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Church and
State
When we consider this
topic, we really have to think what it is we are trying to say. Do
we mean Church and State or State and Church?
Many, if not most, Churches
are legal entities known as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit Corporation.
There are things this kind of corporation can do and can't do to
retain their 501(c)(3) status.
For the sake of this
article lets look at what they can't do:
A 501(c)(3) organization may
not engage in carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to
influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities.
Whether an organization has attempted to influence legislation as a
substantial part of its activities is determined based upon all
relevant facts and circumstances.
A 501(c)(3) organization legislative activities and political
activities are two different things, and are subject to two
different sets of rules. The latter is an absolute bar. A 501(c)(3)
organization may not participate in, or intervene in (including the
publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on
behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
Whether an organization is engaging in prohibited political campaign
activity depends upon all the facts and circumstances in each case.
For example, organizations may sponsor debates or forums to educate
voters. But if the forum or debate shows a preference for or against
a certain candidate, it becomes a prohibited activity
Members of any church can
act as individuals to uphold their personal beliefs without actually
getting the church entity involved. This is Americanism. And
for a good reason. Historically, corruption, fear and persecution
follow when churches get involved in politics, governments and
power.
Which naturally leads to
the next issue, State and Church. In some places, like the Vatican
City, or perhaps Tibet before the Chinese invaded and deposed the
Dahlia Lama, The state acting as a church actually works.
Consider though, that the
Vatican is made mostly of clergy and that Tibet had a common belief
as apposed to the diversity that exists everywhere else.
Almost everywhere in almost
every time, from the Aztecs with their blood sacrifices to the
Inquisitions that falsely accused the innocent, to the Crusades
between those who called each other infidels, to Nazi Germany and
their extermination policies, to the current Taliban situation in
Afghanistan, whenever a State allows a church to gain political
power, the church is hard pressed to let go of that power.
Our own American history
are stories of Europeans leaving for religious freedom. Utah was
founded because those Americans who believed that God talked to a
boy in the woods and that an Angel gave him a book to translate were
persecuted so severely, they had to leave the United States to
regain religious freedom.
It is ironic that the
descendants of those Europeans who came to America for religious
freedom became the very thing their ancestors escaped from.
Bottom line, The Church
should not get involved in State affairs and The State should not be
involved in Church affairs.
But here is the beautiful
thing about being an American. As an example:
The government school
should not ask or set aside prayer time for children. Conversely the
Church should not demand prayer time for children. So you may ask,
What about the kid who wants to pray, what about his or her rights?
The answer is simple, as an
individual, this child cannot have government violate her right to
free speech. The school can not forbid the child from praying
because that is protected free speech.
It is a win-win. This is
Personal Choice in action.
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