On Political Organizations of Clergy (8-27-04)

Ethics Daily has posted a RNS news report about a new political organization of African-American clergy that has endorsed President Bush. Appropriately, they call themselves the "National Faith Based Initiatives Coalition" identifying both the issue and the source of revenues that this administration has used to woo their votes.

I applaud the creation of political organizations of clergy -- as long as they don't claim any tax-exemptions for their political organization and they don't carry their endorsements into the pulpits of their churches. Clergy, like people in any other industry, have a right to organize and lobby for handouts and special favors from the government.

Clergy have as much right as any other citizen in this country to be involved in the political processes of our country. It is good for clergy to find ways to voice their political opinions and it be understood by everyone that they are speaking as private citizens and not as spokespersons for their churches.