PRESS RESEASE -- Howie Challenges Churches to Endorse Candidates
Contact: Scott Craig
(605) 716-7020
May 13, 2010
Gubernatorial Candidate Gordon from the Pulpit, Without Fear of the I.R.S.
State Senator and Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, Gordon Howie, is issuing a challenge to South Dakota churches and their pastors, to become politically active in the stretch run to the June primary. Howie says pastors have not only the right, but the responsibility, to advocate for, and endorse specific candidates and issues from the church pulpit, a point of leadership long held silent by the fear that direct political activism would threaten their tax-free status. Howie says at a time when traditional American values are under attack in every arena, reclaiming the church’s Constitutionally-guaranteed right to guide parishioners in their voting choices, is a reeducation process long overdue.
“For too long, our spiritual leaders, have been neutralized in the public square,” Howie says.
“Pastors and their congregations have been muzzled on Sunday mornings by the threat that their taxation status requires an enforced silence on who to vote for, and why. This is simply not true. Government regulation has no place behind the pulpit.“
Howie says separation of church and state is the most misunderstood and misapplied portion of our Constitution, having been misinterpreted in the modern age as a leverage to evict God and Biblical truth from government, rather than protecting religious expression from the intrusion of public policy, as originally intended by the founding fathers.
“Our spiritual leaders, the men and women we trust most on matters of morality and responsible citizenry have every right to offer biblical guidance in helping their flocks align their spiritual values in choosing candidates who will return righteous rule to government,” Howie says.
Citing the “Pulpit Initiative of 2008,” a faith-based challenge to perceived Internal Revenue Service authority to regulate politically-oriented speech from the pulpit, Howie has scheduled Sunday morning and Wednesday night appearances at church services across South Dakota, to expose the truth regarding ministerial freedom in political endorsement. Pastor Scott Craig, who participated in the original ‘Pulpit Challenge,’ publicly endorsed John McCain over Barack Obama in the 2008 election. He says a church’s tax status should not be allowed to serve as bribery in silencing their political message.
“The IRS basically tells churches, we will give you a financial kickback, if you give up your freedom of speech,” Craig says. “I was born an American citizen, guaranteed the right to freedom of speech. I didn’t give up my rights when I became a pastor.”
Gordon Howie says it’s a message he’s proud to champion, regardless of who wins the election.
“Whether you vote for me, or for another candidate that you believe is biblically qualified, it is time for the church to reengage in the political process.”
Howie says the message is resonating strongly with a Christian community already on alert to infringement and marginalization by the current federal administration.
“Our President tells us we are not a Christian nation. He is wrong.” Howie says.
“We are a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values, and those values apply, not just in the church sanctuary and in our living rooms, but in the voting booth as well. “
Contact: Scott Craig, (605) 716-7020
Preachers are free to speak as they will regarding politics from their pulpits.
Similarly, the government is free to withhold tax exemptions designed to favor those who don't preach politics from the pulpit.
A more important story, related to the preacher running for office and the rest of us generally, if you want to frame the issue as to what trumps the Constitution, is the Freedom From Religion lawsuit challenging the income tax free ministerial housing allowance (another "IRS thing).
That case is just getting started; a hearing having been held just this week in Judge Shubb's Sacramento court.
That's a sleeper for now, but I look forward to the day when it garners more attention from the media and general public than that prayer day dust up and preachers who want to preach politics from their pulpits.
Posted by: Robert Baty | May 15, 2010 at 12:59 PM
"We are a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values"
Behold the failure of the public school system
Posted by: meh | May 15, 2010 at 01:41 PM