Can Church and State really be Separated when there are...

[whistle]

...multi-billions of dollars in tax exempt status considerations given to religious institutions and millions of dollars worth of political contributions to the Bush campaign? That's one of the messages that I got from this article in the NY Times today.




June 3, 2004
Bush Campaign Seeks Help From Thousands of Congregations
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
The New York Times

The Bush campaign is seeking to enlist thousands of religious congregations around the country in distributing campaign information and registering voters, according to an e-mail message sent to many members of the clergy and others in Pennsylvania.

<snip>

In each targeted "place of worship," Mr. Bernstein continued, without mentioning a specific religion or denomination, "we'd like to identify a volunteer who can help distribute general information to other supporters." He explained: "We plan to undertake activities such as distributing general information/updates or voter registration materials in a place accessible to the congregation."

<snip>

The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of the liberal Americans United for Separation of Church and State, argued that any form of distributing campaign literature through a church would compromise its tax-exempt status. He called the effort "an absolutely breathtakingly large undertaking," saying, "I never thought anyone could so attempt to meld a political party with a network of religious organizations."

<more>

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/politics/campaign/03CHUR.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position=

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. The IRS needs to get on the tails of churches that agree to do this

And yes, I'm equally against churches featuring Democratic candidates, as when they take photo ops during the Sunday services at African-American churches.

If they were to rent the church's social hall, as all kinds of community groups do, that would be one thing, but I do wince when I see Dem candidates speaking about political topics during services. If that's okay, what's wrong with a Repub candidate coming in and speaking about political topics during services at a fundie church?

(Ironic anecdote: One of the members of my former liberal Episcopal parish in Portland worked for a local environmental organization, and he managed to nab a prominent urban planner from a foreign country as a Sunday preacher. The news that this world-renowned authority on Smart Growth and alternative transporation was going to speak attracted the largest crowd I ever saw in my twelve years with that parish. But when he got up to speak, I could see the expressions of dismay on the visitors' faces: the urban planner was a devout Anglican and gave a completely religious sermon. Portland is an unusually secularized city, and as the sermon progressed, one visitor after another got up and left, until only about ten percent of them were left.)

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Sure. That's The Very Basis Of The Exemptions

Which is why religious organizations should not be allowed to campaign for, or donate to, specific political candidates or parties.

The fact that they are tax exempt is proof that the separation of church and state is a real construct. If they wish to officially insert themselves into governance and politics, they should abrogate their tax exemption so they are NOT separated by legal means from gov't.
The Professor