Religion and the Constitution expert discusses Pulpit Freedom Sunday
The annual celebration of Pulpit Freedom Sunday on Oct. 7
encourages pastors to preach politics from the pulpit. The Internal
Revenue Code exempts certain organizations including churches from
taxation, but prohibits them as a condition of tax-exemption from “any
political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for
public office.” “Both the restriction and Pulpit Freedom Sunday
raise important questions about the relationship between church and
state, the role of religious argument in political discourse, and the
significance of clergy in political debate,” says John Inazu, JD,
professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis and expert on religion and the Constitution.
Catholic leadership divided over Obama’s Notre Dame speech, expert suggests
Frank FlinnNotre Dame University’s decision to invite President Obama to deliver the university’s commencement address on Sunday has sparked strong protests from groups who disagree with Obama’s stand on abortion and stem cell research. Despite condemnation of Obama’s speech by a number of prominent American bishops, the Vatican may be more interested in moderation and conciliation in its dealings with Obama, suggests Frank K. Flinn, a close observer of religious politics and author of the Encyclopedia of Catholicism (2007).