Separation of Church and State

If churches want to influence policy, they should pay the admission fee into the political arena. If they want to host political rallies for specific candidates, offer their pulpits to politicians, pass the collection plate for political donations, publish voter guides that imply sure passage to hell if a vote is cast a certain way; or if they use their property to promote a candidate or an issue they should pay taxes.

This morning as I was headed to class, I looked out the window of the bus as it pulled up to the light at Linwood and Broadway. Redemptorist Catholic Church is on that corner. On the lawn were two or three campaign signs - Vote No on Proposition 2 - the ballot initiative to protect Stem Cell research in the state of Missouri.

My blood boiled. Just as it did when I went to Temple with my Auntie Lisbett during the High Holy Days. My synagogue had signs up supporting the ballot initiative.

Both should be paying taxes if they are trying to influence policy. The tax exempt status was put in place because there was a separation of church and state. When a faith institution takes up an electoral cause, they have abrogated that separation and should therefore lose it's protections. You can't have it both ways.