — most if not all from conservative evangelical churches — and pledged to defend them.

The pastors intend to send copies of their sermons to the IRS. But Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State didn't wait for that: The group filed complaints Monday with the IRS about six pastors whose sermons were detailed in media reports.

Five of the six supported Republican presidential candidate John McCain. The sixth, Wiley Drake of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., said: "According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama." Drake was not among the pastors Alliance Defense Fund selected for the protest and was acting independently.

The five others reported to the IRS were Jody Hice of Bethlehem First Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Ga.; Paul Blair of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla.; Gus Booth of Warroad Community Church in Warroad, Minn.; Francis Pultro of Calvary Chapel Kings Highway in Philadelphia; and Luke Emrich of New Life Church in West Bend, Wis.

The IRS has said it would "take action as appropriate." The agency does not comment on specific complaints.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":3189771,"authorDomain":"smuckitelli"}
JoJo-440468

I have no problem with churches supporting specific candidates. I do have a problem with them keeping their tax-exempt status if they do. This is an "either-or" proposition. Either they remain unpolitical and untaxed or they become political and taxed. Seems simple and straight forward to me.

Oh, they want to become political and remain untaxed? Sorry, folks, that's not how the system works.

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  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:05 PM EDT
{"commentId":3191684,"authorDomain":"DARKESTDONNIE"}
DARKESTDONNIE

Separation mythology does not exist in the constitution. If a politician fundamentally goes against the churches interpretation of the scriptures the church leaders should and do inform the greater church.

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  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:01 PM EDT
{"commentId":3198850,"authorDomain":"mistyshangrila"}
Destiny's Child

Sorry but the Johnson Amendment says that if they support a particular candidate, they must lose their tax-exempt status. These churches are violating the tax laws. They must lose their tax-free benefits!

{"commentId":3198850,"threadId":"371578","contentId":"1926104","authorDomain":"mistyshangrila"}
  • 2 votes
#2.1 - Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:17 AM EDT
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{"commentId":3193502,"authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
Mass Graves

The police action in Iraq costs 15 billion a month- with a projected deficit in the trillions.
The cost of fuel for the average consumer went up-up-up and the oil companies earned 155 BILLION in 2007.
When Barack went to Iraq as a diplomat, weren't they accepting and serious on a plan of troop withdraw?
Obviously the U.S. has its own problems(Country First)?-

And since it seems apparent the fuel supplies are running short in certain regions- then what is the projected future-in the future after we are dead, and generations only hold us a faded memory- what happens when all the supplies are drained- what then for those people...(who gives a @!$%#)- Does oil grow on tree's?

{"commentId":3193502,"threadId":"371578","contentId":"1926104","authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
    Reply#3 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:28 PM EDT
    {"commentId":3193620,"authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
    Mass Graves

    I love practicing values- its allways enlightening to hear preachers endorse war-heads. Never mind the 6th commandment( thou shalt not kill) or the Messiah's holy message of bringing peace- not casting stones -and to love your neighbor.
    Those spiritual laws apply to who? And Mr.Preacher's of America what is God's creation? The bible says the Earth in the book of Genesis, is "God's" creation- I would assume destruction of the enviroment is considered sinful- Apparently not- and believe it or not- the Bush and Palin-McCain enviromental policies are blantantly in disregaurd of enviromental protection.
    The Preachers of America should hold sermons in McDonalds- very American.

    {"commentId":3193620,"threadId":"371578","contentId":"1926104","authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#4 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:38 PM EDT
    {"commentId":3193749,"authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
    Mass Graves

    And Preacher Man- the reason the constitution has provisions which seperate church from state is to keep people such as yourselves in your homes of worship-legally.
    How blessed that don't like homosexuals???- but it says in the bible its not right to judge, correct? Did you know that your a homophobe and have a sexual and psychological problem?
    Love is universal- Really- its a joke brother.
    Forgive me father- but your ignorant.

    {"commentId":3193749,"threadId":"371578","contentId":"1926104","authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
      Reply#5 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:47 PM EDT
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