Why should churches not endorse candidates from the pulpit?

Everyone is waxing political these days, and that includes everyone from David Letterman to Lindsay Lohan. So when pastors announce their intention to endorse, putting their churches’ tax-exempt status in jeopardy with the Internal Revenue Service, shouldn’t they have that right?

According to the law (not to mention common sense), they shouldn’t.

That hasn’t stopped about 35 pastors from across the country, including The Rev. Gus Booth of Minnesota’s Warroad Community Church, from endorsing candidates Sunday to protest federal law that threatens their tax-exempt status for engaging in partisan political activity. “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” organized by The Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative legal group, holds the law unconstitutional under First Amendment protections of free speech.

Many who hold free speech dear find fault with a rule that invokes a financial penalty for pastors speaking out — on whatever subject — from their pulpits. It is not surprising that pastors wince at government attempts to influence their messages in a country where freedom of thought and expression is so cherished.

But as a legal matter, the law (enacted in 1954) has been challenged before. Each time, courts have upheld its constitutionality.

While prohibiting the endorsement of specific candidates, the law does not halt churches from distributing voter guides, organizing voter-registration efforts, inviting politicians to speak to their congregations or addressing issues important to them. A pastor cannot get into trouble preaching against abortion, for instance; only (in theory) from telling parishoners they must vote for Candidate A and not Candidate B.

It is interesting the Alliance Defense Fund uses the concept of separation of church and state to advance its position. The church/state concept isn’t actually written into the Constitution, though many people think it is. But it is almost universally accepted as a wall that should not be broached — one that protects government from the undue influence of religious indoctrination, and equally as a protection of religion against the sledgehammer of government.

Pastors walk on shaky ground when they make direct appeals for candidates from the pulpit. They are correct in stating that religious leaders should speak out on moral issues of national interest, but by stepping too far into political waters they risk compromising their most urgent appeal.

It is hard to point hearts heavenward with feet planted firmly in political partisanship.