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Dear James,
With election season approaching, it
is very important for your pastors to clearly
understand the law as they speak out on current
issues facing our country.
Since 1954, legislation regarding the
Internal Revenue Code has prevented pastors and
other clergy from endorsing or supporting candidates
for public office.
Basically, the code gives the IRS the
right to take away the tax-exempt status of your
church if your pastor speaks out on political
issues.
Ironically, this silencing of our
church leaders goes completely against the desires
of our Founding Fathers!
Throughout the Revolutionary War,
American pastors preached vehemently from their
pulpits against the tyranny of Great Britain and of
the desire for a new government.
Recently I sent you an email
regarding a letter - that your pastor may have
received from Americans United for Separation of
Church and State - regarding the IRS code and the
threat to your church if it were to be breached.
In direct response to my email,
Americans United conceded that pastors do have
the right to speak out on the moral and biblical
issues of the day, even during election season.
To further clarify, the only thing
pastors are prohibited from doing is endorsing or
opposing candidates for public office (this
prohibition does not apply to the pastor in their
individual capacity).
Therefore, the distribution of
non-partisan voter guides, the holding of political
debates, and the preaching of moral issues are all
allowed to take place within a church facility.
For more news about the rights of your pastor this
political season, please review this new information
and either print it for your church leader(s) or
forward this email for their own review.
It has never been more important for
pastors to understand that they have the right to
speak out on current issues of the day and not face
repercussions from the IRS.
This is a tremendously significant
election season, with many of our religious freedoms
at stake! You can make a difference just by
forwarding this email to your friends and family.
Thank you for doing your part to give
your pastor the free speech rights that every
American deserves! |
