POLITICAL CHURCHES endorsed by Robertson

[Michael deHaven Newsom]

Some analysts have suggested precisely that, that in closely divided America,
those who tend not to be religious tend to vote Democratic.  They point to the
breakdown of the 2000 presidential vote.

Bradley P Jacob wrote:

> There are arguments on both sides of the question of churches supporting
> political candidates, but I don't understand why either Pat Robertson or
> Barry Lynn would view this is a "liberal v. conservative" issue.  If this
> legislation had been in place in 2000, would it not have had exactly the
> same impact on pro-Gore churches, synagogues, and mosques as on pro-Bush
> churches, synagogues, and mosques?  Should we assume that most religious
> believers are politically conservative, and most political liberals are
> non-religious?  Is there empirical support for that conclusion?
>
> Brad
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics
> [mailto:RELIGIONLAW at listserv.ucla.edu]On Behalf Of JLSatty at AOL.COM
> Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 9:23 AM
> To: RELIGIONLAW at listserv.ucla.edu
> Subject: POLITICAL CHURCHES endorsed by Robertson
>
> Subj:    EPF ALERT: POLITICAL CHURCHES endorsed by Robertson
> Date:   01/08/2002 9:13:27 PM Central Standard Time
> From:   epf at dejazzd.com (Equal Partners in Faith)
>
> Equal Partners in Faith ALERT:
>
> The following press release is from our Coalition Partner, Americans United
> for Separation of Church and State, regarding H.R.2357, Houses of Worship
> Political Speech Protection Act
>
> The stated purpose of HR2357 is  "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of
> 1986 to permit churches and other houses of worship to engage in political
> campaigns."
> -----------------------------------
>
> TV PREACHER RESUMES POLITICAL CRUSADE
>
> Pat Robertson Pushes House Bill Allowing Churches To Endorse Political
> Candidates
>
> Americans United for Separation of Church and State
> Contact:Joseph Conn or Rob Boston
> 202-466-3234 telephone
> 202-466-2587 fax
> http://www.au.org
>
> January 7, 2002 - Only a month after Pat Robertson resigned from the
> Christian Coalition and promised to devote his time to religious ministry,
> the TV preacher has returned to hardball politics.
>
> On his Christian Broadcasting Network show today, Robertson promoted a
> House bill that would revise provisions of federal tax law and allow houses
> of worship to endorse political candidates. The measure, H.R. 2357, has
> been introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and has 110 cosponsors,
> almost all of them Republicans.
>
> Appearing as a guest on Robertson's "700 Club," Jones urged the program's
> estimated one million viewers to contact their House members and pressure
> Rep. Bill Thomas, chair of the Ways and Means Committee, to schedule a
> hearing on the bill in March. Jones said the measure was drafted by the
> American Center for Law and Justice, the legal arm of Robertson's
> religio-political empire.
>
> The push for the Jones bill comes in an election year when control of
> Congress is up for grabs. In recent weeks, White House political
> strategists have expressed concern that evangelical Christians did not vote
> for Bush in 2000 in expected numbers. The Jones bill and Robertson's
> enthusiastic support for it may be part of a move to spark GOP endorsements
> by conservative churches in the 2002 and 2004 elections.
>
> Robertson made the partisan character of the Jones bill clear. Railing
> against the "draconian" character of federal tax law, Robertson said on the
> show, "As it is now, if somebody comes out and says, 'I support George
> Bush,' theoretically the IRS can come in and take away their tax exemption."
> Robertson's attempt to change federal tax law and prod America's churches
> into partisan politics comes only four weeks after his Dec. 5 announcement
> that he was quitting as president of the Christian Coalition to push
> national revival and "focus on those things that will bring forth the
> greatest spiritual benefit."
>
> Robertson's critics were not surprised at his quick relapse into partisan
> politics.
>
> "This leopard will never change his spots," said Barry Lynn, executive
> director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "Robertson
> is as interested in winning votes for the Republicans as he is in winning
> souls."
>
> During today's show, Robertson charged that Americans United has sent a
> "scare letter out to churches which was filled with misinformation" about
> involvement in politics. In fact, Americans United has simply provided
> accurate informational materials to church leaders about the kinds of
> activities that are allowed and forbidden under federal tax law.
>
> Said AU's Lynn, "Robertson will never give up his dream of forging churches
> into a partisan political machine. If that dream ever comes true, it will
> be a nightmare for America. Both religion and government are harmed when
> the two are recklessly mixed."
>
> Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington,
> D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the
> importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
>
> ---------- end text ------------
>
> Of course, Religious Right organizations are fully supportive of this
> bill.  The see what they are saying about this bill, go to
> http://congress.cwfa.org/cwfa/issues/bills/?bill=49935 .
>
> EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national network of religious
> leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. Our
> diverse faith traditions and shared religious values lead us to affirm and
> defend the equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, ability,
> gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. As people of faith, we
> actively oppose the manipulation of religion to promote inequality and
> exclusion.
>
> Join us and help us promote a more inclusive vision of religion and society.
> http://www.us.net/epf/SupportEPF.htm
>
> Equal Partners in Faith
> 5 Thomas Circle
> Washington DC 20005
> 1-888-304-5831
> 1-202-797-0111 (fax)
>
> website: http://www.us.net/epf/index2.html
> email: epfnational at aol.com
>
> Circulated by Laura Montgomery Rutt,
> Director
> EPFNational at aol.com