Ministers to Defy I.R.S. by Endorsing Candidates

[TK Burk]

The New York Times reported: "Defying a federal tax law they consider unjust, 33 ministers across the country will take to their pulpits this Sunday and publicly endorse a candidate for president."

For a minister or church to be under a 501c3, they have to agree to certain IRS guidelines. One of these is to obey the Federal Tax Law that bars religious organizations and other nonprofits that accept tax-deductible contributions from involvement in partisan political campaigns. So if a minister has agreed to these stipulations, can he then break that law by officially supporting a candidate from the pulpit? Do you think the ministers mentioned in the NY Times article is doing the right thing?

[Ferd]

got no problem with it. lets level the playing field.

liberals get away with it all the time and cons get nailed to the wall when they make the mistake of supporting conservitives.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by Ferd

got no problem with it. lets level the playing field.

liberals get away with it all the time and cons get nailed to the wall when they make the mistake of supporting conservitives.

I don't see this as just them publically approving or disapproving of a candidate; rather it is more of an issue about their honesty. Remember, by publically speaking in favor of one candidate over another, they are breaking a law that they agreed to uphold. Do you think them doing this is still "no problem"?

[Light]

Originally Posted by Ferd

got no problem with it. lets level the playing field.

liberals get away with it all the time and cons get nailed to the wall when they make the mistake of supporting conservitives.

So you have no problem with lying ?? Anyway you try to cut it if you sign your name to something that has rules you are agreeing with the rules. If you break the rules you are a liar, you said you would abide with them.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Light

So you have no problem with lying ?? Anyway you try to cut it if you sign your name to something that has rules you are agreeing with the rules. If you break the rules you are a liar, you said you would abide with them.

The Constitution overrides any clause in any regulation of any branch of the government such as the IRS. Freedom of speech is the 1st admendment!

[Light]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

The Constitution overrides any clause in any regulation of any branch of the government such as the IRS. Freedom of speech is the 1st admendment!

So br Eply according to you, a man's word doesn't matter any more because the constitution give him the freedom of speech, even if the free speech is a lie????
The constitution does not override any document that gives certain benefits if you give your word and sign that doc.
This is the argument the UPC ministers use to secretly have a TV in their home after signing the affirmation statement.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Light

So br Eply according to you, a man's word doesn't matter any more because the constitution give him the freedom of speech, even if the free speech is a lie????
The constitution does not override any document that gives certain benefits if you give your word and sign that doc.
This is the argument the UPC ministers use to secretly have a TV in their home after signing the affirmation statement.

The Constitution is the American Caesar we render to not some governmental regulation that is always evolving. If the UPC made some regulation against the the Constitution of the org. then I would agree.

The 1st amendment trumps a regulation every time.

When pastoring I never did endorse a canidate nor party so this is not personal with me.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

The Constitution overrides any clause in any regulation of any branch of the government such as the IRS. Freedom of speech is the 1st admendment!

What about what the Bible says about lying? Does the Constitution override that also? Please, explain how your statement is not against what God said in Revelation 21:8?

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

The Constitution overrides any clause in any regulation of any branch of the government such as the IRS. Freedom of speech is the 1st admendment!

Well, there are laws that forbid you to scream "fire" in a crowded theater. So even freedom of speech has its limits.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Light

So you have no problem with lying ?? Anyway you try to cut it if you sign your name to something that has rules you are agreeing with the rules. If you break the rules you are a liar, you said you would abide with them.

Brother Light, I am not a pastor. with our without this rule, my pastor would not, from the pulpit indorse anyone or any party or even point... pointedly toward his "Bibilical" concepts like on the subject of abortion. BECAUSE we are a very diverse congregation and our people support many different polictical views.

That is our right... BUT it is NOT the governments right (in my humble opinion) to tell any of us what we can and cannot say... ESPECIALLY about politics.

I would no more deny Reverand Jerimiah Wright the right to say what ever he wants, than I would any conservitive preacher.

It isnt the business of the government to tell us what we can and cannot say. Especially on 2 very important even sacred subjects. FAITH and POLITICS.

These men who have put themselves on the line have not lied. They have challenged a law, and they have informed the authorities of their actions.

They have taken (in my humble opinion) a sacred stand on the very principles this nation were founded on. God bless them for it.

And if EVERY single one of them were endorsing Barak Obama, I would feel exactly the same.

Peace to you my brother.