IRS says churches can endorse political candidates in reversal of decades-long precedent
IRS says churches can endorse political candidates in reversal of decades-long precedent
IRS says churches can endorse political candidates in reversal of decades-long precedent
In a reversal of decades of legal precedent, the Internal Revenue Service said in court filings on July 7 that churches and other religious 501 c(3) organizations can endorse political candidates in certain circumstances.
The new position, which was made in a joint filing intended to end a lawsuit brought by a group of high-profile Christian organizations last year, carves out a narrow exception to the Johnson Amendment, which has banned political activity by churches since 1954.
The rule was introduced by former President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1954 when he was serving as the U.S. Senate Majority Leader. It banned all tax-exempt organizations like churches and charities from “directly or indirectly” participating in politics, specifically in endorsement or opposition of candidates.
This is even darker than cu v fec
Indeed.
It's another example of Donald making something explicitly legal that, before, was still occurring but technically punishable under the law. That's what I hate about Donald the most, the normalization of the worst aspects of our governing system.
You... hate the way he rips the mask off of things that were already happening and forces them into the public's awareness?
Yeah, won't this effectively result in de-facto unlimited campaign contributions, if not outright electioneering? Churches are often polling places for elections.