The Glade 4.0

There really is no such thing as a non-political organization once you get into any social arena. Any social issue is inherently political as a matter of public policy.

Saying that organizations involved in social issues shouldn't be involved in politics is essentially saying they shouldn't be involved in social issues, or at least that if they are they should avoid any involvement in political decisions that ultimately effect them.

Keeping them out of elections specifically is another matter and rather more workable, but ultimately involvement in the politics of social issues is a Free Speech right, and in the case of religious people, a Free Exerise right. Telling people who are religious that thye must choose between the moral aspects of their faith and the charitable ones is essentially a denial of Free Exercise, as is creating a situation that results in a de facto choice of the same sort.

Granted, that doesn't excuse organizations that get so wrapped up in public funds that they impose a choice on themselves, but it still is not an excuse for calling their self-induced closure a form of blackmail (yes I know someone else said that).

I agree with what you're saying, and it's definately not something that is cut and dried.

For me when the lined is crossed with religion is when a pastor or official body will advocate voting for one candidate over another or something similarly overt. And much of that is based on the restrictions because of their non-profit status.

Funny how that whole tax exempt thing for churches came about, anyway. Prior to 1954, pastors were free to speak as they wished, protected by the First Amendment. In 1954, Senator (later President) LBJ inserted language in the IRS code to silence his political enemies, or punish them if they did speak out. Funny, that.

However, in 1934, Congress for the first time passed legislation adding the restriction that "no substantial part of the activities" of a tax-exempt corporation or foundation (including churches) may consist of "carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation."39 The original version of the bill banned taxexempt organizations from any "participation in partisan politics."40 Later, this ambiguous phrase was removed in conference41 because, according to Representative Samuel B. Smith, "[w]e were afraid this provision was too broad."42 Finally, in 1954, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson introduced the highly controversial campaigning restriction,43 which Congress amended in 1986 to include a restriction against opposing political candidates to supplement the existing ban on endorsing candidates.44

Actually, it was in 1934 that the restrictions on churches involvement in politics. What Johnson introduced in 1954 just added restrictions on campaigns.



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