Pastors and Politics

[UGAalum94]

Is there really a ban or is it a condition of tax exempt status?

Does that distinction make sense to anyone but me?

A church could always elect to be taxed just like any other entity and make as many endorsement as it chose, right?

Will someone with a really strong understanding of the tax exempt status rules and background weigh in?

[epchick]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Is there really a ban or is it a condition of tax exempt status?

According to the article (and what I heard on KLOVE) its a 54 year old ban (done by the Supreme Court) on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship. If a pastor voiced his "endorsement" of a candidate, his church/synagogue/etc would be in violation of their tax-exempt status and thus be investigated by the IRS.

What is different is the Alliance Defense Fund's direct challenge to the rules that govern tax-exempt organizations. Rather than wait for the IRS to investigate an alleged violation, the organization intends to create dozens of violations and take the U.S. government to court on First Amendment grounds.

What I wonder is if there is a difference between saying it from the pulpit or saying it in private. Would a pastor still be in violation if it a private conversation between him and another person?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by epchick

According to the article (and what I heard on KLOVE) its a 54 year old ban (done by the Supreme Court) on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship. If a pastor voiced his "endorsement" of a candidate, his church/synagogue/etc would be in violation of their tax-exempt status and thus be investigated by the IRS.



What I wonder is if there is a difference between saying it from the pulpit or saying it in private. Would a pastor still be in violation if it a private conversation between him and another person?

With the consequence only being they would lose tax exempt status and maybe pay a tax penalty?

I suspect that private individuals making private statements aren't limited but if the pastor spoke as a pastor of the church, the church would be in danger of losing the exemption.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Is there really a ban or is it a condition of tax exempt status?

It's the latter.