From flamboyant lawmaker Adam Clayton Powell Jr. to fiery orator Calvin Butts, the church has long been associated with political as well as spiritual guidance. In an election year in which the national races are taut and the stakes high, politicians like Al Gore and Hillary Clinton have high-fived their way through several Upper Manhattan churches to court critical black and Latino votes. But while these houses of worship see nothing wrong with using their hallowed premises as forums for political activity, many religious officials, parishioners and citizen groups do. Most mosques, churches and synagogues restrict their proselytizing to the promotion of faith rather than political candidates. But many churches and houses of worship in Upper Manhattan serve communities plagued by poverty and social ills that cannot always be alleviated by spiritual action alone.
Some pastors see political involvement as a necessary supplement to their preaching duties.
When politics penetrate the temple, however, ethical objections tend to arise. The faithful fear the disfavor not only of God, but also that of a more earthly authority, the Internal Revenue Service. If an organization, including churches and mosques, wants to retain its tax exempt status, it cannot engage in any partisan politicking from the pulpit. The IRS code does indeed prohibit partisan political activity on the part of tax-exempt organizations, although they may invite candidates for public office without explicitly endorsing them. The question is whether it enforces the rule beyond toothless admonitions.