Firestorm: The Contraception Mandate

As I have stated repeatedly, this is not, never has been, and never will be a political blog.  That will not stop me from speaking on matters of religion which touch upon politics.  There is currently in the United States a political firestorm begun when the Obama administration mandated that employee health plans must cover contraception, including the abortifacient "morning after pill."  While churches, synagogues, and mosques are exempt, any affiliated entities such as hospitals and social services are not.  The response did not take long, and it shouldn't have.

Some suggest, as I have in the past, that Christian organizations should renounce their tax exempt status, refuse federal funding for "faith-based initiatives," and take no federal or state funds for any reason.

One commenter on the LifeSiteNews.com listing below says that the mandate applies even for employers who take no federal funds.  Does anyone know if that is true?  Even if it is, I still think separation is a good idea.  Jesus said to render to Caesar what was Caesars and then he handed the coin back.

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/southern-baptist-leader-obama-contraception-mandate-is-not-only-a-catholic

http://www.christianpost.com/news/catholic-bishop-blasts-obama-admin-for-contraception-mandate-68039/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2094206/Catholic-Church-showdown-Obama-U-S-faith-leaders-denounce-contraception-mandate.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/01/health-reform-preventive-services-and-religious-institutions

The website of the National Abortion Rights League
http://www.naral.org/ 

The New York Same-Sex Marriage Vote

The State of New York, on Friday, 24 June 2011, became the sixth of the United States to legalize same-sex marriage.  This prompted a strong response from the Roman Catholic bishop of New York, Timothy Dolan.

“We strongly uphold the Catholic Church's clear teaching that we always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong, loving union that is open to children, ordered for the good of those children and the spouses themselves.

“This definition cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths.

“We worry that both marriage and the family will be undermined by this tragic presumption of government in passing this legislation that attempts to redefine these cornerstones of civilization.

“Our society must regain what it appears to have lost - a true understanding of the meaning and the place of marriage, as revealed by God, grounded in nature, and respected by America's foundational principles.”  Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York

I applaud Archbishop Dolan for his strong statement.  He is correct that there may be consequences for the stand.  The most obvious would be attempts to remove tax exempt status from churches which refuse to accept the legislation.  We must be willing to accept persecution for the truth without wilting.  We do not have a spirit of fear.

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More on tax-exempt status, homosexuality, persecution, and marriage later.

Tax exemption for churches

     501 (c) (3) in IRS Publication 557 lists the organizations eligible for income tax exemption because of their charitable nature.  The exemption applies only to the organization's exclusively charitable, scientific, educational, literary, philanthropic, public safety, prevention of cruelty to children or animals, or religious activities.  Any strictly commercial activities of an otherwise eligible organization are taxable.  Another provision, 26 U.S.C 170, provides a federal income tax deduction for donors to exempted organiziations.

     Jesus recognized the authority of governments to make tax laws but he added that God also had requirements which must be met.  The principle is that civil authorities should be obeyed except when their claims on a believer's actions are superceded by God's claims.

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things which are God's"  Matthew 22:21 (also Mark 12:17 and Luke 20:25)

     The current United States administration has shown a tendency to attach "strings" to it's programs and policies.  I would suggest that churches strongly consider repudiating their tax exempt status in order to prevent possible governmental interference in their activities.  

     The church I attend has members of every race, nationality, and ethnic origin but we don't and probably never will, reflect the national percentages of these various groups.  Also, the vast majority of our members would oppose openly gay clergy.  Pressure (the threat of removal of the tax exemption) could be exerted upon us and others like us to change our policies and beliefs.

     One thing to consider: repudiation of the tax exemption would also remove the individual donor's tax exemption for donations to the church.