LETTER FROM AN UNGODLY, TROUBLEMAKER, UNRELIGIOUS HIJACKER

I have long thought that part of our nation’s greatness lies in our freedom of religion as guaran- teed in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”  Even though the term isn’t used, I call this separation of church and state.

I am amazed at the number of Americans who hate the notion of separation of church and state. Some want the state to promote religion–at least their religion. I note with alarm the opposition to building a mosque in New York City because of its use by the Islamic faith. I am sure there wouldn’t have been the same opposition to a Christian church. Others want the church to be a sort of cheering section for the state, supporting the country in all things, right or wrong.

The latest issue that I have run into in my little corner of the world is opposition to the law that prohibits a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office. One local cleric has spoken publicly against this prohibition several times. I have even been at an event at his church where the head of a woman’s group within the church was telling the members who they must support and who they must oppose in an upcoming election.

Recently a letter to the editor appeared in our local paper excoriating churches that didn’t take stands on political issues in order to protect their not-for-profit status. Ministers of such churches were called “unreligious hijackers” who have “discovered the ‘business of religion’ to be lucrative.” If they renounced their tax-exempt status, the only members they would lose would be “the 5 percent who are ungodly, liberal, socialist, trouble-makers.”

The letter warned that we would soon know who the “unreligious hijackers” are among the ministers because they would attack the letter. This ungodly, troublemaker, unreligious hijacker rose to the challenge. This is what I wrote.

Ocala Star Banner
August 11, 2010

To the Editor:

A letter to the editor, “The almighty 501(c)(3)”, declared: “In 1954, the ‘progressives' (aka liberals/socialists today) developed a gag order which baited churches with perks now known as the largest con job of that century.” The writer refers to a section of the Internal Revenue Act of 1954 which exempts specific types of nonprofit organizations from certain federal income taxes and, along with another provision, allows charitable contributions to be tax-deductible.

An organization that obtains 501(c)(3) status is prohibited from taking part in a campaign for or against a political candidate. The issue is fairness. Organizations should not be able to endorse or oppose candidates using tax-deductible funds.

The Act of 1954 was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress under the leadership of Joseph Martin and William Knowland and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. None of these leaders were socialists.

I am a Christian minister serving a church whose denomination has 501(c)(3) status. We benefit from that status, but I don't consider us in the “business of religion.”

The restriction against endorsing candidates is to our advantage. While all in our congregation share a common faith and work to relieve suffering in our community, we differ in political views. Endorsing candidates would divide us in a way that would severely diminish what we could accomplish. I trust the members to use their God-given wisdom in making political decisions.

I’m waiting for the response. A letter of mine to the editor about depression got me an angry email denouncing me as an agent of Satan.

May the Lord bless you on your journey and greet you on your arrival.

Wayne




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