Should churches be able to endorse candidates and still be tax exempt?

"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes."

Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Alexander Von Humboldt, dated Dec 6, 1813

I, myself, have always considered Churches to be businesses like any other, their product is religion and their motivation is financial and secular power. That being the case any business that actively serves as a fund raiser and lobbyist for political parties should undoubtedly be taxed as the secular entity they are.

"the means to tax is the means to wreck." So suggested preferrred courtroom Justice Marshall in 1819. that is probably why the government does not tax religious establishments. Too a lot of those pesky First modification themes. exciting that a similar people who might agree that church and state could be separate have not have been given any issue with the government taking a cut back out of donated money. If religions might properly be taxed, then they could be waiting to foyer or propose applicants; they're going to have a similar stake as unquestionably everybody else. Do you incredibly need that to take place? in case you do, repeal the guidelines taking under consideration tax-exemptions for church homes. Write your congressman at present! i've got in no way heard a candidate counseled by utilising any church i've got been to. professional soccer communities, confident, yet applicants? NO.

Of course it should be legal... And for the good sir who pointed out that African American pastors have been doing this for years, well its not quite correct to single out the one group, when nearly every single church in America probably does this.

However, it is true, if a church gets a tax break they need to keep politics out of the pulpit. Otherwise, the pulpit is theoretically for sale. Who can offer more breaks, who can offer more incentives for the churches?

This is not anti-religion, but religion should have no effect on secular politics, and should receive no special treatment.

A fundamental social duty of the church is to balance the government. Religion is essential as a moderating force in society- another checks and balances system. Because of this, and the fact that politics inherently affects religion and churches, I think that yes, they should be allowed to endorse canditates. This is not mixing religion and politics in a bad way, as the church still isn't making the laws. The government should not be able to say that what a church can or cannot preach/endorse- that is the purpose of "separation of church and state"

Churches are in the business of spreading & profiting off their own proproganda. I support their freedom to preach politics, and yes they need to be taxed. Church is a big, big $$ maker.

African American Democrat Pastors have been doing this for years. It should be legal. Freedom of speach. Seperation of church and state means that the governement should stay out of a church's business.

A church that endordes a candidate (Democrat, Republican, or other) should lose its tax exempt status.

as long as a republican is president this country will run wild