Westboro Baptist Church Coming to Virginia Tech

[tri deezy]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I think there's some confusion around this. It's not a church-state thing. It's a tax thing.

Churches are exempt from having to pay taxes. As a condition of that tax exemption, they cannot engage in political activity. But contrary to what is sometimes heard, that doesn't mean politics can't be mentioned in the pulpit. In this context it means that churches cannot engage in partisan campaign activity -- they cannot "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." (Section 501(c)(3)).

So, a church can say "get out and vote." A church can educate voters about the issues. A church can even say "vote pro-life" or "vote for gay marriage." But a church cannot say "vote for candidate X" or "vote Democratic/Republican" without endangering its tax exempt status.

Beat me to it! I remember hearing a lot about this during the 2004 election.

[WCsweet<3]

Do you ever just hear a name and cringe?

Any mention of WBC and I twitch.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Why would that be against the law?

And why are people characterizing homosexuality as a political issue? VOTING on the issue of gay marriage is a political issue, but generic homosexuality isn't.

As for this church organization, I don't agree with their tactics, I don't agree with their choice of words. I disagree with homosexuality for religious reasons, but I think there are other ways to express that viewpoint. But what annoys me is that the general public likes to use people like this as an example of "what is wrong" with Christianity and the church. These people are a SMALL part of the Christian community.

I don't count myself as Christian because since I don't practice any religion I don't think I should associate with one, but I was raised in the church (Methodist). My parents grew up as Southern Baptists, but as far as I can tell, their church was very conservative, but not to the point of being extremist, and my parents themselves are fairly liberal even for Methodists. They do believe that homosexuality is wrong, but my mom explains it this way-they believe that the act contradicts God's law, but that Jesus said to love everyone, so under no circumstances should someone be persecuted for being gay. They are pro-life, but are very much against the vilification of women who choose to (or have to have) an abortion. It's frustrating for her to have to justify her beliefs because people assume that she hates gay people, thinks women who have abortions are bad people, or that people who aren't Christian are automatically going to hell. Every religion has their extremists and they are not representative of the majority of the practitioners. Most Christians believe these WBC people stand for everything Jesus was against just like most Muslims don't agree with suicide bombing. Extremists ruin the reputation of religion in general.

[Applejaxgurl06]

I may not agree with the choices of others but i will not condemn them either... I know God said that homosexuality is a sin but he also said that we shouldnt judge one another!!! I have always heard those who live in glass houses should not be the first to throw stones!!! The members of the Westboro Baptist Church are out of line with the things they say. The videos i could stomach to watch were disgraceful and not how people should act towards each other. I would just like to know why they think its ok to say the hurtful things they say and why they are hell bent on making a mocury of the people killed at Virginia tech!!! If that is what they think God wants them to do or say or whtever i dont want any part of their God.

[Honeykiss1974]

I know these nuts very well (their congregation is primarily family members - about 80) and seriously, the best thing to do is to ignore them. I think Fred went psycho rogue after he was disbarred because in his younger/sane days, he was actually someone decent.

I'm sure his focus in now on the miner tragedy....oh yeah - he picketts those too.