On November 4, 2006, I issued a call to action to Democrats:
I'm now asking DU'ers to do something that might seem odd to a few of them.
I want you to go to Church this Sunday.
With this, the final sermonizing day before the midterm elections, upon us, this is our best chance to protect the First Amendment's guarantee of Separation of Church and State. We need to ensure that the preachers who use their pulpits as political rostra are held to account.
With only a few more weeks to go in Election 2008, it's time to once again kick Operation Pulpit Watch into action. The presence of an acknowledged dominionist wacko on the Republican ticket makes this action even more important, as the alleged Christian mega-churches are sure to be beating the drum even louder than before.
The Wall of Separation needs to be sacrosanct. Keep government out of religion, and religion out of government.
Here are the basics of Operation Pulpit Watch, and how you can (and should) take part:
Please pick a Church near you to go to Sunday. If you regularly to go a Church, please pick a different one. Pick the most right-wing, frothing at the mouth, evangelical church you can locate, and attend at least one service each week, preferably more than one.
When you attend, bring a recorder in with you. Either a microcassette or digital voice recorder would be best, since they're small enough to be convenient and inconspicuous. Be sure to tape the preacher's ENTIRE sermon, along with any other relevant portions. Get as much as you can.
Now, here's what to look for:
Blatant, unmistakable, polticking. I'm not talking about encouraging parishoners to "vote their conscience" or "vote pro-life" or similar statements. Those are fair game under free speech and freedom to worship. HOWEVER, if any part of the service crosses the line, and the flock is blatantly told to vote for a specific candidate, or "vote Republican," then they need to be called on it.
The handing out of "voter's guides" or other literature. Again, this would be a perfect example of a church stepping over the line, and telling its members to vote for specific candidates. If such literature is handed out, carefully save it.
Candidates speaking from the pulpit. This is the worst example I can imagine, and it happens way too often.
If any of these happen at the Church you visit (and this is the weekend they're most likely to, if they happen) then preserve all evidence. Make copies. Burn CD's. Make sure you have plenty of proof. Then call the IRS. File complaints immediately. Give them copies (NOT THE ORIGINALS) of your evidence.
As always, we have to protect the Wall of Separation. We are the eyes and ears of democracy. We have to remain vigilant to help stop people from using religion to advance their political agendas. Please consider joining this effort. Thank you.