In a new I.R.S court filing stating that churches and other houses of worship can endorse political candidates to their congregation, we see the latest attempt to erode the boundaries between government and religious institutions. As Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, Vice President of Programs and Strategy at Interfaith Alliance, states, “This move represents a grave threat to healthy boundaries between government and religion.”
The separation of church and state is essential to a thriving democracy. It allows religious institutions such as mosques, synagogues, temples, ashrams, churches etc., to operate without risk of the government infringing on their religious freedoms and beliefs. It also ensures that the government does not favor or endorse a single, specific religious belief system, infringing on the rights of others. The Johnson Amendment protects boundaries between church and state by keeping religious congregations and other charitable organizations outside of the polarizing environment created around political candidate endorsements.
In response to this unprecedented filing, which aims to undermine the Johnson Amendment, Interfaith Alliance released a statement expressing deep concern about the implications. Graves-Fitzsimmons goes on to say, “Current law strikes the right balance, allowing tax-exempt houses of worship to engage in moral advocacy, not not to tell their congregations who they should or should not vote for.” You can read Interfaith Alliance’s full statement, “I.R.S. Support for Political Endorsement by Houses of Worship Erodes Critical Boundary Between Religion and Government,” here:
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