A 1954 amendment to the Internal Revenue Service code submitted by Democratic Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson permits the IRS to revoke a church's tax-exempt status if the preaching gets too political.
This political season some pastors around the country are defying this amendment and challenging the IRS. "Pulpit Freedom Sunday"was organized by the Alliance Defense Fund, an organization of lawyers dedicated to defending religious liberty. The ADF believes that pastors have a First Amendment right to speak on politics if they choose, and that by using its tax authority to limit pulpit content, it is the government, and not the preacher, who is violating the separation of church and state.
What do you think? Should the government limit what pastors can preach about? Should they try to ban politics from the pulpit?
18 comments:
I think it is not really good for pastors to be talking about politics. Some things they should be able to talk about, but not who people should vote for or what they should think. I think people have their own opinions and won't always believe everything they hear. But at the same time i really don't think the government should be stepping into these situations. We have a separation of church and government and i think most people like it that way!
Again everybody has their own opinion. There are people who are close minded and could care less about other people's opinions and there are those who are open minded and enjoy seeing/hearing different point of views. It's how people perceive information they are given. Also some people are easily offended. I think religion should stick with religions and politics with politics. There's enough conflict in politics without the added controversy religion would contribute.
I think it is just fine if pastors want to talk in politics they have the same rights as everyone else so why not.The government really shouldn't be getting involved with the churches funds or taxes either. the government is in the wrong on this one.
I think people can have their own opinions, and the government shouldn't limit what pastors can say or do! They can talk about politics if they really want to, it may cause some sort of crisis. I mean, there is a separation of government and religion but pastors shouldn't be limited on what they say. Government shouldn't get involved in what the churches do and stuff like that the government should just settle down!! :D
i think that politicians shouldn't tell pastors what to talk about but in turn they shouldn't talk politics government and religion are two different things and that's the way it needs to stay
politics are discussed at home and at work not when you go to church. if i would want to hear politics i would discuss it with people i wouldnt want to go to church to hear about it.
I think pastors have the same rights we do. But as a pastor, I think, that they would want to stay out of conflict and represent the church. Religion is separate from politics and it should stay that way. Would they get all fussy if a politician went and started talking about religion. It would probably be different.
I think that the pastors, like anyone else has a freedom of speech. I think it is a good thing that they talk about the present world and politics. People need to hear about what is going on in todays society.
I think pastors need to keep their political views to themselves because it could cause conflicts with them and the congregation. But it would be violating the first amendment if they weren't allowed to speak their mind. If people have a problem with haring about politics they have the choice to quit going to church or find a new one.
If pastors want to start talking about politics the church can start paying taxes. Churches are tax free they should go by the rules given for them by the IRS.
I think that pastor should have rights to talk about politics but he should not have a sermon on it. He has the right but only when he is ask on what is opinion about politics.
i think that a pastor has no more right to be preaching his political views than a teacher to students.
even if they try not to there will be bias and its not right.
they shouldn't preach about politics in church...i mean you are going to church to be with God..not to talk about the presidential race.
right?
the pastor has the wright to talk about politics, but shouldn't do it when he is behind the pulpit, and the govt. has the wright to control where its money is spent.
I don't think pastors should be talking about politics in church but everyone has their own opinion. Some people at the church may not agree with what the pastor is saying.
Religion and government should be kept separate. I agree with 1stprincess... religion should stick with religion and politics with politics. Enough said. Thank you.
as far as im concered what ever happened to freedom of speech. i mean everyone has the right to their opinion, it just who and where you say it.
i think pastors can leave out politics in their sermon. but i guess if they want to they can go right ahead and say whatever they want.
Post a Comment