Should Churches Allow Politics to Be Present in Church?

Most churches in the United States have a tax-free status. This comes with rules, which is known as the 501 {c} 3, that they have to follow including the one that states they are not in any way to support an individuals campaign. They are allowed however to hold voter registration. They are not allowed to support any political parties views in their services. All churches are sent a letter reminding them of the rules at the beginning of all election campaign seasons.

In Memphis, Tennessee there are some churches that are accused of showing their full support for an individuals campaign and allowed that political candidate to enter their services on a Sunday morning service and rally for the parishioners support. A group, known as American United, has brought this to the attention of the IRS who is responsible for giving the tax-free status to organizations such as churches. They are calling for the tax-free status to be revoked for the churches involved.

Some church members are wanting to save their tax-free status by firing the head of their church, which is who made the decision to allow the campaigning to go on in the church.

American United is a grassroots organization that has been around since 1947. That stands up for the separation of church and state, including all religions. The organization voices the right to practice your chosen religion without having political views or laws interfering.

Although I am only mentioning Memphis, there are instances like this almost every voting season that shows the churches negligence in complying with their rules. Some argue that if a church wants to take part in the political game they may want to forfeit their tax-free status so that they could be free to do what they choose in election seasons.

This is a cut and dry situation, if someone breaks a contract, which is what the churches signs to get tax-free status, the contract should be null and void. Therefore, leaving the churches with out a tax-free status. Look at it this way, do we jail people for forgery? Yes we do, so in a way, that is what the churches involved has done.

Hopefully if more churches suffer the consequence of their actions they will keep the political game outside of their services.