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Posted on 07/11/2025 4:25:44 AM PDT by delta7
The Internal Revenue Service has deemed it legal for tax-exempt places of worship to back political candidates. The Trump Administration pushed for this measure, repealing a 70-year tax code enacted in 1954 by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson known as the “Johnson B. Amendment.”
The Johnson Amendment deemed it necessary for religious organizations to maintain nonpartisan status to protect the Constitutional conditions of separation of church and state. The law forbids churches and other religious organizations from using funds to endorse political candidates. Organizations could vocally support a candidate, but by law, they were unable to financially enter politics as their tax-exempt status came with a nonpartisan clause. All of this is now changing.
“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 IRS said in the joint filing Monday with the National Religious Broadcasters group in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
“When a house of worship in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith, it neither ‘participate[s]” nor ‘intervene[s]’ in a ‘political campaign,’ within the ordinary meaning of those words,” the filing said.
Last year, the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) filed a lawsuit against the IRS, claiming that the Johnson Amendment violated their First Amendment rights. The organization believes that the First Amendment protects them from any restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of exercise of religion. Yet, these places of worship also enjoy tax code 501(c)(3) that prevents the government from collecting taxes. In Branch Ministries v. Rossotti (2000), a church attempted to sue after its tax-exempt status was revoked for financially backing a political candidate. The court once again ruled that the Johnson Amendment did not violate the First Amendment.
The court stated that the church was not prohibited from freedom of speech, as they could vocalize their support. However, the tax benefit comes with the condition of remaining nonpartisan. The ruling found the burden was not “substantial” enough to violate constitutional protections.
Repealing the Johnson Act would drastically alter political endorsements as these religious institutions not only have massive funds to spare but could turn them into tax-deductible super PACS. Dark money would certainly flow through these organizations to alter politics as any funds to the church or religious organization could be untraceable. Foreign citizens and nations could also anonymously funnel unlimited amounts of money through these tax-deductible super PACS and directly influence domestic elections.
Jewish temples would become the new AIPAC, the Catholic Church could install their candidate of choice, which would NOT have been Donald Trump, mosques would use donations as they deemed fit, the list goes on and on.
Churches and places of worship are tax-exempt because they maintain “benevolent neutrality,” which dates back to medieval England before it was brought over to colonial America. Political donations are not charitable work or philanthropy. The IRS is attempting to blur the lines between church and state. Conservatives may think that this measure could only benefit their cause, but that is far from the truth, as what constitutes a religious organization is quite vague in the United States. Then public trust of religious institutions would erode as they would be seen as political entities. The core mission of assisting those in need would be completely lost.
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To be fair, I’ve run into a fair number of Churches that operate like secular businesses.
The Constitution permits churches to advocate for candidates. It is only the government that cant.
Hurry!!!
This has been a scam to allow Black Churches to throw political rallies in their buildings for years. It was time to even the playing field.
Correct. Separation of church and state protects worship it doesn’t protect the government.
The first sentence mentions LBJ That’s all I need to know about why Trump fixed this abomination.
My church tells us it is a sin to vote for certain measures and to vote for the lesser of two evils when not voting will get the bad guy elected
They need protection?
The IRS is going to hold that over the church? Not what the constitution intended
[to protect the Constitutional conditions of separation of church and state.]
THAT is NOT in the Constitution. That phrase comes from a court.
The DEMOCRATS REGULARLY ABUSED this, though.
LBJ was ...... not a nice guy (I’m being too kind)
The pastor has so little time on the pulpit to tell people about the good news of Jesus Christ. Taking that time to talk about politics is it difficult trade-off. I doubt biblically based churches who are eager to bring people to Christ and to help people sanctify their lives is going to spend much time and energy getting people elected to office.
separation of church and state refers to no official state religion, not advocating for candidates
this article is pure BS
“God damn america”
Correct. Allowing politics into churches in no way seeks to ‘establish one state religion’....which is the gist of what is in the constitution.
Why did you capitalize “black?”
Exactly - this whole thing has been misrepresented for a long time
Which is typical
A black (NOT “Black”) conservative minister was on Newsmax or Fox last nigh,t and he pointed out the fact that black (NOT “Black”) churches have been blatantly doing this forever.
The phrase comes from a letter that Jefferson wrote.
It is not codified anywhere.
People (not YOU Ferris) seem to forget that the Bill of Rights prohibits the government from doing certain things. For example, the government cannot impede your free speech; but your employer can. The government cannot impose a state religion on you. It doesn’t say that religion cannot have a political opinion-which would be covered by the religion and speech clauses.
This is not advanced, technical understanding of the Constitution. This is “fourth grade level” understanding of it.
I guess fourth grade is not as encompassing as it used to be.
When a 501(c)3, or 4, etc. IS signed and filed, THEN the church obligates itself to such nonsense as the Johnson Amendment, and and all other public policy incursions of government.
Sign on that dotted line . . . surrender your liberties.
I thought some court quoted it, no?
IBTG
IBTS
Free speech is paramount.
Congress can decide if to tax churches otherwise.
Buying their silence through the tax laws is unconstitutional.
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