certain churches are organizing a movement to challenge the tax exempt law that doesn't allow churches to endorse a candidate for president.What's your opinion on this?

I think that the government calls for a clear separation of church and state. And I think that churches have lobbied long and hard to get and keep their tax-emempt status. If they are going to remain tax-exempt, they should remain politically neutral. However, if they pay their fair share of taxes, then they should be allowed to have a say in the government.

JMO

<-------------- firm believer of separation of church and state

no tax exemption for "churches" who are active
in political campaigns. it is a pandora's box.
can you not see the first church of the Ron Paul?



"Praise Joe" - George Carlin

sounds like a pay per view....in this corner wearing a dark robe and cross "Pediphilio" and in the far corner wearing a corporate suit and throwing monopoly money to the crowd "Corrupto"...

they will lose

it's been challenged a hundred times in the last hundred years and they always lose

Pretty much the mess in it's entirety...except for all of us caught in the middle, eh ?

dangerous, very, very dangerous.......

I'd love to see churches taxed.

When I was still attending the catholic church they were definitely involved in politics. The nuns came around and advised people how to vote when here in Michigan abortion was on the ballot.

My position is if the church is going to run businesses that make money and become involved in politics you ought to lose your tax exempt status.

Want to lower taxes for all of us? Tap those church dollars.

The amount of money involved is obscene. Here is just a peek at some of the money involved. This is just a small part of the catholic church.

From http://www.zenit.org/article-1900?l=english
For the eighth consecutive year, the operating statement for fiscal year 2000 for the Holy See closes with a net gain of 17.720 billion, equal to $8,516,000 US at the exchange rate at the end of the year of 2,080.89 lire per dollar. The total expenses were 404.378 billion and the total income was 422.098 billion. Compared with the previous fiscal year, the income was more substantial, having increased by 64 billion. As is easily imaginable, the increase in expenses is strictly related to the celebration of the Jubilee Year, which brought with it greater activity, and therefore a greater need for personnel, within the various offices of the Roman Curia and also of the media organs connected with the Holy See. In fact, in 2000 the number of our employees was approximately 2,700, with an increase of roughly 70 persons. The increase in income came particularly from a favourable monetary situation.

the latter is also known as the church of the
"Political Action Committee"



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee



You know who you better vote for or you're going to h e double toothpicks!!

I believe in the constitution. Separation of church and state is absolutely necessary and should aways be manditory. Disreguard for this rule will only greatly increase the level and capability of corruption.

I am the wrong person to reply to this.

I firmly believe that Reverends, Pastors, and other clergy should NOT BE ALLOWED TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

keeping in mind that "separation of church and state" is only an idea postulated by Jefferson after he was Pres and is only a custom not a law

the only Constitutional guideline says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

and all the rest is interpretation of that

You're not the wrong person to post here. And I agree with you, I don't think they should be allowed. If they were to win, it would be far too easy to mix government and religion, and we've all seen how well that works out in the Middle East.

thanks for the info

It's already happening in Washington and in state houses across the country.

Want to see some really alarming stuff? Check out what's gone on in the military with regards to religion. There's some interesting stuff going on at the Air Force Academy.

A great example of religion creeping into government is Bush's veto of embryonic stem-cell research bill.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush used his veto power Wednesday for the first time since taking office 5 1/2 years ago, saying that an embryonic stem-cell research bill "crossed a moral boundary."

The bill, which the Senate passed Tuesday, 63-37, would have loosened the restrictions on federal funding for stem-cell research.

House Republican leaders tried Wednesday evening to override the veto, but that vote was 235 to 193, short of the necessary two-thirds majority.

"This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others," Bush said Wednesday afternoon. "It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect. So I vetoed it.

where does it say that one must take a human life to study stem cells ,there are several ways to get stem cells ...

that's the difference between "embryonic" stem cells and just stem cells

and I'm conflicted on this one too

I see where the unintentional consequences of stem cell legislation COULD lead to baby farming for stem cells

and on the other hand if someone could grow me a kidney and get me off dialysis...

on the topic of stem cells,I feel that at least stem cells of aborted babies should be used

I'm not conflicted at all, I think the concept of "baby farming" is a gross exaggeration, one used by the media and those in opposition to scare people into their way of thinking. Embryonic stem cell research is going on all over the world and I don't recall ever hearing of an instance of baby farming. We are so behind the eight ball. And sadly, it's not as if the U.S. can actually use and benefit from other's technology and potential cures for whatever, as the FDA will ensure that doesn't happen.

I feel for you on the kidney, my cousin had a kidney transplant after living for years on dialysis and my son only has one kidney due to an accident a few years ago. And I have a form of leukemia that could be cured with stem cell research. There are many, many diseases that could be cured or at least mitigated.