Does US law mute voices of churches?(Rep. Jones(R-NC) bill sponsor)

[RedEarth]

Religion is striking a high profile in the 2004 campaign. But there are those eager to see it take on a much larger role - both now and in the future.

More than 130 members of the US House of Representatives want to amend the law that prohibits partisan activity - such as political rallies, fundraisers, distribution of political literature, and direct endorsements from the pulpit - by pastors and houses of worship. They hope to do this by inserting a provision into a bill that is already before a House-Senate conference committee - thus avoiding public debate or votes in either body.


Supporters say the provision is needed to restore free speech to religious leaders. Barring political endorsements from the pulpit curtails the First Amendment rights of pastors, they say.

But opponents argue that it would turn houses of worship into campaign vehicles and possibly reshape the America's religious and political landscapes in harmful ways. They worry that political endorsements could divide churches, lead to reconfiguring memberships along political lines, adulterate their spiritual purpose and prophetic role as societal consciences, and even perhaps turn their coffers into unregulated channels for campaign financing.

"Nothing is more important than our spiritual leaders having the right to name candidates who stand for protecting morality," says Rep. Walter Jones (R) of North Carolina, the bill's sponsor. The legislation would permit political speech or "presentations" during services or other church-sponsored gatherings.



http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0923/p11s02-lire.htm


Links to The Interfaith Alliance and Americans United for Separation of Church and State

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/

http://www.au.org/site/PageServer

[DBoon]

1. Vote Republican or burn in hell forever!

Great way to get people to vote against their own interests:

I lost my job
... but my preacher says I will burn in hell if I vote for Kerry

My unemployment ran out
... but my preacher says I will burn in hell if I vote for Kerry

I've got no medical insurance and they just closed the last public hospital
... but my preacher says I will burn in hell if I vote for Kerry

Our kids are being killed in Iraq
... but my preacher says I will burn in hell if I vote for Kerry

A giant mountain of coal tailings just slid into my backyard
... but my preacher says I will burn in hell if I vote for Kerry

[Ilsa]

2. Ministers have free speech the same as the rest of us:

they can privately advocate for their candidate, do volunteer work, etc. Nonministers don'thave the opportunity to speak from a pulpit or exercise influence on others.

If this passes and the SCOTUS upholds it, I'll be more inclined than ever to leave the US.

[mmonk]

3. Jones is a nut job

I know, I'm from NC.

[RedEarth]

6. He certainly sounds like it....here's another article about Jones

Rep. Jones: Opponents Of Church Electioneering Are 'Evil'

U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) believes that people opposed to his bill that would legalize partisan politicking by houses of worship aren't just misguided or wrong - they're "evil" and bad for America.

Jones made those outrageous comments during a Sept. 20 interview with the New Bern, N.C., Sun Journal. Jones was speaking at a dinner sponsored by the local branch of the Christian Coalition and took a few minutes beforehand to talk about his bill with the newspaper.

Asked about the presence of 30 anti-Christian Coalition protestors outside, Jones called them "evil people," and added, "They are so fearful of traditional, conservative religion in America. These people are bad for the future of America."

http://blog.au.org/2004/09/rep_jones_oppon.html

[tom_paine]

4. Well, even if this "bill" doesn;t pass, the Busheviks are already doing it

and getting fully away with it.

Thus, it is already "law", insoafr as a lawless Third-World nation like Amerika HAS laws at all rather than an aribtrary set of rules for the Imperial Subject Virtual Slaves and no rules for THE PARTY.

[oneighty]

5. Go for it.

Destroy organized religion. Fight fight!

180

[sybylla]

7. The churches can say what every they want from the pulpit.

They just can't keep their tax exempt status if they participate in politics. The tax code doesn't cross the line dividing church and state until the churches do.

This is the typical "they're taking our religion away" bull hockey. "Be afraid, be afraid" is their war cry and fear is how they get people to go along with it.

:puke:

[AspenRose]

8. "Rove...do whatever it takes to win"

"Under the direction of Rove, religion is not just part of the political strategy for Republicans, Smith said, it’s the core strategy. He said that Rove’s view is “to do whatever it takes to win,” and that means delivering the base, getting four million additional religious conservatives to the polls in November. He said that the first President Bush had failed to solidify that base and that Rove wants to ensure that the second President Bush receives a very high percentage of that vote."


(Oh, and don't forget to disenfranchise the black (and largely Christian) vote.)

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/News/News.cfm?ID=5429&c=37