Alliance Defense Fund plans to send copies of Pastor's McCain-endorsing sermons to the IRS

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Pastors defy law, back candidates from pulpit
Under the IRS code, places of worship cannot endorse a candidate

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26930425/



The outside of the Word of Outreach Christian Church is seen, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 in Little Rock, Ark. On Sunday, ministers around the country plan to break the law, endorsing presidential candidates during their sermons despite IRS rules prohibiting such endorsements for tax-exempt non-profits.

WEST BEND, Wis. - Pastor Luke Emrich prepared his sermon this week knowing his remarks could invite an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. But that was the whole point, so Emrich forged ahead with his message: Thou shalt vote according to the Scriptures.

"I'm telling you straight up, I would choose life," Emrich told about 100 worshippers Sunday at New Life Church, a nondenominational evangelical congregation about 40 miles from Milwaukee.

"I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin," he said. "But friends, it's your choice to make, it's not my choice. I won't be in the voting booth with you."

All told, 33 pastors in 22 states were to make pointed recommendations about political candidates Sunday, an effort orchestrated by the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund.

The conservative legal group plans to send copies of the pastors' sermons to the IRS with hope of setting off a legal fight and abolishing restrictions on church involvement in politics. Critics call it unnecessary, divisive and unlikely to succeed.

Congress amended the tax code in 1954 to state that certain nonprofit groups, including secular charities and places of worship, can lose their tax-exempt status for intervening in a campaign involving candidates.

Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, said hundreds of churches volunteered to take part in "Pulpit Freedom Sunday." Thirty-three were chosen, in part for "strategic criteria related to litigation" Stanley wouldn't discuss.

[FreakinDJ]

1. They won't touch pastors endorsing McSame - only Obama

[Cha]

2. It's worth a shot..ya can't

roll over and thankfully the ADF is doing this! :bounce:

[kestrel91316]

3. These people are silly drama queens. It's pretty obvious that the rule only applies to

liberal churches.