New Holy Scriptures Discovered: God Wants *insert candidate here* to be Next President!

This Sunday, pastors from many prominent churches across the country will participate in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, a self described,

:...legal effort designed to secure the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit."

Any participating pastors will be doing so in direct violation of the IRS 501(c)(3) tax regulation. Under IRS tax code 501(c)(3), churches and non-profit organizations can register to receive tax free donations, though 501(c)(3) status is not without its restrictions:

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.

The Pulpit Freedom Sunday pastors, and their rallying organization, The Alliance Defense Fund, claim that the 501(c)(3) restrictions are a violation of their freedom of speech.

"I have a First Amendment right to say whatever I want to say, and I've never thought it was appropriate that as a pastor I could not share my political concerns with the congregation," says the Rev. Gus Booth, pastor at Warroad Community Church in Warroad, Minn.

(CSM)

So why would the IRS seek to limit freedom of speech? Simply put, by allowing political endorsements under the umbrella of 501(c)(3), partisan organizations could lobby and effectively 'advertise' in churches that accept their contributions.

"This is not a free speech issue," says the Rev. Eric Williams, pastor of North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio. "Any person, including a pastor, can endorse a candidate as a private individual. And if a church wants to do it, it can give up its tax-exempt status."

(CSM)

...and that seems to cut to the core of the issue. Any church or non-profit is free to voice their opinion, yet when the organization makes the decision to accept the tax break, free speech is curtailed. The would-be 501(c)(3) organization voluntarily imposes restrictions upon itself, in exchange for lower taxes; sound like a fair deal? As an individual, you are free to speak your mind on the issue.

By opting out of 501(c)(3) status, The Monastery is not inhibited by such limits on speech. We advocate tolerance and acceptance, and 'political' initiatives that further this vision deserve our vocal support, even at the expense of a tax rebate.

- The Alliance Defense Fund

- IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Restrictions

- The Christian Science Monitor