Political preachers pound IRS
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Hundreds of pastors are trying to goad the IRS into a political battle over free speech from the pulpit
This weekend, hundreds of pastors, including some of the nation’s evangelical leaders, will climb into their pulpits to preach about American politics, flouting a decades-old law that prohibits tax-exempt churches and other charities from campaigning on election issues.
Sponsored by the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, the event has been promoted by Glenn Beck, who is calling on 1,000 pastors to partake. “There should be no government intrusion in the pulpit,” says one.
Supporters and critics alike are miffed that the IRS seems to have stopped enforcing the 1954 law. The IRS posts “guidance” on church do’s and don’ts on its website, and says it audits churches, but a lawyer for Ohio ministers who want the rule enforced says church audits have fallen off. Meanwhile, the Times notes, Republican candidates like Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann will “presumably” benefit from tomorrow’s “pulpit politics … since they have been courting Christian conservatives this year.”
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Ah, so they want to preach politics–then they have to pay taxes, right? Seems fair.
The simple minded will continue to do and be simple minded beings. “You can’t fix stupid” (Ron White)
OK, what could possibly go wrong ? If the challenge to enforcement is successful, and the US population demographics continue to see increases in minority growth, what churches could corner the political market ?
Hmm- would they have AME or Saint in their names ? So how good will the Evangelicals and LDS and others feel if these congregations link dogma to candidate and policy endorsements. The influence is already there- but the pulpit adds more gravitas.
Idgets!