Pulpit politics: Pastors to defy IRS

This frosts me mightily. My mother(rest her soul) was as xtian a woman as I've ever known, a real xtian that lived her beliefs. And even in Alabama she was pro-choice and took her grief for it from her friends in the church. but it was never a deal breaker and certainly no one ever doubted her faith or commitment. For this supposed reverend to say you can't be xtian and pro-choice makes me wanna go to warroad and make it possible for him to meet my dearly departed mom who amongst her other qualities never held back when it came to expressing her opinions. Not that mom woulda ever voted for obama, but she certainly would've put this fool in his place.
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original-csmonitor

Pulpit politics: Pastors to defy IRS

Some plan to endorse a candidate Sunday, challenging federal rules that limit partisan activity by tax-exempt groups.
By Jane Lampman | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the September 26, 2008 edition

Reporter Jane Lampman discusses a plan by a group of pastors to endorse a presidential candidate, hoping to trigger IRS action that would allow a conservative legal group to go to court.

During sermons this Sunday, some 35 pastors across the country will tell their congregations which presidential candidate they should vote for, "according to the Scriptures."

Their endorsements represent a direct challenge to federal tax law, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations from engaging in partisan political activity.

The clergy have embraced that risk, hoping their actions will trigger an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, which would then enable a Christian legal advocacy group to take the IRS to court and challenge the constitutionality of the ban.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a conservative legal group based in Arizona, recruited the pastors for "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" to press their claim that the IRS tax code violates the free speech of religious leaders.

"I have a First Amendment right to say whatever I want to say, and I've never thought it was appropriate that as a pastor I could not share my political concerns with the congregation," says the Rev. Gus Booth, pastor at Warroad Community Church in Warroad, Minn.

Mr. Booth will endorse Sen. John McCain on Sunday, and has already told his congregation that as Christians, they could not vote for Sen. Barack Obama due to his position on abortion.

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complete article here

"...abuse my power for personal gain."

:puke:

NGU.

all other political players.

He just can't do that and claim to be tax-exempt.

Our forefathers knew what they were doing. Why can't we? Pretty darned simple. Separate church and state. Look at all the problems we've run into by not following that rule.

Sheesh!

dabble in politics.

nt