Religion and religious organizations belong in the public square

I have visited this subject of religion in the public square on several occasions. In the light of the past election, we need to visit the subject once again.

In California, Proposition 8 asked Californians to change their constitution so marriage will be defined as a relationship between one female with one male. The measure prohibits the legal recognition of the marriages of same-sex couples. Proposition 8 passed.

The campaign over Proposition 8 was very intense. Both sides in the argument raised a lot of money. Supporters raised More than $25 million. Opponents raised more than $18 million. The single largest donor to the “yes” campaign was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The second-largest donor was the Knights of Columbus, an arm of the Roman Catholic Church.

Uniformed people are screaming “separation of church and state.” The Mormon Church and the Roman Catholic Church have every legal right to be involved in the campaign for the passage of Proposition 8. Their involvement in no way violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment’s establishment clause.

The practical effect of the establishment clause is to keep government out of the business of churches, not to limit churches’ involvement in affairs of government.

What might be at issue is the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service as they apply to 501 (c) (3) tax exempt not-for-profit corporations. In the eyes of the IRS, churches are no different from any other 501 (c) (3) tax exempt not-for-profit organization.

No tax exempt not-for-profit organization is allowed to be involved in the election campaign of any particular person running for public office.

However, churches and other not-for-profit organizations rightly and legally become deeply involved in public issues that are considered by legislative bodies and in public elections. California’s Proposition 8 is only one example.

Ideally, churches have strong convictions about moral issues that become subjects of ballot propositions and legislative proposals. Not only do religious people have a right to speak out, church organizations have a right to speak out on core issues of public policy.

My own church, Church of the Covenant in Palmer, has memberships in important national bodies. We are a member of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists. AWAB is a national organization and is “our Baptist voice for gay acceptance and equal treatment in churches and society.” On our behalf, we expect AWAB to speak out, publish statements, and lobby. AWAB is a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Church of the Covenant is a member of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. BPFNA is our national voice to protest war in general, the war in Iraq, America’s inhumane operation at Guantanamo Bay and other issues of peace. BPFNA is a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Church of the Covenant is a member of Baptist Joint Committee, a powerful Washington lobby for the separation of church and state. BJC speaks, writes and argues cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. BJC is a 501 (c) (3) organization.

The active political voice of churches and other not-for-profit organizations is needed to keep our nation morally sensitive.

For Mormons and Roman Catholics, the issue of gay inclusion is a huge moral issue. They believe gay marriages are a threat to their sense of morality. It is understandable that they would invest millions of dollars in support of California Proposition 8.

I respect and support the right of Mormons and Roman Catholics to speak out about their moral convictions, to spend as much money as they choose, and to become directly involved in Proposition 8.

I am far more disturbed by churches and church-related organizations that stay out of the public square of American politics. If churches do not speak up, do not voice their convictions, and do not spend their money in campaigns that involve public policies and affairs, they deserve what they get.

The Rev. Howard Bess is pastor emeritus of Church of the Covenant, an American Baptist church in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.