Do religious leaders who preach political reform still qualify for a tax exempt

1. 73

   pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

   Do religious leaders who preach political reform still qualify for a tax exempt status"
   
   If Catholic bishops, minister, pastors, Rabbis and even Mormon leaders try to influence politics, should they still receive a tax exemption status?

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2. 53

   Squirrelgonzoposted 11 years ago

   IMHO, it depends on what they are actually doing about it. If one pastor works it into a sermon-regarding how political reform relates to the spiritual realm-its a sermon that should be taken with a grain of salt.
   
   If the religious leader is pushing really hard trying to get into politics and play in the political arena-that is something else and his church goers should probably do more research to be sure that they are not just going along with his or anyone's agenda-instead of learning more about their faith.

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3. 81

   Attikosposted 11 years ago

   Should the politicized Sierra Club keep its tax exempt status? The NOW? The AFL-CIO?
   
   Hammer one, and you have to hit 'em all. You can't strip your political opponents of their bennies and still keep your own.

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4. 69

   Joan Kingposted 11 years ago

   Definitely not. They can't have it both ways. They are against the government getting involved in the church or their business and so on. Then why should tax payers be forced to pay for their activities?

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5. 0

   screamingposted 11 years ago

   Short and simple, no. They should in no way use the pulpit for their politcal favorites. Any church or non profit using their influence in the political arena should not retain tax exempt status.

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6. 60

   ackman1465posted 11 years ago

   The Founding Fathers were so careful to craft a governmental arrangement which you have SECULARITY be primary, and RELIGION (and any OTHER category of rule-making) secondary......  The US Constitution is a dream document largely/ mostly because of this.
   
   IF a religious leader chooses to use his tax-exempt pulpit to spout POLITICAL talk, THEN he/she must cede his/her/that church's tax-exempt status.  You can't have it both ways!!!!!

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