In a typical disingenuous Christianist argument, the nutcases at The Alliance Defense Fund are recruiting pastors nationwide to defy an IRS ban on preaching about politicians. Their specious claim is that the ban on tax-exempt organizations being involved in partisan politics is an "unconstitutional limit on free speech and government intrusion into religion. " This claim is - pardon my French - utter bullshit. These pastors and churches are free to do and say whatever they want unless and except if they want special tax breaks and tax exemptions. Like most things in life, nothing comes without a price and tax-exempt status and being treated as a non-profit charity for taxation purposes involves a trade off, namely, staying out of partisan politics. Like everything else they do, the Christianists want to have their cake and eat it too and benefit from special rights not available to the general citizenry. Here are some highlights on the issue from 365gay.com:
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(New York City) Conservative legal advocates are recruiting pastors nationwide to defy an IRS ban on preaching about politicians, in a challenge they hope will abolish the restriction. The Alliance Defense Fund, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., will ask the clergy to deliver a sermon about specific candidates Sept. 28. If the action triggers an IRS investigation, the legal group will sue to overturn the federal rules, which were enacted in 1954. The ADF has been involved in a number of lawsuits against LGBT issues in various states.
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The IRS has stepped up monitoring of nonprofit political activity during the 2008 election. Punishments can range from a financial penalty to loss of tax-exempt status.
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Americans United for Separation of Church and State, an advocacy group in Washington, monitors church political activity and consistently files complaints with the IRS. They said Friday that they will notify the agency of any pastor who participates in the ADF campaign. Some religious groups support keeping politics out of the pulpit. J. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in Washington, which advocates for religious freedom, said churches should be involved in public issues, but partisan activity can "compromise the essential calling to spread the Gospel."
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I hate to say it, but in my view, intolerant religious fundamentalists of all stripes are one of the biggest evils and dangers in the world today. What would Jesus say?
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