The Suffolk County (NY) Christian Coalition is distributing "voter guides" to area churches in hopes that they will be included in bulletins ahead of the upcoming congressional primary. Educational, nonpartisan voter guides are allowed to be distributed in churches without jeopardizing tax-exempt status so long as they address a wide range of issues, and are not essentially *wink-wink* endorsements for or against a candidate. There's one serious problem with this Christian Coalition voter guide though – it only names one candidate. The text reads:
The following candidate has pledged his support for: Safeguarding the biblical definition of marriage, protecting the unborn, Supporting the work of faith-based organizations…
Then goes on to name the one candidate they believe meets those criteria.
Receiving the request to add these guides to his church literature, Pastor Dwight Lee Wolter of the Congregational Church of Patchogue replied in a letter, expressing his concern over the political tactics and the tax exemption that comes with it. Check it out.
