March 14, 2012
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Pulpits
There have been discussions as to what a Pastor can or can’t talk about from the pulpit. i.e. Endorsing a certain candidate or opposing a candidate and a myriad of other political subjects.
What should or shouldn’t a person be allowed to speak of behind a church pulpit?
Comments (14)
Why not. Anyone, everyone deserves to be heard.
Depends on whether it’s a tax-exempt church. (Most of them are.) If it is, then yes, the laws prohibiting things like endorsing candidates are proper. If it’s not tax-exempt, then they should be able to say anything they want.
They legally can say whatever they want behind the pulpit. However, what they say can impact their church’s access to the privilege of being a tax exempt entity.
@xsimplepleasuresx - the power to tax is the power to control.
@Randy7777 - The power to tax is constitutionally protected, as is the right to the freedom of speech. If they choose to waive that right for the sake of money, that is their decision.
@xsimplepleasuresx - What in your opinion would be an example of someone that should have their tax exemption revoked?
@TheSchizoidMan - thanks
@RestlessButterfly - Thank you
I just heard a homily by a Catholic priest who had become extremely upset by Obama’s sacking of the 1st Amendment. He called President Obama a liar, even. That’s very radical speech from the Catholic pulpit.
I’ve never heard anything like it.
I don’t think the Church wants a repeat of Nazi Germany where most of the churches, including the Catholic Church, tried to reach an accommodation with a cabal of tyrants.
@sometimestheycomebackanyway - Agreed
Why should the first amendment rights of free speech end at the pulpit? Why should the press be able to say anything publicly, including calling a public figure crude names with impunity, but a pulpit requires censoring?
Go to http://jeffcraw4d.wordpress.com/ and see how my Pastor handled it from his blog.
@feedwaterclean - exactly right
@Randy7777 - Here is some reading materials for you, it is a guide prepared by the IRS for churches/organizations that quite clearly states the requirements for maintaining tax-exempt status. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf The rules seem fair and reasonable to me.