Religion and Politics

Hundreds of Pastors Back Political Candidates, Defy Tax Rules

Nanette Byrnes reports for Reuters about this past weekend’s “Pulpit Freedom Sunday.” In defiance of IRS tax code that forbids non-profits like religious institutions from backing political candidates or parties, some 1,500 religious leaders endorsed or denounced political candidates from the pulpit. “Preachers at services across the United States are flouting a law they see as an incursion on freedom of religion and speech,” writes Byrnes. Meanwhile, “critics say the movement threatens the U.S. constitutional principle of separation of church and state.” 

Read at Reuters

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