Churches Are Breaking the Law by Endorsing in Elections, Experts Say. The IRS Looks the Other Way.
www.propublica.org
For nearly 70 years, federal law has barred churches from directly involving themselves in political campaigns, but the IRS has largely abdicated its enforcement responsibilities as churches have become more brazen about publicly backing candidates.
  • Uriel238 [all pronouns]@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    5·
    3 months ago

    I remember George W. Bush specifically writing up an EO to IRS to cease enforcement of laws against non-profits getting political. Churches have the double advantage of getting minimum scrutiny for their tax-exempt status, which is much harder to maintain for other 501©(3) organization. Now a bunch of right-wing Christian nationalist PACs and activity fronts qualify themselves as churches.

    So yeah, the damage far exceeds pastors getting to tell their congregations how to vote.