Aarontology: Go ahead US Council of Catholic Bishops.

Go and protest women having access to health care. Do it.

Bring it. Seriously.

Aarontology: Go and protest women having access to health care. Do it.

And especially make sure you admonish the 98% of Catholic women that will use birth control in their lifetimes. That'll be sure to help.

In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

You're not suggesting that religious bodies that actively engage in politicking should, I don't know, have to pay taxes, are you?

Instead of confronting protestors with a police presence, just send IRS lawyers to each protest with a stack of tax bills for each parish and diocese that is participating.

If you're going to use the pulpit to gin up votes, then you better look like paying some farking taxes.

ginandbacon: Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

You're not suggesting that religious bodies that actively engage in politicking should, I don't know, have to pay taxes, are you?

I'm suggesting they politely shut the fark up. And take a moment to appreciate how the separation clause is there to protect them and their interests as much as it is to insulate our governance from theocrats.

If that fails, then taxes.

I'm Catholic. I will very likely vote for Obama unless it turns out that he's a Reptloid.

And even then, might end up as a coin flip.

Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

When do these political organizations lose their tax exempt status?

Diogenes: ginandbacon: Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

You're not suggesting that religious bodies that actively engage in politicking should, I don't know, have to pay taxes, are you?

I'm suggesting they politely shut the fark up. And take a moment to appreciate how the separation clause is there to protect them and their interests as much as it is to insulate our governance from theocrats.

If that fails, then taxes.

Pretty sure I could live with either outcome.

MaudlinMutantMollusk: Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

When do these political organizations lose their tax exempt status?

After the election, if ever. There is zero chance that Obama would make a single move against religions using the church as a political tool. Not before the election for certain, because you can just see the media running with the "Obama comes out against churches" angle and obfuscate the details of the situation. If he wants to lose the election, that is what he should do. Otherwise, maybe wait until the election is over, and assuming he wins bring out all the evidence saying "Such and such church used its influence for political purposes, they will be taxed henceforth."

Shostie: I'm Catholic. I will very likely vote for Obama unless it turns out that he's a Reptloid.

And even then, might end up as a coin flip.

It would make for a much more interesting election.

"TUESDAY, TUESDAY, TUESDAY! Come see RomneyBot 3000 battle Reptobama in a smack down royale for the soul of the country! He's got circuits and a capacity to dispatch his challengers with cold, emotionless precision. He's got an impenetrable armor of scales capable of deflecting the most ridiculous and withering assault, and a forked tongue that will charm you as it indoctrinates you with his liberal ideals."

Elandriel: MaudlinMutantMollusk: Diogenes: In late January, priests in scores of churches across the country read letters from the pulpit urging congregants to contact members of Congress to oppose the new rule.

Larry Cirignano, a Catholic activist, said evangelical groups such as the Christian Coalition had sent out direct mail to raise money to push back against the Obama administration.

And speaking of encroachment.

When do these political organizations lose their tax exempt status?

After the election, if ever. There is zero chance that Obama would make a single move against religions using the church as a political tool. Not before the election for certain, because you can just see the media running with the "Obama comes out against churches" angle and obfuscate the details of the situation. If he wants to lose the election, that is what he should do. Otherwise, maybe wait until the election is over, and assuming he wins bring out all the evidence saying "Such and such church used its influence for political purposes, they will be taxed henceforth."

Yeah... rhetorical question
It pisses me off that churches can get away with being overtly political and still flaunt their tax-free status. If they want to be political, then pay the same ticket price the rest of us do.

MaudlinMutantMollusk: It pisses me off that churches can get away with being overtly political and still flaunt their tax-free status. If they want to be political, then pay the same ticket price the rest of us do.

Or at the very least, incorporate a political/influence peddling arm and be taxed on that.

I'm sure these medical institutions they run have to pay the government in some form or fashion.

GAT_00: And yet I keep hearing that Catholics here are progressive and don't listen to Rome.

You're as bad as the Fundies.

Don't confuse the Bishops with the laity.

Shostie: I'm Catholic. I will very likely vote for Obama unless it turns out that he's a Reptloid.

And even then, might end up as a coin flip.

Came in for Pew Pew, leaving disappointed.

And he'd lose Catholics...why?

Because of the contraception issue? That nearly all of the Catholics (that aren't the ones running the church) are on Obama's side of the issue? That issue?

Give me a break.

Aarontology: ginandbacon: Bring it. Seriously.

There's no way this could backfire.

Oh no. It's a sure thing. They should DEFINITELY run with this.

Ignoring for a moment how much of a losing proposition it is to rail against access to contraception, Obama has what you would call a firewall with Catholics in the form of the Hispanic vote. The people getting asspained by this contraception deal are primarily evangelical protestants, not Catholics, and they weren't voting for Obama to begin with.

Fark It: Ignoring for a moment how much of a losing proposition it is to rail against access to contraception, Obama has what you would call a firewall with Catholics in the form of the Hispanic vote. The people getting asspained by this contraception deal are primarily evangelical protestants, not Catholics, and they weren't voting for Obama to begin with.

Good point.

Dusk-You-n-Me: Link

Well that was interesting.

"51% of the public say that religious conservatives have too much control over the Republican Party."

"Since 2010, there have been sizable increases in the percentages of white mainline Protestants, white Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated saying that there has been too much discussion of religion by political leaders."

And most significantly: "A majority of Americans (54%) say that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters, while 40% say they should express their views on social and political questions. After a decade in which the balance of opinion tilted in the opposite direction, this is the third consecutive survey in the past four years in which more people say churches should keep out of politics than say churches should express their views on social and political issues."

Keep farking that clucker.

ginandbacon: GAT_00: And yet I keep hearing that Catholics here are progressive and don't listen to Rome.

You're as bad as the Fundies.

Don't confuse the Bishops with the laity.

Whyever not?

GAT_00: ginandbacon: GAT_00: And yet I keep hearing that Catholics here are progressive and don't listen to Rome.

You're as bad as the Fundies.

Don't confuse the Bishops with the laity.

What's the big difference?

The laity is very liberal/progressive on social issues and the Bishops are decidedly not. Both of them have a basic commitment to not ramping up defense spending and increasing spending on things like education and health care, but the laity tends to be way ahead of the Bishops on issues like women's reproductive health, rights for the LBGT community, and the rights of women within the Church.

Individual Catholic voters are not represented by the USCCB in terms of their political views. But most Catholics will not speak out in public against the Bishops. It's sort of considered tacky. That doesn't mean their vote comes from the pulpit on Sunday. Catholics are one of the least obedient congregations.