Post

The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com

The IRS said clergy and houses of worship should be allowed to make political endorsements, a potential move away from a 71-year-old policy that banned the mixing of religion and politics.

wapo.stIRS: Churches should be allowed to make political endorsementsSince 1954, the IRS has banned nonprofits — including congregations — from participating in political campaigns. The agency now says political endorsements by churches should be allowed.

1.2K reposts3.1K likes

NEBRO
@nebro.bsky.social

If religious 501(c)3 organizations are now exempt, the same should apply to every 501(c)(3) organization. Looking forward to the campaigning of the Gates Foundation, Smithsonian, Red Cross, Planned Parenthood, and others to start endorsing.

Example Daniel
@exampledaniel.bsky.social

This right here, I volunteer at a non profit museum and I've been terrified that my calling out what's happening in politics would cause them to lose their status. If churches can give endorsements I hope I don't have to be afraid to talk about the dangers of censorship and fascism during tours

Cricket's Ghost
@mustang-919.bsky.social

It probably would. Since Republican Voters have destroyed the Rule of Law in America and replaced it with a system of corruption and graft - YOUR ORGANIZATION would be punished for speaking out against the Nazis - while NO ORGANIZATION would be punished for supporting them. Welcome to Amerikkka!

Gina Mitten
@gcmitts.bsky.social

This really angers me. My dad was a pastor and our family firmly believed in separation of church & state. Campaigning from the pulpit isn't the issue; campaigning as a TAX EXEMPT entity boils my blood.

CoyoteInLa
@coyoteinla.bsky.social

Fuck no! Funny how people forget all of the regulations on businesses, government, and "charitable organizations" exist because of the harm being done to the US citizens before the regulations existed. Rolling back these regs are like saying, "yeah, we decided it's better for us when you all die"

Julia
@shygirl2.bsky.social

The Trump administration is not following the Constitution. The president is acting like a King. He's giving illegal orders and people are following his illegal orders. Call off ICE you're harming innocent people. They are human. They feel physical pain & emotional trauma. Please stop this madness!

Lottie LilleyColes
@lottie63.bsky.social

He isn't even acting like a king. He is acting like a spoiled rotten two year old who throws a tantrum when things don't go his way. Kings, other than George the third, at least have more manners and class.

PJ
@pjpuckrr.bsky.social

Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste I've been around for a long, long year Stole many a man's soul and faith

Robin Horgan
@ligrl.bsky.social

They should NOT be allowed to make their political preferences known. And if they are going to do that, they should have to pay taxes. And you won't find me in any of those churches.

chipcroft.bsky.social
@chipcroft.bsky.social

So incredibly sick! Our founding fathers were smart enough to keep religion out of government! Now we have enough stupid people who are trying to shoehorn it in, thinking they have absolute knowledge. They'll be shocked when it's non-Christians who do this but Muslims, Jews, Folun Gong, etc.

Dave S
@dave1491.bsky.social

Christian’s for some reason think they own the world and it’s their right to force their religion on others. And they have killed tens of millions to prove their religion is better than yours.

robynblasco.bsky.social
@robynblasco.bsky.social

I feel it's time to SHOW these IDIOT'S WE THE PEOPLE don't want politics in our religion WE WILL SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE PROCESS ALTOGETHER⁉️ Let's see how they survive W/O the people who make it a place of WORSHIP if they start talking politics STAND UP & WALK OUT LOUDLY EVERY TIME⁉️👍🤷‍♀️💙🌊💙😶🤯🤔⚖

soup
@hardcoresoupx.bsky.social

I remember my childhood church holding a "prayer party" the day of the 2020 elections to get Trump his consecutive term and even livestreaming it. They were awfully silent a month after.

obv8.bsky.social
@obv8.bsky.social

IF religious organization are permitted to make political endorsements, they THEN become lobbyists, and should lose their tax exempt status. They should also be required to register as lobbyists, all clergy should be subject to income tax, with donations being income of a lobbying org...

Lottie LilleyColes
@lottie63.bsky.social

What if your church is preaching against fascism and prejudices? Against what is now happening to our freedoms and our country? Do you consider them lobbyists? Not ALL churches are in favor of 2025 and will fight against it, as Jesus would have.

obv8.bsky.social
@obv8.bsky.social

Different use of the word 'endorsement'. Endorsing someone else puts a name other than God on the jersey, and the Commandments becomes suggestions. The clergy should preach on better ideas, and behaviors, but stay off the slippery slope of endorsing other men...

Aggy X
@aggyoverdrive.bsky.social

Yeah, well those churches aren't reaching through in the manner the bad ones are, and those do a lot more damage than the good ones do good. So what do you want people to do, give them all exceptions because the one you belong to is the one walking against the torrent going the other way?

obv8.bsky.social
@obv8.bsky.social

Suggesting churches don't step onto the slippery slope of opposition, or endorsement. The church did sell passes to heaven long ago, and it didn't turn out well. Above my pay grade to say what they should do. Will say putting someone else's name on the jersey (endorsing) breaks their own rules...

Lottie LilleyColes
@lottie63.bsky.social

There needs to be an audit of all of the churches. Some are good and more into helping the community and poor no matter how poor the church is. Others are more into building expensive churches and having a billionaire pastor who'd buy a plane before feeding a hungry child.

The Knack Planet
@theknackplanet.bsky.social

Might as well give them a Religious Citizen United too because oligarchs buying elections is not destructive enough anymore. Nothing is new. Capitalism, fascism & religion always marched together. Our government was always infested with religious nuts. Here is a sample:

Wes
@dwmfid.bsky.social

This opens the door for more liberal denominations to make endorsements then. Anti-maga theology could attract a new wave of parishioners.

MVPost
@mvpost.bsky.social

"it isn’t clear whether the agency can unilaterally change the policy" Oh my I guess it's just one of those unknowable life mysteries that even some research by professional journalists can not solve. 🤷‍♂️

Katzen
@graykatz.bsky.social

I have no problems with churches, making political recommendations, as long as they also pay taxes. In fact, I think churches must pay taxes. It is egregious that churches, including the Catholic Church, haul billions of dollars out of the economy to benefit themselves.

Brad Moore
@bradleymoore.bsky.social

Back in '54, the Republican-controlled Congress was concerned about TV evangelists telling millions of people who to vote for -- primarily due to the rise in popularity of Oral Roberts.

hardcases
@hardcases.bsky.social

Many churches will rapidly become political organizations as dark money flows into the coffers of clergy willing to deliver politically charged sermons to their congregations.

Matt Streckfuss
@mdstreck.bsky.social

I know it says that - But the norm we all grew up believing is churches were not taxed because they were non-partisan non-profits. I believe they are both partisan and for-profit ….so I want them taxed

MS Kohut
@mskohut.bsky.social

The wall between church and state fell when three FREAKKKs were installed on SKKKOTUS by Orange. And a lot of churches already do this. THE KKKRISTIAN ONES. No surprise. The COUP is complete.

Mrlky
@mrlky.bsky.social

It’s ONLY complete when 45% of voters DON’T vote. The PEOPLE have allowed this to happen cuz they don’t register AND don’t vote. On average 20% of ppl don’t register and on average 25% of registered don’t vote