IRS Reverses 70-Year Ban on Political Campaigning by Churches
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the Trump administration announced plans to roll back the legal restrictions on political campaign activity by tax-exempt churches. The Johnson amendment has prohibited churches in their official capacity from campaigning for or against candidates in exchange for their tax-exempt status since 1954. The decision to roll back this restriction is offered by the IRS as a settlement to a lawsuit filed last year by the National Religious Broadcasters Association and two Texas churches. Craig Holman, Ph.D., government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen, issued the following statement:
“The decision by the IRS to allow churches to advocate to their congregations for and against candidates for the first time in more than seven decades is not about settling a lawsuit. The courts have consistently upheld the law requiring churches to avoid politics in exchange for their tax-exempt status. This is about the political interests of Donald Trump and like-minded supporters to bolster their political opportunities at the expense of taxpayers.
“This decision is nothing more than a political sham by very conservative religious voices to amplify their impact on candidate elections, paid for by taxpayers. Early on, Trump recognized a strong base of political support among the Evangelical community and has sought to unleash that support even at the pulpit.
“Most Americans are growing weary of all the polarized political shouting and deserve a sanctity from politics from time to time, especially in their churches.”