August 9, 2004
DID MLK BELONG IN THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL?:
Schism widens in battle over pulpit politics (Amy Fagan, 8/09/04, THE WASHINGTON TIMES)
A fight is erupting this election season between conservative churches and liberal watchdog groups that are going to the IRS and accusing ministers of violating the law if they speak out about political issues and candidates."Right now, it's very one-sided," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a conservative legal-action group.
He said the liberal Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) -- led by the Rev. Barry W. Lynn -- has been "very aggressive" in going after churches "that are conservative in their leanings." But AU has "looked the other way," with a few exceptions, when it comes to more liberal-leaning churches, Mr. Sekulow said.
The Rev. Jerry Falwell calls it a "scare tactic" designed to prevent evangelical ministers from mobilizing millions of Christians behind President Bush. Mr. Falwell is fighting back by holding a seminar next month to educate pastors on their right to speak freely.
"We have no intention of being intimidated by these left-wing thugs," he said.
It's hard enough to make a coherent case that the Constitution requires separation of Church and State, impossible to make one that it requires the religious to eschew politics. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 9, 2004 8:51 AM
Unfortunately, five votes in black robes say otherwise.
Posted by: jim hamlen at August 9, 2004 12:01 PMjim - The ideas that "all men are created equal" and entitled to the "equal protection of the laws" will have to be abandoned. The Constitution requires it!
Posted by: pj at August 9, 2004 12:36 PMConservatives are in a bind on this issue because the wimped-out Preppie Plutocrats calling the shots for the Republicans haven't had the--sand to challenges the shameless electioneering conducted by Black churches. Black "Revs" hold political rallies during so-called "Divine services" and no one bats an eye. Our R.C.'s and Evangelicals would have been happy to live with any rules the Blacks would have accepted.
We didn't bother to nail this issue down because the WOPP crowd has had this fantasy about increasing their share of the Black vote from 7% to 8%, and now we're paying the price.
Posted by: Lou Gots at August 9, 2004 1:08 PMConservatives are in a bind on this issue because the wimped-out Preppie Plutocrats calling the shots for the Republicans haven't had the--sand to challenges the shameless electioneering conducted by Black churches. Black "Revs" hold political rallies during so-called "Divine services" and no one bats an eye. Our R.C.'s and Evangelicals would have been happy to live with any rules the Blacks would have accepted.
We didn't bother to nail this issue down because the WOPP crowd has had this fantasy about increasing their share of the Black vote from 7% to 8%, and now we're paying the price.
Posted by: Lou Gots at August 9, 2004 1:09 PMLou:
Normally I would agree with you, but this type of lawsuit has to come from the ACLU, not the GOP. All the GOP can do is emulate what the Democrats do in all churches, not just white or black ones. And they have plenty of TV footage to cover themselves, should they feel they need it.
Posted by: jim hamlen at August 9, 2004 1:59 PMThey're free to participate on their own dime. But they don't value politcal process more than money.
They don't value anything more than money.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at August 9, 2004 2:11 PMHarry:
For ministers who always want to be on TV, I would agree with you almost exclusively. But there are thousands of ministers around the country who do their jobs well, and just want to be unknown. Your experience may be different, but think of all the people who have been screwed by reporters: does that ruin the whole profession?
Posted by: jim hamlen at August 9, 2004 2:55 PMLou:
So what? Why shouldn't black ministers tell people how to vote? They're leaders of their communities.
Posted by: oj at August 9, 2004 3:24 PMLou - Love your enemy; turn the other cheek. It's wrong to deprive black preachers of their free exercise and free speech rights, even if Democrats succeed in depriving conservative preachers of theirs.
Posted by: pj at August 9, 2004 4:01 PMThe Constitution prevents the 100 senators and 435 representatives in the House from passing a law which establishes an official religion of the United States, and it prevents these same people from passing a law which would forbid citizens from practicing whatever religious beliefs they hold. That is all. Nowhere does it say that a school teacher can not lead his or her class in reciting the Lord's Prayer. Nowhere does it say that a town can not display religious symbols. Nowhere does it say that a state's legislature can not pass a law establishing an official religion for that state.
Posted by: Vince at August 9, 2004 5:08 PMjim, of course preachers should give advice to their congregations on important issues.
If those issues involve electoral politics, though, they need to start paying taxes with the rest of us.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at August 9, 2004 10:24 PMAlthough ACLU and AU harp on about the constitution, the real issue here is the tax code. IRS can threaten a Church's tax exempt status if it is actively politicking. The quiet issue here is that Republicans being anti-gay marriage is starting to attract the attention of the black ministry.
Posted by: David Cohen at August 9, 2004 11:21 PMBecause we believe in free and fair elections.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at August 10, 2004 3:14 AM>Because we believe in free and fair elections.
doubleplusgoodthink, comrade!
doubleplusgood duckspeak!
doubleplusbellyfeel ingsoc!
I guess I should have said 'I' and not 'we'
Posted by: Harry Eagar at August 11, 2004 4:08 PM