Politics and Religion

I was outraged.

I was reading my morning Tribune when, towards the end of the front section, in the "Nation" section, I saw this little gem. Here's the LA Times version: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-allsaints7nov07,1,597130.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Now, what I found outrageous is that the IRS would single out this liberal church to investigate. If, in an election say, a church said you need to vote for this specific candidate - hypothetical situaion, mind you - would they be investigated? Would a super-conservative preacher who, say, may be on TV be investigated?

It would seem we have a double standard here. Speak out FOR the ruling party, you're good. Speak out AGAINST it, lose tax exempt status. If I didn't know better, I'd say we're headed toward a state religion. Churches in the "preferred" religion get tax exempt status. Those who speak out against the state, lose it.

I have a copy of the constitution that I carry around. Don't panic. The only reason I have it is because someone gave it to me. But it says something about how a state religion will not be established. First amendment. Bill of Rights.

So is it against the constitution for churches to be political? I'd say they pretty much always have been. I have been known to say that there should be a strict division between church and politics and I should not hear political speeches from the pulpit.

But to be fair that is mostly because what I hear from the pulpit I don't agree with. If I was in this church, I may not be so quick to judge the politics coming down from above. I probably would shout an "amen!" while he was talking.

I don't like to hear Christians espousing Republican dogma. But I don't like to hear it from non-Christians either. It is important for all in America to be allowed to speak, including our clergy. We have a long history - good and bad - of churches taking political stands. In the South, churches often took opposite stands. White churches condoned and justified racism. Black churches were the core of the civil rights movement. Jewish synagogues decry the Palestinians. Mosques take stands against Israel.

It comes down to free speech. If we have it in this country, it goes for the clergy too. If I'm allowed to be liberal in a red state, I should be allowed to be conservative in my church.

Much as I hate to admit that.