The Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian group, is daring the IRS to enforce a federal law banning religious leaders of tax-exempt churches from espousing political messages to their congregations. Their taunting this year involved almost 100 pastors across the United States preaching from their pulpits about how people should vote—an action that, since 1954, has been legally punishable by revoking a church’s tax exemption.

 

The group wants the IRS to take action so it can turn around and sue the government, hoping the courts will overturn the law.

 

Americans United for Separation of Church and State believe the law should remain, and has urged the IRS to go after Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, one of the participants in the fund’s strategy.

 

Churches are allowed to create non-tax deductible political action groups.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Pastors Defy Prohibition on Politicking (by Naomi Snyder and Jennifer Brooks, USA Today)

Pulpit Freedom Sunday Marks Pastors’ Stand Against IRS Intrusion (by Alan Sears, Alliance Defense Fund)