Freepreach.org - Protecting the Free Expression of All Religious Traditions
Religious group questions pastor's endorsement of DeVos - The Associated Press
As reported by the AP, the Interfaith Alliance has criticized Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, a republican, for accepting the endorsement of Rev. Marvin Winans, a pastor in a Detroit church. The group claims (falsely) that such an endorsement jeopardizes the tax-exempt status of the church.
The Interfaith Alliance, which describes itself as a nonpartisan group founded to challenge the "radical religious right" and protect the sanctity of religion, has not filed a complaint with the IRS. But it sent a letter to DeVos urging him to not accept or seek endorsements from religious leaders.
The group said church leaders speaking in an official capacity can't endorse political candidates from the pulpit and candidates shouldn't seek endorsements from clergy.
"If (Winans) did it during church time from the podium, that's a problem," said William Blake, spokesman for the Washington-based Interfaith Alliance. "We're not trying to pick on the DeVos campaign. If other candidates have done the same thing and written about it openly, that's problematic as well."
Interfaith Alliance did not offer the same criticism when Rev. Winans endorsed Senator Debbie Stabenow, a democrat, leading some to believe that the criticism is politically motivated. Read the article in its entirety.