Here you have a Republican member of Congress encouraging the leaders of tax-exempt churches to engage in political campaigning for Republicans. This is no surprise to anyone who has been to a church of any size over the past six years, but I find it alarming that a member of our government is asking pastors to put their tax exempt status at risk by becoming mouthpieces for a political party.

Of course, there’s reaslly no chance that the pastors who follow Barton’s advice and illegally campaign while claiming religious tax exemptions will be punished. The Republican executive branch has gutted enforcement, given right-leaning ministers a free pass and have even poured tax money into the offering plate using Bush’s Faith-Based Initiatives.

To have the party of torture and war claiming the high holy ground, while programs for children and the needy are gutted is a morally repugnant position in total opposition to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Ministers that engage in this clearly don’t practice what they preach. They’re too much like the hypocrite Rev. Ted Haggard, who engage in exactly the behaviors they preach are sins. Lord, have mercy on their souls, but please wake up the flock so they realize how they’re being lyed to and manipulated.