RELIGIOUS LEADERS DISAGREE ON COURT-MONITORING PLAN: From the Kansas City Star

As a project gets under way to monitor electioneering activities in Johnson County churches, religious and political leaders disagreed Friday over what's truly at stake.

"It's not really politics, it is standing for the traditional family," said the Rev. Jerry Johnston, pastor of First Family Church in Overland Park and an opponent of same-sex marriage. "... Evangelicals cannot stand back and do nothing."

On the other hand, Caroline McKnight, executive director of the Mainstream Coalition, said the issue boils down to following the law. "We applaud anybody's attempt to educate the electorate," she said. "We're all about voter education."

But what matters, she said, is whether ministers support or disparage specific candidates from the pulpit.

Under IRS rules, tax-exempt groups such as churches may not participate in political campaigns for or against candidates. Certain political activities are permitted, such as voter education or registration conducted in a nonpartisan manner. Alleged violations could bring federal scrutiny.

The coalition, a Johnson County-based group, has recruited volunteers to covertly attend church services to see whether the IRS rules are being broken. ...

Also appearing were the Rev. Vern Barnet, minister emeritus of CRES, a Kansas City educational and interreligious organization, and the Rev. Brian Schieber, a Catholic priest representing the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

"We should not allow politicians to use religion," said Barnet, who writes a column for The Kansas City Star. "Nor should we allow religious leaders to encroach upon the government that belongs to all the people."

Schieber said Catholics have a responsibility to participate in elections.

"We have an obligation to live our faith, and that means to get involved in the political process," he said.

The Catholic Church, however, doesn't endorse specific candidates, he said.

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posted by Eve at 9:38 PM VOTE

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