Thirty-three pastors have challenged 54 year old IRS ban on political endorsements by giving political sermons from the pulpit.   Recognized organized religions in the United States are exempt from paying taxes to Federal Government, but with that exemption comes rules regarding their conduct to prevent non-religious organizations from evading taxes by posing as a house of worship.   One such rule prevents religious organizations from making formal political endorsements.

But this past Sunday the evangelical minister Ron Johnson Jr. was joined by 32 other pastors in repudiating Barack Obama’s stances on abortion & gay rights.   Johnson went so far as to tell his congregation that voting fo Senator Obama would be a clear sign of “severe moral schizophrenia.”, but stopped short of endorsing Senator John McCain from his pulpit.  

The campaign by the pastors was organized in part by the Alliance Defense Fund, a socially conservative legal action group based in Arizona, and is seen as the beginning of a legal challenge toward the IRS rule mounted in the hopes of getting some activist judge to strike it down.

I remember once being told some wise words from a genteel, old time, Alabama Judge that “If you ever have any doubt as to the necessity for a separation of church and state, just look at the difference between Europe before and after the Renaissance.” It’s already questionable whether allowing a tax exemption for religious organizations violates the separation of church and state in our society.   No taxes means an organization is using public services for free, which also means that all taxpaying individuals and organizations are subsidizing those that are tax exempt.   The overwhelming majority of religious organizations as well as non-profit organizations, who are also conferred tax exempt status under current rules, do a great deal of charity work, filling places both government and the private sector cannot in helping to strengthen communities.   So given the benefits of the trade off, the exemption doesn’t seem out of bounds.

However, once a cross over into the realm of politics occurs, all that goes out the window, as it should.   We talk about politics all the time here on TakePart - and we pay taxes.   Having some familiarity with the field, I can tell you there is nothing divine about politics in this or any country.   Religious organizations should stick to higher callings and helping people and stay out of the political arena, from any perspective, or have their tax exemption taken away.

You can takepart in ensuring a separation of church and state in this country by supporting the American Civil LIberties Union.

LINKS:

Washington Post: 33 Pastors Flout Tax Law With Sermons

LA Times: 2 O.C. pastors challenge IRS rules form the pulpit

Chicago Tribune: Wis. pastor shares his plan to vote for McCain