I.R.S. Support for Political Endorsement by Houses of Worship Erodes Critical Boundary Between Religion and Government

WASHINGTON – Interfaith Alliance,  a national leader in defending religious freedom and inclusive multi-faith democracy, is deeply concerned by a new I.R.S. court filing that says churches and other houses of worship can endorse political candidates to their congregations from the pulpit. This action by the Trump Administration violates the fundamental purpose and spirit of the Johnson Amendment, a decades-old ban on political campaigning and endorsement by non-profits, including houses of worship. 

“This move represents a grave threat to healthy boundaries between government and religion,” said Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, Vice President of Programs and Strategy at Interfaith Alliance. “It aims to heavily politicize the pulpit, and could turn some religious institutions and organizations into thinly-veiled fronts for partisan groups and candidates.

“Current law strikes the right balance, allowing tax-exempt houses of worship to engage in moral advocacy, but not to tell their congregations who they should or should not vote for,” Graves-Fitzsimmons said. “This radical change is clearly part of the Trump Administration’s broader attempt to co-opt and weaponize organized religion as a tool of partisan political power.” 

The IRS’ claim that “communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted” is absurd. 

In a 2017 letter supported by Interfaith Alliance, over 4,000 faith leaders called on Congress to uphold the Johnson Amendment, warning that “engaging in partisan politics and issuing endorsements would be highly divisive and have a detrimental impact on congregational unity and civil discourse.” A 2017 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 71 percent of all Americans, including majorities of major religious denominations, opposed repealing the Johnson Amendment.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ben DePasquale, [email protected]

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‍Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.