The Internal Revenue Service agreed in federal court Monday that churches and religious organizations can endorse political candidates and still maintain their tax-exempt status. The agreement came after the National Religious Broadcasters sued the federal agency over its rules regarding political activity. The following statement may be attributed to Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel for First Liberty:
First Amendment rights don’t end when a pastor, church member or even a political candidate steps on the platform of a church. The IRS weaponized the Johnson Amendment to silence churches and pastors for decades. This is great news for religious organizations, churches, and religious liberty.
First Liberty Institute successfully defended two churches recently, Grace Church St. Louis and New Way Church in Florida, after the IRS announced investigations into alleged political involvement. In both cases, the IRS closed the investigations.
