Orlando, FL – The front page of the Orlando Sentinel reported that Senator John Edwards spoke this past Sunday from the pulpit of St. Mark AME Church in Orlando, telling the mostly black congregation what life would be like if the Kerry-Edwards ticket were elected to the White House. No one complained about whether the church crossed the line. But when Dr. Jerry Falwell expressed his personal opinion about supporting President George W. Bush in a non-church publication, the liberal group known as the Americans United for Separation of Church and State cried foul.

It appears that some people have two rulebooks, one for liberal and one for conservative politics. The fact is history does not support the baseless threats hurled against conservative churches. Since 1934, when the lobbying restriction was added to the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), not one church has ever lost its tax-exempt status. Since 1954, when the political endorsement/opposition prohibition was added, only one church has ever lost its IRS letter ruling, but even that church did not lose its tax-exempt status. That case involved the Church at Pierce Creek in New York, which placed full-page ads in USA Today and the Washington Times opposing then-Governor Bill Clinton for President. The ads were sponsored by the Church and donations were solicited. The IRS revoked the Church’s letter ruling, but not its tax-exempt status. The Church sued, and the court ruled that churches are tax exempt without an IRS letter ruling. The Court noted that “because of the unique treatment churches receive under the Internal Revenue Code, the impact of the revocation is likely to be more symbolic than substantial.” Not even this Church lost its tax-exempt status, and not one donor was affected by this incident.

Pastors can preach on biblical, moral and social issues, such as traditional marriage and abortion, can urge the congregation to register and vote, can overview the positions of the candidates, and may personally endorse candidates. Churches may distribute nonpartisan voter guides, register voters, provide transportation to the polls, hold candidate forums, and introduce visiting candidates.

Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, who has written many articles and two books on political activity of nonprofit organizations, stated: “Pastors should throw away their muzzles and replace them with megaphones. It is far more likely to be struck by lightening twice than for churches to lose their tax-exempt status over political issues."

Liberty Counsel has a wealth of information available on political activity of churches and nonprofit organizations. Visit the resources section of our website to learn more about this vital topic in the upcoming election season. You can also visit our online store to order Mat Staver's book entitled Political Activity of NonProfit Organizations.

You can also Visit Liberty Counsel's website today to register to vote.