Latest news with #NationalReligiousBroadcastersAssociation
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn't lose tax-exempt status, IRS says in filing
The IRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt status. The move effectively calls for a carve out for religious organizations from the rarely used IRS rule called the Johnson Amendment, put in place in 1954 and named after then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson. In a joint court filing intended to end an ongoing case against the IRS, the tax collection agency and the National Religious Broadcasters Association — a Evangelical media consortium — and other plaintiffs have asked a federal court in Texas to stop the government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the plaintiffs. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 amendment to the U.S. tax code that prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The Christian media group and others filed suit against the IRS last August, stating that the amendment violates their First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, among other legal protections. On Monday, the IRS and plaintiffs wrote that the Johnson Amendment should be interpreted 'so that it does not reach communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith.' The New York Times was first to report the news of the court filing. The IRS has generally not enforced the Johnson Amendment against houses of worship for speech related to electoral politics. President Donald Trump has said he wanted to get rid of the Johnson Amendment and signed an executive order in 2017 directing Treasury to disregard the rule. 'I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution,' Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in 2017, which is a high-profile event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries. Representatives from the IRS and the National Religious Broadcasters Association did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment. Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to remove the Johnson Amendment.
The Hill
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn't lose tax-exempt status, IRS says in filing
WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt status. The move effectively calls for a carve out for religious organizations from the rarely used IRS rule called the Johnson Amendment, put in place in 1954 and named after then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson. In a joint court filing intended to end an ongoing case against the IRS, the tax collection agency and the National Religious Broadcasters Association — a Evangelical media consortium — and other plaintiffs have asked a federal court in Texas to stop the government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the plaintiffs. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 amendment to the U.S. tax code that prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The Christian media group and others filed suit against the IRS last August, stating that the amendment violates their First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, among other legal protections. On Monday, the IRS and plaintiffs wrote that the Johnson Amendment should be interpreted 'so that it does not reach communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith.' The New York Times was first to report the news of the court filing. The IRS has generally not enforced the Johnson Amendment against houses of worship for speech related to electoral politics. President Donald Trump has said he wanted to get rid of the Johnson Amendment and signed an executive order in 2017 directing Treasury to disregard the rule. 'I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution,' Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in 2017, which is a high-profile event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries. Representatives from the IRS and the National Religious Broadcasters Association did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment. Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to remove the Johnson Amendment.
CNN
08-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn't lose tax-exempt status, IRS says in filing
The IRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt status. The move effectively calls for a carve out for religious organizations from the rarely used IRS rule called the Johnson Amendment, put in place in 1954 and named after then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson. In a joint court filing intended to end an ongoing case against the IRS, the tax collection agency and the National Religious Broadcasters Association — a Evangelical media consortium — and other plaintiffs have asked a federal court in Texas to stop the government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the plaintiffs. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 amendment to the U.S. tax code that prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The Christian media group and others filed suit against the IRS last August, stating that the amendment violates their First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, among other legal protections. On Monday, the IRS and plaintiffs wrote that the Johnson Amendment should be interpreted 'so that it does not reach communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith.' The New York Times was first to report the news of the court filing. The IRS has generally not enforced the Johnson Amendment against houses of worship for speech related to electoral politics. President Donald Trump has said he wanted to get rid of the Johnson Amendment and signed an executive order in 2017 directing Treasury to disregard the rule. 'I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution,' Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in 2017, which is a high-profile event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries. Representatives from the IRS and the National Religious Broadcasters Association did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment. Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to remove the Johnson Amendment.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US no longer secular, church-state separation ends? IRS says pastors can back political candidates without risking their church's tax-exempt status
The Internal Revenue Service will not punish pastors endorsing political candidates during church services. This decision stems from a legal agreement with the National Religious Broadcasters Association. The agreement challenges the Johnson Amendment, restricting political activity by tax-exempt religious groups. A lawsuit was filed against the IRS last August, alleging First Amendment rights violations. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is the Johnson Amendment? A quiet backtrack on Church-State separation? Where it all started Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What does the case mean for American secularism? Trump's stance on the case One of the most unique interpretations of the modern idea of American secularism, which protects the right of individuals to practice their religion freely or not to practice any faith at all, without government interference, is being questioned. In a court filing, the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) said it would no longer punish pastors who endorse political candidates during church services. First reported by the New York Times, this case revolves around the Johnson Amendment, which restricts political activity by religious institutions that enjoy tax-exempt IRS made this statement as part of a joint legal agreement with the National Religious Broadcasters Association (NRB), an association of Christian communicators and other plaintiffs. They asked a federal court in Texas to block the government from applying the rule (Johnson Amendment) to religious speech made during the Johnson Amendment has rarely been used, it has long symbolized the legal wall between church and Johnson Amendment, introduced in 1954, is a part of the US tax code that prevents tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political violated, these groups risk losing their tax-exempt status. The rule has played a key role in maintaining the separation of church and state in the United the Johnson Amendment remains on the books, its enforcement has always been rare, especially against religious institutions. The IRS has generally avoided penalizing churches for political this filing, the agency has taken a more precise position: speech made by religious leaders to their congregations during services, through regular channels, should not fall under the amendment's Christian group and others filed a lawsuit against the IRS back in August 2024, alleging that the amendment violates their First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and free exercise of their filing, the IRS and plaintiffs wrote that the Johnson Amendment should be interpreted 'so that it does not reach communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith.'The IRS and the plaintiffs' statement mean that if a religious leader speaks to their congregation during a religious service, even if they mention or endorse a political candidate, that should not be considered a violation of the say this kind of speech is part of their religious expression and should be protected under the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion and other words, they want the court to agree that religious speech made within a house of worship, during a religious service, through normal church communication (like sermons or announcements), should not trigger punishment under the Johnson Amendment, even if that speech involves interpretation would protect churches and pastors from losing their tax-exempt status just because they discuss politics or endorse a candidate during a position mirrors past efforts by Republican lawmakers to repeal the amendment entirely. President Donald Trump also opposed the his previous term in 2017, President Donald Trump at a National Prayer Breakfast opposed it, pledging to 'totally destroy' the Johnson Amendment. He later signed an executive order directing the Treasury to overlook this year, Republican lawmakers again introduced legislation to scrap the neither the IRS nor the NRB has publicly commented on the latest filing.
08-07-2025
- Politics
Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn't lose tax-exempt status, IRS says in filing
WASHINGTON -- The IRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt status. The move effectively calls for a carve out for religious organizations from the rarely used IRS rule called the Johnson Amendment, put in place in 1954 and named after then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson. In a joint court filing intended to end an ongoing case against the IRS, the tax collection agency and the National Religious Broadcasters Association — a Evangelical media consortium — and other plaintiffs have asked a federal court in Texas to stop the government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the plaintiffs. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 amendment to the U.S. tax code that prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The Christian media group and others filed suit against the IRS last August, stating that the amendment violates their First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, among other legal protections. On Monday, the IRS and plaintiffs wrote that the Johnson Amendment should be interpreted 'so that it does not reach communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith.' The New York Times was first to report the news of the court filing. The IRS has generally not enforced the Johnson Amendment against houses of worship for speech related to electoral politics. President Donald Trump has said he wanted to get rid of the Johnson Amendment and signed an executive order in 2017 directing Treasury to disregard the rule. 'I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution,' Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in 2017, which is a high-profile event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries.
