Evangelicals Push for the House of Worship Free Speech Act
Evangelical and conservative Christians applauded the reintroduction of the bill in Congress that would protect the tax-exempt status of religious leaders who wish to endorse political candidates at their pulpits.
Evangelical and conservative Christians applauded the reintroduction of the bill in Congress that would protect the tax-exempt status of religious leaders who wish to endorse political candidates at their pulpits.
The Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act (HR 235), introduced by Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), would change the IRS tax code that prevents tax-exempt organizations – such as churches – from taking sides in a political debate. Since the restrictions on political speech were imposed in 1954, hundreds of churches came under heavy scrutiny by activist groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Dozens of churches were threatened with the possibility of losing their tax exempt status in the last year alone as the 2004 presidential race fired up.
According to Federal Research Council (FRC) president Tony Perkins, the newly introduced bill will help “restore the voice of religious leaders in America.”
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"The Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act will restore free speech protections to our nation's houses of worship,” Perkins stated. “This bill is an important defense of the basic right of free speech, and will help restore the voice of religious leaders in America. Every American should have the right to participate freely in our democracy and electoral process according to his or her own conscience.”
Perkins explained that churches should regain its historical role in speaking out to moral issues of the day.
"Throughout American history, the clergy have served a vital role in speaking to the moral issues of the day. In recent years, an effort has been made to muzzle free speech in churches. With the threat of using the tax code, churches and other houses of worship are scared into silence on matters of public morality because of sensitivity to political restrictions and the fear that the IRS will revoke their churches' tax exempt status,” wrote Perkins in a March 3 statement. "One of the enduring lessons Dr. Martin Luther King taught is the power a religious community can have in society. He spoke as a minister of the Word and used churches and church communities to change our culture. Pastors today should have that same freedom to follow Dr. King's example and exercise their right to speak out on morality and the vital issues of the day.
"The Family Research Council considers this a priority and will work towards the passage of this important legislation,” he wrote.
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, president f the Traditional Values Coalition, also pledged support for the newly introduced act.
“Traditional Values Coalition is urging support for passage of the Houses of Worship Freedom of Speech Restoration Act,” TVC’s Sheldon said. “This legislation is long overdue to give the right of political speech back to pastors—a right removed from them by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson in 1954.
“The IRS code prohibition must be removed to restore the constitutional right of pastors and nonprofit leaders to freely criticize political leaders without fear of losing their tax-exempt status,” said Sheldon.
Christian Coalition of America President Roberta Combs agreed that the House of Worship bill is long overdue.
“It is long past due for Congress to pass a law giving clergy the freedom to educate their congregations on the issues such as protecting traditional marriage and to inform them as to how their elected officials vote on such issues. Christian Coalition commends Congressman Walter Jones for his determination to pass critically-needed legislation,” said Combs.
The House of Worship Act H.R. 235 is also endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission (ERLC).
