IRS

THOUSANDS OF PASTORS DEFY THE IRS

In 1954, Congress was pushed by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) to adopt regulations for the IRS that ban churches from endorsing candidates.

The restriction came about because of what Johnson saw as a solution to his own political problems.

In 1954, Johnson was facing opposition in his re-election bid from Christians and anti-communists, some of whom were speaking their minds freely from the pulpits. Johnson, a powerful figure in the Senate who would later become John F. Kennedy’s vice president and succeed him following the assassination in 1963, had a solution for his own political predicament – to muzzle churches and clergy with federal regulations.

Through what became known as “the Johnson Amendment,” the U.S. Congress changed the Internal Revenue Service code, prohibiting non-profits, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

“This most regrettable action has haunted America ever since,” says author Joseph Farah. “Over the last 50 years, America’s churches have been controlled and intimidated by these hideous IRS regulations. They’ve been neutered. I blame the clergy for so timidly falling in line with the illegitimate government restrictions as much as I blame the government.

“But it’s time to recognize the Johnson Amendment was an abuse of the system by a powerful politician who had no respect for the Constitution, for religious freedom and for freedom of speech. Johnson himself, as president, used the illegitimate Fairness Doctrine to target broadcasters who criticized him.

It never should have happened, says Farah. “Under the First Amendment, Congress has no power to tax churches. Period. End of story. Under the First Amendment, Congress has no power to stifle freedom of speech. Ever since 1954, the government has unevenly applied its illegitimate oversight of churches – winking as some pastors turn their churches over to political candidates to make stump speeches, while warning others it is inappropriate. There is only one real solution – repeal the Johnson Amendment.”

That’s the goal of pastors who participate in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an effort of the Alliance Defending Freedom. 

The annual event, started in 2008, encourages pastors to openly preach on the “biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates.” They also sign a statement agreeing the IRS should not control the content of a pastor’s sermons.

More than 3,800 pastors already have taken part, including 1,517 who preached Oct. 5 and another 242 who signed the statement. Others participated in earlier events, and the movement is growing weekly.

A short video about Pulpit Freedom Sunday below:

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 06:00 AM