The petition condemns "Christian-nationalist politicians like Donald Trump and their vile, hate-based policies."
  • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    100·
    10 months ago

    How about a petition urging the IRS to disallow the tax-exempt status of religious orgs with leaders who endorse any political candidate?

    • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
      171·
      10 months ago

      That’s already the rule, right? They just need to enforce current rules.

      • 52fighters@kbin.social
        7·
        10 months ago

        The Alliance Defending Freedom video tapes a sermon by a preacher specifically violating the rule and send it to the IRS, trying to bait them into applying the rule because they are confident SCOTUS will declare the rule unconstitutional. The IRS never takes the bait. They’d rather have the appearance of a rule than no rule at all. As it is it is mostly self-enforcing on most congregations.

      • 52fighters
        22·
        10 months ago

        The Alliance Defending Freedom video tapes a sermon by a preacher specifically violating the rule and send it to the IRS, trying to bait them into applying the rule because they are confident SCOTUS will declare the rule unconstitutional. The IRS never takes the bait. They’d rather have the appearance of a rule than no rule at all. As it is it is mostly self-enforcing on most congregations.

      • 52fighters
        14·
        10 months ago

        The Alliance Defending Freedom video tapes a sermon by a preacher specifically violating the rule and send it to the IRS, trying to bait them into applying the rule because they are confident SCOTUS will declare the rule unconstitutional. The IRS never takes the bait. They’d rather have the appearance of a rule than no rule at all. As it is it is mostly self-enforcing on most congregations.

    • jak
      3·
      10 months ago

      It says only one term, so that’ll become a lot less convincing for christians if he wins this year.

  • Gazumi@lemmy.world
    33·
    10 months ago

    Can the Trump supporting Bishops correlate Trumps established behaviors with their expert knowledge of the bible? I am not an expert, but he doesn’t seem to uphold many Christian values. In fact he seems to be anti Christian in his practices.

  • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
    281·
    10 months ago

    Doesn’t the government have a law that urges them not to support politicians from the church

    • IamSparticles@lemmy.zipEnglish
      18·
      10 months ago

      Technically the IRS can (should) revoke a church’s non profit status if they are caught campaigning for specific candidates. But it happens all the time regardless and there is rarely a consequence.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
      7·
      10 months ago

      Yes , and it is consistantly not enforced.

      There should have been hundreds of churches charged over this back in 2016, but the IRS refuses to touch churches, no matter how blatantly they violate the separation.

    • beebarfbadger@lemmy.world
      3·
      10 months ago

      Well, technically the church itself already has a collection of texts that unequivocally damn behaviours such as shown by Trump. It’s called the Bible or something like that, i believe.

  • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
    281·
    10 months ago

    I hope the pope condemns Christian nationalism as a manifestation of the heresy of positive Christianity. Or something similar.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
      181·
      10 months ago

      the popes have always been in favor of national (catholic) christianity, though. Gives them more power.

      • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
        25·
        10 months ago

        The current pope seems to oppose Christian nationalism. He isn’t full liberation theologist but he’s far closer to that than to American bishops.

        Personally I think Jesus was lunatic not liar or lord and I think that if he has one saint her name is Dorothy Day. So maybe my opinion as someone who left the religion too soon to dedicate my life to the Catholic workers is a bit biased, but yeah the Catholic Church is on the edge of schism.

        Also national Catholicism and Christian nationalism are different. The former is deciding the nation is Christian and the latter is a stance that the nation holds a special place in Christianity. The latter is explicitly the opposite of what Catholicism is

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
          3·
          10 months ago

          if he has one saint her name is Dorothy Day

          One day, it will be two. The other will be Saint Dolly.

          I’m an atheist, but I’d probably go worship at the shrine of Saint Dolly.

          • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
            3·
            10 months ago

            I don’t think she’s Catholic. But yeah my stance on Blessed Day is that she was actively snubbed. The Catholic Church will never sanctify her because of her leaning so far left, but one cannot deny the importance of her organization on leftist organization

              • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
                4·
                10 months ago

                That’s fair. I love Parton, and I think she’s up there with Tammy Faye Bakker. I think Protestants could really use the concept of saints. Are they kinda pagan? Teensy bit yeah, but mostly because pagans see our gods differently from monotheists. They are wise and powerful and provide guidance. Saints are supposed to be role models for good living in Christianity. People who the church believes it’s safe to assume are in heaven.

                So minor theological rant for a religion I’m a heretic to mid theological rant for a religion I’m a heretic to. Personally I think sola fide has less backing it than sola Humane (forgive the shit Latin, but basically that’s the interpretation that Jesus died to take on humanity’s sin, that means everyone is saved), which can be reasonably argued with faith and works with reasonable hope for works alone. But I’m going to be going with the assumption that good works are necessary and possibly sufficient. In short, you earn your salvation.

                But yeah saints role is to serve as role models and as people you know are in heaven. Animal lovers and those disaffected by their wealth can look to St Francis of Assisi to see how they can become holier and use their position to be a force of good. St Maximilian Kolbe can serve as inspiration to sacrifice for your fellow humans and to do the right thing when it becomes clear no matter how difficult. But Protestants don’t really have that. And I get that’s part of the point, but I do think it’s a strength Catholicism has.

                St. Parton could be used as a representative of loving yourself in a healthy way and helping the poor and trod upon. St. Tammy Faye Bakker could be used as a representative of endurance and love for those who the modern hypocrites reject and rejoice in the suffering of (she was one of the first pro gay pastors in America and openly embraced a pastor with aids mid aids crisis on national tv). St. Rogers could be a representative of neighborly love and peace.

                The decentralized nature of Protestantism prevents the sanctific rigor that I do tend to appreciate in Catholicism (though once again Day is blessed and not going to advance but they broke the rules to fast track Mother Teresa despite the evidence brought forth by her devil’s advocate), but having these role models is useful. St Francis led me to closer connection with nature and helped me have less love of money. It also says what the religion actually values. They can also serve as a reminder that even you can be holy. St Joseph was a poor carpenter not a priest or noble, but he was sanctified by accepting the duty of being a step dad in a situation many would’ve walked away from

        • Bernie_Sandals@lemmy.world
          1·
          10 months ago

          Just wanna add that Dorothy Day is currently under consideration for sainthood in the catholic church, the Pope also used her as an example when speaking to congress of what each one of the representatives should be more like.

          I’d say he’s about the closest to liberation theology as we’ve ever had, maybe ever will have but hopefully that isn’t the case.

          • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
            1·
            10 months ago

            Oh good! I last looked into her before then apparently and had been under the impression she was sidelined to Blessed permanently.

    • etceterar@kbin.social
      101·
      10 months ago

      The Baptists in my family don’t know what “Christian nationalism” means but would like the sound of it, and they basically equate the pope with a rainbow flag. I wish, but this pope isn’t changing minds in the American South, even if he tries.

    • jahashar
      171·
      10 months ago

      Not a good man. They think he’s the divine necessary man who will bash abortion, women, the blacks, gays, the heretics, mutants and aliens and porn stars, not necessarily in that order. As the good word verdicts. A great christian hero.

      (American white evangelicalism and christian nationalism is an abomination on the face of the earth.)

      • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
        5·
        10 months ago

        This book will explain in depth how “Donald John Trump’s” full name literally means: “The Ruler of the World, graced by Yahweh (the LORD) and a descendant of a Drummer.” Upon reading this book, the reader will be captivated when they realize how President Donald John Trump fulfilled most of the prophecies as the Son of Man. It speaks about End Time Prophecies and Biblical revelations regarding “President Donald J. Trump, the Son of Man. The Christ.”

        Wow/lol

  • ApeNo1@lemm.eeEnglish
    61·
    10 months ago

    Of course the bishops won’t support him. When it comes to Trump’s political chess strategy he is a false king supported only by pawns.