I'm sort of on the fence there. On the one hand I think it is reprehensible. I don't think these religious organizations should be harassed in anyway.
On the other hand, I am willing to bet, these religious organizations asked for it. They have probably sold out their sovereignty and agreed to play by Caesar's rules a long time ago.
See, the thing is, the Constitution is supposed to guarantee religious institutions total freedom. However, fifty years ago, our nation broke this rule with the tax code. It designated churches 501c organizations. THAT was wrong. It should not have recognized them at all in the tax code. They aren't anything. There IS NO RELATIONSHIP between church and state.
As soon as the church registers its existence as a legal entity, as a tax exempt corporation? It ceases to be a force for spiritual guidance and becomes a legal entity that can be brought to court. Only churches that don't recognize tax code, only churches that respect their place in the constitution and refuse to file a 501c and be identified as a legal entity rather than a spiritual entity should be worried about this.
If you play the Caesar's game, expect Caesar's minions to give it to you.
Most churches in America have organized as "501c3 tax-exempt religious organizations." This is a fairly recent trend that has only been going on for about fifty years. Churches were only added to section 501c3 of the tax code in 1954. We can thank Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson for that. Johnson was no ally of the church. As part of his political agenda, Johnson had it in mind to silence the church and eliminate the significant influence the church had always had on shaping "public policy."
501c3 Facts about 501c3 tax-exempt status for the church
IRS explanation of the statute
The Internal Revenue Service website elaborates upon this prohibition as follows:
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition. As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.
Then you risk ending a lot of churches simply by taxing them. Not many churches can operate on their own solely by monetary gifts and money from the offering plate. But, with all due respect, MisterBeale, I fail to see what relevance a church's tax exempt status has to having pastors singled out and being forced to submit their sermons to a governmental body.
How else do you think they operate? They operate from donations or from parent organizations operating budgets, that's it. All places of worship are inherently tax exempt, they don't NEED to file a 501c in the first place. If they don't, then they cannot only conduct their business, but they can say anything they want, and they don't need to adhere to the rules of 501c non-profit incorporation.
If these pastors that were subpoenaed weren't 501c's, legally? Because of the first Amendment, they would not be able to be subpoenaed. Remember, we have that wall, the separation of church and state. That allows them to say what ever they want and not be bothered.
However, if they have agreed to have their parishes/churches to become incorporated, well then? That means they are legal entity under USC and not just a Church. They are bound by USC rules.
It really is, as simple as that.
Churches aren't required to file for 501c status. They can still financially operate and do everything a 501c can do though. They are tricked into thinking they NEED to file, when they don't. However, ALMOST EVERY CHURCH FILES 501c status. Almost every church is a STATE CHURCH. Look it up if you don't believe me. It's why I stopped going to church. I am a free man, my soul does not belong to Caesar.
(Folks will sit in the pews on Sunday while our government uses drones to kill children. It's bullshit. The Christ would NEVER approve of any of these so called 501c Christian churches.)
However, IF they file for 501c status, which gives them CORPORATE status, with all the privileges attendant to that under USC law, then under USC, they are NOT ALLOWED to engage in political activity. END OF STORY.
This is how SATAN and the "Illuminati," the Jesuits, or their proxies, the Jews, were able to corrupt the moral character of the nation. How do you think Hollywood could have ever degraded and degenerated the American culture if the pulpit would not have been gagged like it has been over the past sixty years?
Remember, this was written, and originally broadcast at the same time as the Johnson Amendment went into the tax code.
Long time radio newsman/commentator Paul Harvey created the original of this homily around 1965. This one is probably from about 1996. It was updated as the years went by and therefore versions of it vary over time. It is a warning to America about its own decay.
