By: Diane Benjamin
Churches are tax exempt because government wanted to make sure they didn’t use the Bible as a basis for informing their congregations about political candidates. In 1954 a law was passed banning political campaigning by tax exempt organizations, specifically churches.
Campaigning in a church means the church could lose tax exempt status – something that has never happened. We see Democrats campaigning in churches all the time. They know the IRS won’t do anything to them.
If the IRS ever tried to withdrawal tax exempt status, courts would probably side with the churches because the IRS is limiting free speech. Tax exemptions could disappear for all churches though.
Since Democrats feel safe, they continue to campaign in churches. Laws don’t matter anyway. Think laws will matter if she gets elected?
All churches are now free to have candidates campaign. Pastors should give sermons stating the positions of various candidates. Congregations need to hear the biblical view of candidates and civic duty.
The radicals are doing it. It’s time for elections to be based on biblical principles like they used to be:
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Where’s the piano player? It’s NOT entertaining without music !!
So, campaigning on government property—a no no. Now campaigning in churches. Now there is someone with integrity.
We recently left our church and joined another because it had become so political. There are good bible based churches with awesome messages out there. I agree with tax exempt status for churches but don’t think political speech should be limited within the church. It’s up the the members to decide if they want to worship and learn or attend a political rally. Churches do great things for this community and have a positive impact. Including Mount Pisgah and the one we left.
There she goes again, vote for me cause I wear the blue dress.
So where is the anti Church group?? They oppose ANY biblical reference in government . You cant have the Ten Commandments at City Hall . You cant have a nativity at City Hall but you can campaign at a CHURCH?
Mike, are you talking about the unitarians?
I was not a Unitarian. I won’t say more than that. Not here to make anyone look bad. We chose a non-denominational church. Most main-line churches have become political.
I’m confused you have a quote from George Washington about governing with God and the Bible, but somehow don’t want anyone talking about how to vote by mail in a church. You obviously don’t know the long history of black churches roll in the civil rights movement or their roll in voting rights.
She was campaigning in a church – did you miss that part in her note?
Also is it legal for candidate phone banks to call you at work? I got a call today at work from a Chicago (Naperville) number 630-362-4952 asking for me by name and wanting to tell me about why I should vote for Nikita. Once again it looks like her campaign is being run by out of towners!
desperate too
You were there at the church? Bet not. Her PowerPoint presentation was how to vote by mail and early voting. Again make up your mind, either you want religion in government or you don’t. You seem to pi this and choose what religion you want pushed.
Can’t read? She stated she was campainging!
People say you do not allow post that have facts and material support that make you look bad or Ignorant. You have proven this to be true and you are part of the Fake News problem of the 21st Century.
I don’t allow democrat talking points because people who post them aren’t here for a discussion. They aren’t capable of real facts.
Fact are facts. They are by definition “real” there is no such thing as fake facts. You were not at the church, you didn’t see her presentation, so your commenting about what happened is beside the point and is hearsay.
My point is that African American churches have played a huge role in the civil rights movement and the voting rights movement, Ms. Richards was giving a voting rights speech which is well within the scope of what black churches have been doing for over 100 years. It’s nothing that many African Americans have done historically in their churches.
You statement that Democrats aren’t capable of “real” facts is sad. You really think that denying people their right to comment on issues you blog is a good idea? You go on about laws and the constitution. One of the core rights of the constitution is freedom of speech. If someone has a difference of opinion you should allow that difference. Bobby Brown has it right.
Violating the law is something Democrats have always done. They frequently campaign in churches. They know nothing is going to happen to them. Nikita said she updated them on her campaign. That’s campaigning. This pretending that people’s voting rights are being violated here is racism by her.
“Violating laws is something Democrats have always done”? Such broad statement that’s not true. They ALWAYS violate the law? Always? What “racism” are you talking about in your response?
Oct 2015: “A half-dozen Republican presidential hopefuls worked to woo thousands of evangelicals at a Texas megachurch in suburban Dallas on Sunday, declaring their unwavering support for “religious liberty” even after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage and their defense of life in abortion cases and beyond. But the four-plus hour event before what organizers said was a crowd of 7,000 at the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano underscored the importance of the religious right, as well as the potentially pivotal role Texas’ earlier-than-usual primary could play in the 2016 race.”
So it’s OK for Republicans to campaign in churches but not Democrats?
The fact is that Trump signed an executive order in 2017 EASING the enforcement of rules barring churches and other religious groups from political activities. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-signs-order-aimed-at-allowing-churches-to-engage-in-more-political-activity/2017/05/04/024ed7c2-30d3-11e7-9534-00e4656c22aa_story.html?utm_term=.85ee414a941f
Democrats get by with it – so why not? Remember Hillary with the fake southern accent: “I ain’t no ways tired”
Did you read what I wrote? Trump signed an executive order in 2017 easing IRS rules penalizing churches for political speech. It was something Evangelicals like you were cry for for years.
I could come up with more Republicans using churches for campaigning. So, it appears that Richards was not violating any law or rule.
What does Hillary have to do with anything? Why exactly are you throwing red herrings in the way?
It just makes me laugh remembering that moment. It should be obvious why she lost
And that has nothing to do with anything. It’s pretty sad that you have to bring up something that bizarre and off topic. How many years did Hillary spend in Arkansas? Some twenty odd years starting in 1976. Perhaps that’s the reason for the accent.
So go away! Pantagraph is calling your name.
So you make a remark about Hillary Clinton and I have to “go away”? You’re the one who made this about Hillary Clinton not me.
My site – go harass people elsewhere.