“This weekend, credibility-challenged Beto O’Rourke attempted to run away from yet another extreme position, this time his view that charitable status should be revoked from churches that oppose same-sex marriage. If it is not already apparent, Beto O’Rourke will say or do anything to try and hide how out of touch he is with Texas voters.” – Renae Eze, Press Secretary
NOW: According To O’Rourke’s Spokesperson, O’Rourke “Never” Said Churches And Religious Institutions Should Lose Their Tax-Exempt Status For Opposing Same-Sex Marriage. “Abbott was referring to O’Rourke’s remarks in 2019 when, according to the Texas Tribune, he said religious institutions should lose tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage. O’Rourke’s campaign reached for comment, said Abbott was lying to ‘distract from his failures managing the state of Texas.’ They also sent a statement from Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes, the pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, endorsing O’Rourke. ‘Beto was never referring to churches that ideologically oppose same-sex marriage,’ Spokesperson Abhi Rahman said in a statement. ‘The U.S. constitution makes clear that what we believe and the way that we practice our faith within a mosque, temple, synagogue, or church is our own business, not the government’s business.’”
THEN: O’Rourke Said He Wanted To Eliminate The Tax-Exempt Status For Churches And Religious Institutions That Oppose Same-Sex Marriage. LEMON: “Do you think religious institutions — like colleges, churches, charities — should lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage?” O’RPURKE: “Yes. There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break, for anyone or any institution, any organization in America, that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us, and so as president, we are going to make that a priority and we are going to stop those who are infringing upon the human rights of our fellow Americans.” (Patrick Svitek, “Beto O’Rourke Says Religious Institutions Should Lose Tax-Exempt Status If They Oppose Gay Marriage,” Texas Tribune, 10/11/19)
- VIDEO: O’Rourke On Whether Churches And Religious Institutions Should Lose Tax-Exempt Status: “Yes. There Can Be No Reward, No Benefit, No Tax Break, For Anyone Or Any Institution, Any Organization In America, That Denies The Full Human Rights And The Full Civil Rights Of Every Single One Of Us…” LEMON: “Do you think religious institutions — like colleges, churches, charities — should lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage?” O’ROURKE: “Yes. There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break, for anyone or any institution, any organization in America, that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us, and so as president, we are going to make that a priority and we are going to stop those who are infringing upon the human rights of our fellow Americans.” (LINK)