The other shoe has dropped. Conservative activists are monitoring Unitarian Universalist congregations and other liberal churches for endorsements of Democrats or Democrat "code-words"
Also, in the Demopolis Times, Gary Palmer writes that all this demagogery amounts to an intimidation campaign. He's right. (links via Christianity Today's weblog)
This is getting rather shrill and ridiculous, though I think that The Mainstream Coalition, the UUA, and their allies were asking for this response with their virulently anti-religious behaviour.
The bottom line is that if a preacher doesn't endorse a candidate by name, he's legal. Code words are protected free speech. The Catholic church is free to tell its members to vote pro-life, just as my former UUA congregation was free to tell its members to vote pro-abortion (which was real close to the time I renounced it and moved on).
(8/20) UPDATE: Joel Thomas directs me to this post by Donald Sensing One Hand Clapping, which discusses the rules regarding political activity by churches. The amount of political involvement by a church seems to be a key factor (and this is an arbitrary measure). I've been a member of Methodist, Baptist, and Unitarian churches during my lifetime. I have never been in a more politically active "church" than the Unitarian Universalist Association. Many congregations have forsaken all aspects of worship altogether, replacing it almost completely with social activism, including political lobbying. I am surprised that UUA congregations are not losing their tax-exempt status in droves.
Also: from the Unitarian Universalist Washington Office for Advocacy, the Unitarian Universalist lobbying organization, The Real Rules: Congregations and IRS Guidelines On Advocacy, Lobbying, and Elections. Just a reminder, guys: the rules apply to both sides.
It isn't quite that simple. Donald Sensing has a more comprehensive and accurate take on what can and can't be done through the church.
As far as your point as to what is fair for the goose is fair for the gander, I quite agree.
In the 1960's and 1970's it was Republicans complaining of pastors and churches getting involved in politics (pro-civil rights, anti-war.) Today, the shoe is quite on the other foot.
I don't use my sermons to even hint how people should vote, but I agree that it can be legal. On the other hand, just about everyone in my church knows I am supporting John Kerry. Many if not the najoirty of my parishioners disagree, but none has left the church.
Posted by: Joel Thomas at August 19, 2004 06:51 PM