Where I go to church, it is expressly forbidden to do so much as use a church roster for political purposes. In fact, I was once taken to task over a decade ago for telling a Sunday school class something to the effect of, “Adultery isn’t becoming a president.” Last Friday, however, local pastors and a committee of church leaders made press with intentions to host a rally endorsing the candidates that best support their values. The nonpartisan event was to be held at Trinity Baptist Church, and music would be supplied by the choirs from two local churches. One of the reverends exonerated himself when, after supplying a list of the endorsed candidates to the local daily:
[The reverend] said the rally is not meant to endorse the candidates but rather encourage voters to research them.
The paper added:
Nonprofit churches may express views on political issues but could lose their tax-exempt status if they back a candidate, though the Internal Revenue Service typically does nothing about violations. Nonprofit churches may express views on political issues but could lose their tax-exempt status if they back a candidate, though the Internal Revenue Service typically does nothing about violations.
After that slipped through the cracks, the event was canceled so as not to appear to endorse any candidates. It will be rescheduled.
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