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Separation of church and state doesn't mean churches can't voice their opinion or run political campaigns, it just means they shouldn't be involved in actually

by arp242 4y ago

Separation of church and state doesn't mean churches can't voice their opinion or run political campaigns, it just means they shouldn't be involved in actually running the state, and that the state shouldn't be involved in religion either. I believe there are some limitations on churches as a precondition to their tax-exempt status, but those don't really flow from separation of church and state. MLK was a Baptist minister.

nulbyte 4y ago
> Separation of church and state doesn't mean churches can't voice their opinion or run political campaigns... You are mixing up three things as if they are the same. Opinions are fine. But no, churches cannot run political campaigns. They are exempt as a religious organization, and in the U.S., religious organizations, like charitable organizations, exempt from income tax cannot participate in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for public office. Martin Luther King, Jr., was an American citizen capable of supporting any candidate he liked. His church was not. His church was, however, as all churches are today, able to lobby. Lobbying is not campaigning. Also, they were and are able to speak out for or against executive actions of the government. Doing so is neither lobbying nor campaigning; office holders are neither legislators nor campaigners; they are actually in office.
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- arp242 4y ago
  I meant "campaign" in the general sense, rather than the more specific "political campaign". As in "MLK's campaign for civil rights". I should have been clearer, sorry.
standardUser 4y ago
Churches absolutely cannot run political campaigns for elected office, or endorse any candidate, or oppose any candidate.
- cogman10 4y ago
  They actually can. The only thing that prevents them from doing that is that they are a 501(c)(3). The Johnson amendment requires they not be politically active. However, if a church decides to register as a 501(c)(4) they absolutely can endorse or condemn candidates tax free. So why aren't they 501(c)(4)s? 501(c)(3) allows you to deduct contributions to such and organization from your taxes. 4 only gives a break to the organization, not their donors.
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by arp242 4y ago

nulbyte 4y ago

> Separation of church and state doesn't mean churches can't voice their opinion or run political campaigns... You are mixing up three things as if they are the same. Opinions are fine. But no, churches cannot run political campaigns. They are exempt as a religious organization, and in the U.S., religious organizations, like charitable organizations, exempt from income tax cannot participate in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for public office. Martin Luther King, Jr., was an American citizen capable of supporting any candidate he liked. His church was not. His church was, however, as all churches are today, able to lobby. Lobbying is not campaigning. Also, they were and are able to speak out for or against executive actions of the government. Doing so is neither lobbying nor campaigning; office holders are neither legislators nor campaigners; they are actually in office.

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arp242 4y ago
I meant "campaign" in the general sense, rather than the more specific "political campaign". As in "MLK's campaign for civil rights". I should have been clearer, sorry.

standardUser 4y ago

Churches absolutely cannot run political campaigns for elected office, or endorse any candidate, or oppose any candidate.

cogman10 4y ago
They actually can. The only thing that prevents them from doing that is that they are a 501(c)(3). The Johnson amendment requires they not be politically active. However, if a church decides to register as a 501(c)(4) they absolutely can endorse or condemn candidates tax free. So why aren't they 501(c)(4)s? 501(c)(3) allows you to deduct contributions to such and organization from your taxes. 4 only gives a break to the organization, not their donors.
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