We might think we're safe from this religious injection into politics, because of the Constitution's separation of church and state. But there's a loophole: while the government cannot favor one religious tradition over another, there is no legal structure that prevents religious groups from wielding political might. (Some Republicans have, at various times in the past decade, introduced federal legislation that would actually protect the ability of churches to spend on political matters. Fortunately, it hasn't gotten anywhere — yet.)Religious organizations, at present, get automatic certification from the IRS as nonprofit groups. There are some rules limiting how much political activity nonprofits can have, but churches — most notably the Catholic Church — don't pay those rules much mind, preferring instead to wield significant political muscle both in person and with money.
Particularly in response to the religious war waged on same-sex marriage, there have been a number of public campaigns to revoke nonprofit status for churches that break the rules.
Some — including the Phoenix, in a 2009 editorial — have argued that religious groups should have to apply for tax-exempt status (rather than automatically receiving it), and that their lobbying efforts and related spending should be made public.
But perhaps the best measure is with a relatively simple, possibly administrative change. At present, IRS rules limit only religious groups' efforts in support or opposition to "any candidate for elective public office." But same-sex marriage is not a candidate; it is a referendum question. If the IRS prohibition were expanded to ban church efforts regarding, say "any question put to the voting public on a ballot," the stakes would be raised, and the enforcement much clearer.
Related:
More than Mormons, Not kidding, Holy war, More 
- More than Mormons
Despite the comparably juicy family dysfunction it offers, Big Love hasn't achieved the iconic status of its HBO predecessor The Sopranos . Maybe viewers relate better to the mob than to Mormons.
- Not kidding
While the battle over same-sex marriage dominates the headlines in the ongoing struggle for gay-and-lesbian equality, many other battles are just as important, if not more so.
- Holy war
And so it came to pass, Roman Catholics, Mormons, and evangelical Protestants have banded together to battle, well, the rest of us — the heathens, the godless liberals, the Hitchens-reading progressives.
- Free pass on gay hatred?
Outside observers have been quick to criticize any signs of anti-Semitism connected to the new Roxbury mosque.
- The problem with the Pope’s new list of deadly sins
The pope recently declared obscene riches, pedophilia, and causing social injustice as three of the newest deadly sins.
- Continuing homophobia
Deirdre Fulton's and Shay Stewart-Bouley's comments and Seth Berner's letter on the Marriage Equality Act repeal are insightful. I would add another perspective.
- AIC crosses cultural divide
Dina Abkairova is a Muslim whose high heels and long flowing hair reveal her secular preference.
- Theology class
My religion teaches me that I have a responsibility to work to create a better world for humanity and for all living beings in the world that God created.
- The keys to Heaven can make for good fundraising
- Marriage activists get closure, look forward
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree expressed what many in the room were feeling at Equality Maine’s annual dinner celebration on Saturday night: the function room at the Holiday Inn by the Bay on Spring Street elicits “a little bit of PTSD” for Maine’s gay-rights supporters.
- Libbing it up
The gay-rights movement has hit a brick wall.
- Less
Topics:
News Features
, Culture and Lifestyle, Religion, Social Issues, More
, Culture and Lifestyle, Religion, Social Issues, Internal Revenue Service, Same-Sex Marriage, LGBT Issues, Nonprofits and NGOs, Less
