The IRS under Donald Trump agreed in a court filing that churches can endorse candidates from the pulpit.
By Catholics for Catholics
It’s clear: the Internal Revenue Service will not punish churches that endorse political candidates from the pulpit.
According to a story published by The Daily Wire, the IRS made clear its standpoint on the matter of churches endorsing candidates, when it said in a court filing on Monday that temples and houses of worship are free to recommend political contenders from the pulpit, without concern of losing their tax-exempt status.
The IRS explanation came in after a lawsuit from two Texas churches and an association of Christian broadcasters sued, seeking an exemption from the ban on churches endorsing political candidates, The New York Times reported. While the plaintiffs wanted a carve-out for all nonprofits, the IRS agreed in a court filing to permit churches to recommend candidates without punishment.
At issue is the Johnson Amendment — which has been part of the U.S. tax code since 1954 — which does not forbid a church from speaking with its parishioners about its favored political candidates, comparing such endorsements to “a family discussion concerning candidates.”
“Thus, communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted,” the agency wrote in the court filing.
In addition, the IRS included that it has kept away from imposing the Johnson Amendment against churches “for speech concerning electoral politics in the context of worship services.” For several years, pastors from around the country organized to test the tax code during “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” The Washington Post reported. The IRS only launched one investigation stemming from “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” and the agency did not punish any churches.
The IRS’ stance will be lauded by many conservative Christians who have seen the prohibition on political endorsements as infringing upon their free speech.
Your action is key to winning the next Presidential Election.
