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Are you allowed to vote inside a church?

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I know that both the Gemara and the Shulchan Arukh both forbid entering a church (Beis Avodah Zarah). However, there are many Rishonim and Acharonim and I am unfamiliar with their opinions. Since voting is so important, I wonder whether "et laasot l'Hashem" would apply under these circumstances. Why would you be entering the church's sanctuary in the first place? I suggest that you ask your LOR for psak. – Adam Mosheh Dec 2 '11 at 6:18
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This is a sub-branch off the "yes" branch of the question "may one enter a church?" which I believe id very context-dependent. I.e. there have been times and places where communities very strictly forbade it for societal reasons and others in which Jews were not permitted to vote so it was a moot point. So for practical advice be sure to consult your local competent legal authority. – WAF May 20 '12 at 16:16

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up vote 8 down vote

As long as you don't go into the main sanctuary there should not be a problem.

There is a makhloket poskim as to whether belief in the trinity is forbidden only for a Jew. Many say a non-Jew may follow these tenets since belief in the omnipotent G-d is still present.

However, it is forbidden for a Jew to enter the sanctuary of the church, i.e. where the actual prayer services are held. As it is a marit ayyin as it could be interpreted as identification with the philosophy. However, it is permitted to enter other rooms in a church for non-religious purposes.

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Doesnt the Rama say to distance oneself 4 amos from building? – sam Jul 26 '12 at 4:02
@sam Perhaps he means 4 amot from the sanctuary room. You're not going to forbid entering an airport because they have a chapel somewhere in the building. – Double AA♦ Jul 26 '12 at 15:51
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Based on answers given here, Is Christianity Avodah Zara? if it is not avoda zara, then one cannot go in to the sanctuary because of marat ayin. However, if it is avoda zara (this is the opinion of many major modern poskim from Rav Elyashiv quoted in one of the answers to the linked question and Rav Aharon Lichtenstein from personal experience, but see the link for a much more thorough discussion) then it would be muttar to enter anywhere in the building only in the case of pikuach nefesh as outlined in Shulchan Aruch YD 157:3

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Didnt Rav Moshe hold going into a church to see artwork was assur? – sam Jul 26 '12 at 4:10
@sam It very well could be. – Double AA♦ Jul 26 '12 at 15:49

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