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Old 08-04-2004, 08:22 AM   #17 (permalink)
MSD
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Location: CT
Quote:
Originally posted by pan6467
IMO if a church uses it's pulpit to preach politics then it should have to lose it's tax exemption and pay taxes. I believe a church's duty is to provide hope, sanctuary and help others not dictate political views.
I will go farther than this and state that tax exemption, while not establishing a religion as prohibited in the constitution, is clearly favoring certain groups over others, giving the government the righ tto dictate what is and isn't a religion.

Quote:
Originally posted by matthew330
"IMO if a church uses it's pulpit to preach politics then it should have to lose it's tax exemption and pay taxes. I believe a church's duty is to provide hope, sanctuary and help others not dictate political views."

I don't go to church much - but i've never been to one that did this. The church doesn't dictate what becomes political. When political and church realms overlap, you can be sure politics is the one that ventured over.
The Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport in CT required that every church in the area read a statement that told parishoners to fill out the cards in the lobby and mail them in to the state legislature stating that they oppose same-sex marriage. They did the same with abortion.
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