Reply #8: it can [View All]

i'm not sure if he conducted his activities under the auspices of a 501(c)(3) charitable organization or if the exemption requirements were the same back then.

however many churches, which ARE 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, do involve themselves in campaign activity; maybe not for the RNC or other political organizations, but i've heard preachers endorse candidates to their congregations before and know that churches were involved in getting out the vote for a dubya. this to me constitutes a form of campaign activity.

part of the requirements for exemption under 501(c)(3) stipulates that the organization not be involved in campaign activity.

nonetheless churches get around this by "substantial activity" and "educational activity" tests.

if i'm not mistaken, advocating civil rights and voter rights (which, among other activities, were what MLK involved himself with primarily) is a lot different from endorsing specific political candidates.

but, when you have the president endorsing his specific brand of christianity publicly and using that as a primary basis for his agenda, (and as a test for cabinet choices, judicial appointments, and the federal legistlation he signs), i think that is an unwarranted intrusion of religion into the state.

like i said, NOT EVERYONE IS RELIGIOUS.