Is ANYONE ok with this? If yes explain to me WHY?

[DrPepper12]

Gift article - no paywall

https://wapo.st/460F7O0

IRS says churches should be allowed to make political endorsements

The IRS said in a new court filing that clergy and houses of worship should be allowed to make political endorsements, a potential move away from a 71-year-old tax policy that curtailed the fusing of religion and politics.

Banning tax-exempt nonprofits — including congregations — from participating in political campaigns violates the First Amendment’s protection of the right to the free exercise of religion and freedom of speech, IRS Commissioner Billy Long said in a court filing Monday in a Texas federal court case.

Nonprofits should be allowed to make political endorsements and not lose their tax exemptions, the IRS said in the court filing. Religious congregations, the filing said, are like families, and their internal communications should not be deemed “participation” in a campaign.

“When a house of worship in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith, it neither ‘participate[s]’ nor ‘intervene[s]’ in a ‘political campaign,’” according to the filing.

“First Amendment rights don’t end when a pastor, church member or even a political candidate steps on the platform of a church,”.

Others said changing the policy would further pollute U. S. politics.

“Permitting synagogues and other houses of worship to endorse or oppose candidates undercuts the integrity and unity of these religious institutions, turning them into an extension of political candidates or parties,”

“This decision fails to recognize the realities of modern spiritual life and could expose clergy, including rabbis and cantors, to unjust scrutiny as they fulfill their sacred duty to teach, guide, and inspire,” the statement said.

I support religion & government fusion

I oppose religion & government fusion

SCOTUS will not allow this

SCOTUS will allow this

Fuckity bye bye USA! Nice knowing you!

[MisterWack]

Separation of Church and State. Don’t need to say more.

I will add to the conversation that, The Democratic Party Leadership utilizes morals and the law as a shield from any and all criticism. The same way The Republican Party Leadership utilizes faith, Jesus, and The Bible as a shield from any and all criticism.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. I say call out both the sh-tty behavior and actually demand better from all politicians. The reason I say “two wrongs don’t make a right” because people will justify the other side as a means to extend power, rip away freedoms, and push the needle further as long as it benefits their own party which is not how this Constitutional Republic with Democratic Values serves its people, it is WE The People not our the people.

Hold your party accountable and demand better of your elected leaders.
Trump is all for himself, never about We The People.
He promised ends to wars (none), tariffs were the solution (keeps extending the deadline he created), Released a report that Epstein did k-ll himself and that there was no blackmail tapes or cabal of billionaires with him on the island, also footage that has 1 minute gap missing which they defended, also hasn’t fixed inflation other than same old “I blame Joe Biden” card. This isn’t what you wanted and this isn’t what we need.
You enable him to continue the same stupidity that makes you and us look like fools.

[DJB72]

Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

George Washington, September 19th 1796

Maybe US history should be taught places outside the UK where I was taught this...

[OneViewpoint]

Your sick fuck religion does not convey any superior morality to your cult members. It’s usually promoting exactly the opposite.

[DJB72]

Really? You've read multiple translations of the Bible and studied the historical context of all 66 books in it, or you can fluently read and translate the three ancient languages it's written in as well as understanding the historical context?

Plus, naturally, you're fully aware that zero archaeological finds have contradicted the historical accounts contained in either the old or new testaments and have, in fact, proven reliable the accounts contained in them?

And, naturally, you're fully aware of how the slaveowners in the confederacy selectively twisted the bible out of context in an attempt to make it say slavery was acceptable, while my ancestors - abolitionists - first supported Wilberforce in the UK, then the Northern States (republicans, by the way) during the US Civil War?

But I'm sorry, what were you lying?

[OneViewpoint]

Here we go again. You make a statement based on your magical book of fairy tales written by men.

Someone tells you it’s all bullshit and you go right back to your magic book of fairy tales and offer its existence as proof that the lies it contains are the literal truth and the word of your magic invisible sky fairy.

Got any real proof your book of lies isn’t just that or your stupid god isn’t just a fantasy of weakling?

[DJB72]

Provide me with the actual evidence of all six forms of evolution - cosmic, chemical, stellar & planetary, organic, macro and micro - then we can discuss it.

My statement referred to archaeological evidence - pure sulphur balls near the known site of Sodom and Gomorrah, a natural sandbank littered with chariot wheels and horse skeletons dating from the time of the Exodus, discoveries in Turkey of a manmade structure buried on a mountain the exact dimensions of the Ark as recorded in Genesis and many others.

The writings of Josephus, Pliny and others who were contemporary to and referenced the crucifixion and resurrection who were part of the groups actively trying to stamp out Christianity. Not to mention that the remaining disciples all suffered horrific deaths and torture including crucifixion, roasting, being flayed alive, stoning, being boiled in oil and decapitation for their beliefs where 12 witnesses to Watergate couldn't face a few years in federal prison for a story they knew was false.

Prove all six types of evolution. I bet you can't. Mainly because you went straight to personal attack instead of a reasoned articulate attempt to debunk.

[Anonymous]

The thing about democracy is that you have to accept that often a party you do not support will get into power.

Personally I think there needs to be a massive review of corporations and billionaires donating to parties and candidates such as the billionaires who donated to Kamala in the last election. I mean if we can allow black rock to donate, why not a religious group?

[Avicenna]

This doesn’t sound to me like an issue that should be decided either by unelected bureaucrats or unelected judges. It needs full public debate and to be addressed by Congress.

[DrPepper12]

I concur

[exitseven]

There should be a separation of church and state. I went to a funeral a few months ago and the priest started mouthing off with some liberal tirade against deporting criminals. I got up and walked out and glared at him as I did. He knew he had no business doing that.

[Anonymous]

Well the Constitution did not intend for there to be no recognition of religion in the United States, just that the government was not allowed to take any action that would establish a government-controlled religion, such as the Church of England. That will be the central issue in this case, and the current makeup of the Court would most likely decide against these actions on those grounds.

[D_Bone_Steak]

Shut up... the left included religion first with their new woke order getting a free pass. Now it's free game and you feel threatened or something. If it wasn't them it would be the Islamists in due time, throwing your trans off the roof.

[NathanDavis]

I'm quite sure that the Ayatollah of Iran is okay with this... lol

[Twalli]

I don't care if they make political donations, but as soon as thry choose to do so, they are not longer tax exempt.

[abc3643]

Make it simple:
Repeal "501(c)(3)" so all organizations pay taxes but are free to speak.

[OneViewpoint]

Fuckity bye bye USA. Nice knowing you.

USA now = Iran.

[Dongie]

I don't understand the problem. Unless you just hate Christians.

[Dongie]

Well, they live here and are subject to the administration in office. Why shouldn't they get to speak? Shit!!

[DrPepper12]

Unelected bureaucracy setting policy? Ok

I guess public teachers can spout off on religion then too!!

[Dongie]

Don't they?

[Anonymous]

I oppose 100%.

[seeyounexttuesday]

Churches have a right to free speech.

[DrPepper12]

Fine with me. No tax exemption then. Can't have it both ways

[seeyounexttuesday]

So you have to pay taxes to have freedom of speech? Your rights are pay to play? How fucking retarded can you get?

[Anonymous]

Yes.