Intrusion of Religion
“Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are Gods.”
The First Amendment of our Constitution declares that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The Internal Revenue Service has sent out a warning letters to more than 15,000 churches throughout the country. These lettered serve notice that politicking could endanger their tax-exempt status.
The IRS discovered that 60 churches and charities violated laws against political activities, and presently there are 40 active investigations into the political activities of these churches. Many argue that the outcome of the 2004 presidential election was determined by Catholic voters who were encourage from the pulpit not to vote for John Kerry in order to re-elect born-again George W. Bush, by a margin of 52% to 47%. This occurred in at least one Catholic Church in Delaware County the Sunday before the 2004 election.
Reportedly, 250 million Americans are Christian and 70 million of them describe themselves as evangelicals. Christian Americans now dominate our political system, not unlike the Shiite majority in Iraq's struggling democracy.
Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State says there are definite limits on: “What houses of worship cannot do, under federal law, is to endorse or oppose candidates for public office. They may not use their resources to intervene in a partisan race. Houses of worship cannot become cogs in anyone's political machine.”
Michael Parenti states: “Religion in America resembles capitalism in the way it attaches itself to potent symbols beyond its own sphere. U.S. leaders repeatedly weave piety with patriotism.”
We preserve our constitutional guarantee that government will not interfere with religion by keeping politicians out of religion, and religion out of politics.
John Ryan wrote: “There must be a change or God Bless America will be but an empty and self-righteous phrase, indicating that, although we say that we wish to do God’s will, what we really want is for God to do ours.”
Next time you hear a politician say God Bless America, Boo!
The First Amendment of our Constitution declares that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The Internal Revenue Service has sent out a warning letters to more than 15,000 churches throughout the country. These lettered serve notice that politicking could endanger their tax-exempt status.
The IRS discovered that 60 churches and charities violated laws against political activities, and presently there are 40 active investigations into the political activities of these churches. Many argue that the outcome of the 2004 presidential election was determined by Catholic voters who were encourage from the pulpit not to vote for John Kerry in order to re-elect born-again George W. Bush, by a margin of 52% to 47%. This occurred in at least one Catholic Church in Delaware County the Sunday before the 2004 election.
Reportedly, 250 million Americans are Christian and 70 million of them describe themselves as evangelicals. Christian Americans now dominate our political system, not unlike the Shiite majority in Iraq's struggling democracy.
Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State says there are definite limits on: “What houses of worship cannot do, under federal law, is to endorse or oppose candidates for public office. They may not use their resources to intervene in a partisan race. Houses of worship cannot become cogs in anyone's political machine.”
Michael Parenti states: “Religion in America resembles capitalism in the way it attaches itself to potent symbols beyond its own sphere. U.S. leaders repeatedly weave piety with patriotism.”
We preserve our constitutional guarantee that government will not interfere with religion by keeping politicians out of religion, and religion out of politics.
John Ryan wrote: “There must be a change or God Bless America will be but an empty and self-righteous phrase, indicating that, although we say that we wish to do God’s will, what we really want is for God to do ours.”
Next time you hear a politician say God Bless America, Boo!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home