What does the law say about talking about political subjects in the pulpit by a minister?

Question

What does the law say about talking about political subjects in the pulpit by a minister? I've heard they can get in big trouble for it but I have never heard this? Are there any case/stories of this? At any level of government in the United States or Canada? Please cite sources.

Answer 1

The church will lose its tax-exempt status, as they are considered to be religious, not political. It has nothing to do with freedom of speech-- it's a tax issue.

Answer 2

Numbers 8:24-25 (NIV) "this applies to the Levites: adult men twenty-5 years previous or extra shall come to take part interior the artwork on the tent of assembly, yet on the age of 50, they could retire from their usual provider and artwork now no longer." the different responses to the query: "could Pastors or Ministers retire from the pulpit at age sixty 5?" make some very sturdy factors; even in spite of the incontrovertible fact that, own hypothesis can't function ethical guidance - in simple terms the be attentive to God can. God COMMANDED clergymen elderly 50 and older to yield their workplace and place interior the temple to youthful ministers. maybe the reality that many at present are refusing to retire would desire to, a minimum of partly, account for the diminishing numbers of youthful adult men who're answering God's call to evangelise. Retirement does no longer recommend that an older minister isn't worth to hold the gospel, yet he would locate different places as properly a pulpit to proportion his message of Christ. The 'highways and hedges' of the international are packed with people who could hear the forged information of Jesus. Who extra constructive to be effectual in the close-ins and the elderly individuals residing in nursing residences than a retired minister their very own age? in spite of the reality that which would be seen a miles less suitable place considering the fact that no income or earnings kit is linked, however the eternal rewards are a techniques extra suitable. soak up from the spouse of a retired pastor who will in no way retire from spreading the gospel.

Answer 3

As far as I know, in the US ministers can say whatever they please as most churches are recognized organizations. They are protected under the First Amendment's right to free speech and right to freely assemble. The only repercussions that the minister could face are from his or her church-goers or possibly a board of trustees, if the church has one.

This does not, of course, cover slander, which is an offense that can be dealt with in court, and nor does it cover statements that are illegal in nature. If a minister were to preside over a marriage between minors who didn't have parental consent, then there could be legal ramifications for him or her, providing they knew that the couple in question were both underage.

Answer 4

Are you asking if ministers are actually granted the same rights as you? Last time I looked they were still citizens. What law book have you been looking at. Is it only liberals that are allowed free speech?

Listen the seperation of Church and State meant that the government was to stay out of the Church, not the Church out of Government. Remember the term Church means the people. I can't believe there is someone out there that is actually asking this question. Where are you from Russia?

Answer 5

If they get involved in specific ways in politics, they can lose their tax exempt status.

Of course, only preachers with a liberal message will be pursued under this rule with this administration regardless of how many churches were used to recruit GOP voters.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802501.html



"The Internal Revenue Service is examining the tax-exempt status of a liberal church in Southern California because its former pastor delivered a fiery antiwar sermon that criticized President Bush by name on the Sunday before the 2004 presidential election."



"Under federal law, religious groups and other nonprofit charitable organizations that qualify for tax exemptions under Section 501(c)3 of the tax code may not "intervene in . . . any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."



http://www.lc.org/resources/pastors_churches_politics.htm



Do a yahoo search for:

church tax exempt status politics bush



you will get tons of hits

Answer 6

Separation of church and state is not to keep the church out of the government, its to keep the government from controling church.



That said, just like with anything else a preacher has freedom of speech. Its challenged often as new laws are always trying to be passed that repress what a clergyman or minister might say, but as of this point there are none that exist to enforce such a law.

Answer 7

Under US law this falls under "Free Speech" 1st Amendment of the US Constitution!



The particular congregation might censure their minister for it... but no law can prevent a minister from Free Speech in the pulpit.

Answer 8

The law (1st Amendment to the US Constitution) says they have an absolute right to.

HOWEVER, if they use the facilities of the church to actively support particular candidates for office the church may lose its tax exempt status so that contributions to it would lose their deductibility.

Answer 9

a church can lose its tax exempt status by involving itself in politics.

Answer 10

The law says nothing. The religions by-laws might say something.

Answer 11

under certain conditions they can loose their tax exempt status