The separation of church and state is a core principle of our democracy. Allowing tax-exempt religious organizations to endorse or oppose political candidates risks eroding this vital separation and transforming houses of worship into political machines.
Churches play an important role in communities across America, providing spiritual guidance, social services, and forums for discussion. However, when they explicitly promote or denounce candidates for elected office, they overstep boundaries and inject partisan politics into spaces intended for religious contemplation and fellowship. This new IRS policy opens the door for megachurches and others to wield immense influence over elections through endorsements amplified to massive congregations and online audiences.
A church's tax-exempt status conveys societal trust that it will remain non-partisan. Endorsing candidates violates that public trust. Moreover, political endorsements from the pulpit could make many congregants uncomfortable, fracturing communities along partisan lines.
Religion should bring people together in shared faith, not divide them through partisan politics. To preserve the sacred separation of church and state, and to maintain houses of worship as non-partisan spaces, Congress must act swiftly to revoke the tax-exempt status of any religious organization that endorses or opposes political candidates. Specific sanctions should be codified into law to ensure this core democratic principle is upheld without ambiguity.
The integrity of both our electoral process and our religious institutions is at stake.
First sent on August 5 by Coleman
