'Miserable time to be in the pulpit': Morning Joe predicts headache for pastors after IRS decision

09 July

‘Morning Joe’ hosts (L to R) Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough speak with New York Times columnist David French (YouTube/ScreenGrab)

MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ host Joe Scarborough said the IRS may have caused some headache to pastors with its recent decision to allow churches to officially endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status.

“This seems to actually put more pressure on these pastors who have — many have told me this is just a miserable time to be in the pulpit, because so many people that are coming into their church want it to be about politics, and they want it to be about Jesus Christ.”

New York Times columnist Davi French agreed many pastors are going to be pressured by their congregations to involve themselves in politics.

“I do know there are a number of pastors I've already heard from who are not terribly happy about this because they know they're now going to hear from congregants saying, ‘endorse, endorse, endorse’ when they don't want to do it,” said French.

American churches are steadily losing adherents as younger generations become disillusioned by political messaging getting interwoven with scripture. Surveys suggest the rejection is even more profound among young women, who were once the strength of the church’s presence in the family.

But French said the IRS is addressing a First Amendment issue that has long needed redress—for not only churches but non[profits as well.

“If there is a primary reason for the First Amendment, it would be to protect political speech, and to say to nonprofits that you have to give up a key part of your First Amendment right to receive this benefit of nonprofit status has always struck me as really skating on the edges of what the First Amendment should permit,” French said.

Radio talk show host and civil rights and social justice activist Rev. Al Sharpton Told Scarborough the IRS likely redered its decision as a sop to “right wing Christians, broadcasters and religious organizations.” But he added the decision would also bring considerable protection to Black churches who have been pressured about organizing political events for Democratic candidates, including weekend “Souls to the Polls.”

“I think [the IRS] will end up seeing that two can play that game, and you're going to see a lot of people on the other side that are going to do that,” Sharpton said.

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