Freepreach.org - Protecting the Free Expression of All Religious Traditions
Scare Groups Target Issue Preaching
Anthony Picarello
IRS guidance would allow churches to preach about moral and political issues to their hearts' content, but not to endorse candidates. But the self-appointed watchdog groups that complain to the IRS for a living do their best to blur the line, claiming that core issue advocacy is really candidate advocacy in disguise.
For example, the ironically named Americans United for Separation of Church and State has invited the state to investigate and fine the Catholic Church in Colorado Springs, because its teachings on moral issues -- such as abortion, stem-cell research, and euthanasia -- correspond so closely to the position of one candidate. Catholics for a Free Choice has filed similar complaints against the Archdioceses of St. Louis and Denver, based solely on their preaching and teaching about those same moral issues.
Why do the "watchdogs" want to blur the line? Because they simply disagree with the churches' preaching on the issues and want to deter them from that preaching -- or punish them if it persists.