Interfaith Leader Speaks Out Against Dangerous Politicking Bill

Participating in a congressional briefing this morning, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance, provided the following statement:

Contact:
Melissa Schwartz, (202) 639-6370

Interfaith Leader Speaks Out Against Dangerous Politicking Bill; Urges House Opposition to H.R. 235

Statement By The Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy

As a pastor, I am startled and dismayed that a bill exists before Congress that proposes to revise the federal tax code to permit houses of worship to endorse political candidates and contribute to their campaigns.  This bill, falsely depicted as an effort to extend religious liberty, has garnered the
support of 109 members of Congress.  It's incredible to me that anyone would attempt to politicize houses of worship through our federal government's legislative process.

The Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act (H.R. 235), sponsored by Rep. Walter Jones Jr., R-NC, threatens to radically change the way that houses of worship and people of faith become involved in the political process. This bill is wrong for houses of worship and threatens to compromise, if not destroy, the integrity and sanctity of our religious institutions.

Other opponents have raised constitutional concerns related to this bill, but even if it presented no constitutional problems, I would oppose it. As an active pastor who has worked in congregational ministry for more than 40 years, I shudder to think of the devastation that would be visited upon the religious community and its leaders were such legislation to become law.

America's clergy do not want this type of legislation.  A recent
Gallup/Interfaith Alliance Foundation poll asked 300 clergy about their attitudes on the subject of permissible and non-permissible political activities for houses of worship. The poll showed that 77% of those polled believe that clergy should not be involved in any way in the endorsement of
candidates.

These are the clergy whose integrity would be compromised by the Jones legislation, a bill that would turn pastors, imams, rabbis, and other spiritual leaders into potential political operatives to be lobbied by candidates for public office and used as endorsers of partisan campaigns. A religious leader must be able to serve all people. Taking on the role of a political power broker would jeopardize beyond measure the acceptance and effectiveness of a minister within a congregation.

H.R. 235 would divide congregations and reconfigure congregational life in community after community. Houses of worship would be identified more by the political parties they support than by the theology they proclaim, the religious traditions with which they are affiliated or the ministries that
they perform.  The constituency of congregations would quickly and dramatically change as members responded to the political preferences of congregational leaders.

By politicizing the pulpit, I fear that many long-time participants in religious bodies would write off congregational life entirely, feeling that a politicized body could no longer practice an inclusive ministry.

Additionally, the Jones bill would negatively impact financial giving in houses of worship.  More importantly, to turn offerings given in the name of God as acts of worship into political contributions devoted to support partisan politicians would in my view amount to a sacrilege.  What parishioner would contribute to a congregational budget knowing that a part of the financial support intended for the house of worship will end up in the campaign war chest of a political candidate whom the member of the congregation opposes on the basis of moral convictions?

No house of worship should make that demand of its members.  No member of a house of worship should be made to give to a political candidate as an act of worship.

Politicians seeking yet another venue for fundraising, coalition building and divisive political activity should not be allowed to denigrate the sanctity of worship and the places in which public worship occurs.

The Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act would violate our time tested constitutional principal of the separation of church and state and be detrimental to religion in America.

Houses of worship and their leaders will serve our nation best by staying true to their role as places of unifying prayer for people of all political persuasions and as sources of compassionate ministry for all people in search of a more meaningful spirituality.  There is no place for partisan political campaigning and fundraising in a religious congregation.

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Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy serves as the President of The Interfaith Alliance, a non-partisan clergy-led grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in the life of the nation and challenging those who manipulate religion to promote a narrow, divisive agenda.  He also serves as pastor of Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana.

Founded in 1994, The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a non-partisan, clergy-led grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in the life of the nation and challenging those who manipulate religion to promote a narrow, divisive agenda. With more than 150,000 members drawn from over 65 faith traditions, local Alliances in 38 states and a national network of religious leaders, TIA promotes compassion, civility and mutual respect for human dignity in our increasingly diverse society.


Melissa Schwartz
Media Relations Director
The Interfaith Alliance
1331 H Street, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 639-6370, ext. 106
www.interfaithalliance.org