Reply #27: I think a reasonable argument can be made that

[ddeclue]

the churches first amendment speech rights are not contingent upon surrendering their tax exempt status, that their tax exempt status is protected separately under the establishment clause and is not linked to a requirement that they remain mute - indeed a church's religious dogma might well have a political component to it from equal rights for all, issues of social justice or pacifism on the left to anti-abortion, or school prayer on the right. Either way whether I agree with that speech or not is NOT the issue, those organizations, like any other are entitled to speak out on issues of importance to them without government imposed censorship - their tax status is NOT contingent upon their willingness to forego their free speech rights.

Doug D.