| Legal versus Ethical
Behavior Political Action: Appropriate
and Inappropriate
Political Action: Legal Houses
of worship may not: Houses of worship
may:
Liberals organized in the 60's and conservatives
certainly have a right to organize in the 80's, but it would
disturb me if there was a wedding between religious fundamentalists
and the political hard right. The hard right has no interest
in religion except to manipulate it. The Reverend Billy
Graham 1981
LEGAL VERSUS ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
- A distinction must be made between science, historical
fact and religious beliefs. Voters must be alert to emotional
appeals rather than those based on reason, understanding
and fair play.
- People hold such diverse opinions on some issues that
there is no consensus about the appropriateness or inappropriateness
of some behaviors or beliefs. Religious preferences, sexual
preferences, rules of parenting, views on the nature of
god are examples of matters best left in the realm of private
ethics.
- Laws are passed when consensus is reached regarding undesirable
behavior, such as perjury, theft and murder.
- Although religious people give high priority to the admonitions
found in their religious books, such as the Bible and the
Koran, they serve as ethical guides but are not legally
binding.
- Religious truth, knowing natural law or God's will are
matters of belief.
The intrusion of the right-wing Evangelicals into the
political process as an organized power bloc is a case of
legitimate concern implemented in an illegitimate manner.
R G Puckett, Southern Baptist minister
POLITICAL ACTION - APPROPRIATE
AND INAPPROPRIATE:
- Religious institutions generally work for healing, reconciliation
and unity. (win-win)
- Political parties seek to make distinctions, to differentiate
one party from another regarding the positions on issues
and therefore are polarizing and partisan in nature. (win-lose)
- Working within a political party to bring religious ideals
to fruition is appropriate. Political activism is the civic
duty of all citizens, religious or non religious.
- Seeking political advantage for your religion over another
is inappropriate.
- Working toward consensus on controversial issues is appropriate.
- Legally compelling adherence to particular religious
dogma is not appropriate.
- Candidates should be consistent in what they tell voters.
- Appealing to extremism to win one set of voters and shifting
to the center when faced with more moderate voters is an
unethical election strategy.
Religion "is used as a club and a cloak by both
politicians and moralists, all of them lusting for power
and most of them palpable frauds." H L Mencken
POLITICAL
ACTION - LEGAL
Non profit organizations may educate others regarding issues
but may not work for or against political candidates. Clergy
leading houses of worship may encourage discussion of issues
but may not tell members how to vote. Using the pulpit to
sway voters is unethical. Voter guides such as those published
and distributed by the Christian Coalition are illegal if
they endorse or repudiate a candidate. They are unethical
when they imply that God is on their side or when they are
distributed at the last minute eliminating an opportunity
for candidates to respond when they have been given a negative
rating.
No evil is quite so courageously and joyfully done as
when it is done in the name of God. Blaise Pascal
The following guidelines are provided by Richard R. Hammar,
J.D., LL.M., CPA, Legal Developments for Church Leaders,
Political Activities by Churches, ©2000
Houses of worship may not:
- contribute to political campaign funds.
- make written or verbal public statements in official
church publications and at official church functions that
favor or oppose candidates for office
- provide candidate forums with a partisan bias
- distribute voter guides containing questions demonstrating
a bias on certain issues.
- endorse candidates
- allow campaign activities by employees within the context
of their employment
- fail to disavow in a timely manner campaign activities
of a person under apparent authorization from the church
nor fail to take steps to ensure that such unauthorized
actions do not recur.
- engage in fund raising on behalf of a candidate
- fund newspaper ads urging voters to vote for or against
a candidate.
Houses of worship may:
- invite all candidates for a political office to address
the congregation and inform the congregation before each
candidate's speech that the views expressed are those of
the candidate and not the church and that the church does
not endorse any candidate.
- distribute a compilation of voting records of all members
of Congress on major legislative issues involving a wide
range of subjects; the publication must contain no editorial
opinion and its contents and structure should not imply
approval or disapproval of any members or their voting records.
- may hold neutral voter registration drives.
- allow public comments by ministers and other church employees
in connection with political campaigns not made at church
facilities or in church publications and accompanied by
a statement that the comments are strictly personal and
are not intended to represent the church.
Religion and politics are part of the same process.
Government should have a heart. Tony Blair, Prime Minister
of England
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