In the pictures above, we have three churches (two pictures are from one church) in Southfield, Michigan, which have become involved in state politics by advising voters to vote "no" on Proposal 2, an initiative which deals with public funding for stem cell research.
Whatever view voters take on stem cell research and the public funding of it, the issue here is that churches may be overstepping their bounds when it comes to maintaining their tax exempt status. They are quite welcome to preach within their walls about the "evils" of stem cell research, but when it comes to telling voters how to vote, and not just their congregants, but every voter who drives along Lahser, Berg, and Ten Mile Roads in Southfield (just to name a few--I have seen these signs in front of churches in Clawson and Royal Oak, too), they should refrain from telling voters what to do with their tax dollars--or they should pay their fair share of taxes.
The churches in the pictures are Our Lady of Albanians on Lahser Road, Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church on Berg Road, and the Church of the Transfiguration on Ten Mile Road.
If you see any churches with signs in front regarding ballot proposals or supporting candidates, please snap a picture, if possible, and send it to gregtreich@comcast.net.
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