Xaq (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
xaq_the_aereon) wrote2012-10-02 10:59 pm
xaq_the_aereon) wrote2012-10-02 10:59 pm
Been a while since I've seen a news story worth talking about...
Admittedly, that's mostly because I haven't been paying attention to the news much of late, between quitting my TSA job, the horrendous faff I dealt with starting here at UAA, and the peristeronic insanity that has enveloped much of my Saturday afternoons of late....
But I digress.
A little while ago, a story about something called "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" came to my attention. Apparently, a number of preachers across the US are planning to spend part of their morning this coming Sunday to endorse one of the candidates for President, in protest/violation of the IRS mandate that prohibits religious organizations from being involved in the political process in order to receive tax-exempt status, claiming that it's a violation of the preachers' First Amendments rights to freedom of speech and religion.
Honestly, this seems like an absolutely childish idea to me, because what I'm basically interpreting this as is wanting the "separation of church and state" idea to become a one-way street, stopping the government from getting involved in the church's business without stopping the church from getting involved in the government's, and getting tax-exempt status without giving back anything (such as staying out of the political process) in return.
To be brutally honest, I'm really hoping this movement is a complete failure; the people leading it need to realize that you can't get something for nothing. I'm not saying they shouldn't have the right to free speech, I'm just saying they need to understand that those rights come with responsibilities, and that curbing the exercise of your rights is sometimes necessary to get certain things in exchange. You have the right to live out in the middle of a barren wasteland, but if you don't want to live in a part of the world with civilization in it, don't be surprised that you don't have electricity, running water, or a Starbucks within 20 feet of you; that's all I'm getting at.
If they want to be involved in the political process like that, that's their right...I just don't go want them to go crying when the IRS sends them Form 1040s in exchange for the recordings of their acts.
A little while ago, a story about something called "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" came to my attention. Apparently, a number of preachers across the US are planning to spend part of their morning this coming Sunday to endorse one of the candidates for President, in protest/violation of the IRS mandate that prohibits religious organizations from being involved in the political process in order to receive tax-exempt status, claiming that it's a violation of the preachers' First Amendments rights to freedom of speech and religion.
Honestly, this seems like an absolutely childish idea to me, because what I'm basically interpreting this as is wanting the "separation of church and state" idea to become a one-way street, stopping the government from getting involved in the church's business without stopping the church from getting involved in the government's, and getting tax-exempt status without giving back anything (such as staying out of the political process) in return.
To be brutally honest, I'm really hoping this movement is a complete failure; the people leading it need to realize that you can't get something for nothing. I'm not saying they shouldn't have the right to free speech, I'm just saying they need to understand that those rights come with responsibilities, and that curbing the exercise of your rights is sometimes necessary to get certain things in exchange. You have the right to live out in the middle of a barren wasteland, but if you don't want to live in a part of the world with civilization in it, don't be surprised that you don't have electricity, running water, or a Starbucks within 20 feet of you; that's all I'm getting at.
If they want to be involved in the political process like that, that's their right...I just don't go want them to go crying when the IRS sends them Form 1040s in exchange for the recordings of their acts.
no subject
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
In other words, the amendment binds the government from interfering or endorsing a religion, but not the other way around. Religions are free to endorse or criticize whoever and whatever the tenants of that religion require.
The IRS ruling may be used to hamstring those churches that object to specific policies, such as the HHS mandate regarding insurance coverage. Imagine if a church was not allowed to speak out on abortion without losing its "official" status as a church! That's about where we are if the bureaucrats get their way.
Many churches would go on to do their work, regardless, as best they could, but the additional financial strain may mean fewer missions, fewer meals at the soup kitchens, less aid to transients in need of a tank of gas to get home. The HHS mandate may financially ruin and close schools and businesses that refuse to compromise their consciences but cannot afford the fines. This includes fine hospitals and programs that provide aid to battered women and single mothers.
Nothing to earn tax exempt status? Not taxing the church used to be a way to give the church its space, to give it room to do its work without government mandates and interference. Now the IRS is turning that status into a way to control the church, to make it fall into line or at least stop getting in the way.
I consider endorsing or condemning political figures to be fairly crass behavior from the pulpit. However, do you really want to live in a country where a pastor cannot oppose a politician who proposes to control what that pastor can say in the execution of his duty to God?
no subject
*grabs a crowbar* Thanks, Stryck. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I need to go pull m'foot out of m'mouth.