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 How Churches Can Mix Religion and PoliticsKnow your rights and restrictions before you engage politics as a church.
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Is it permissible for a minister or other member of the clergy to endorse a candidate from the pulpit? No. To speak on political issues of interest? That depends on whether the issue could be tied to backing a particular candidate. The Pew Forum on Religion & Political Life reviews these and other questions in a 22-page brochure that is posted on-line. Here are some of the questions and answers Pew explores: Q. Why are there restrictions on churches' participation in the political process? A. The Internal Revenue Service code prohibits intervention in political campaigns by all organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, not just churches. This measure was adopted in 1954. Q. Are churches singled out by this prohibition? A. No. All organizations recognized as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the code are subject to this provision. This includes such groups as schools, hospitals, social services agencies, and scientific organizations. Q. What political activities are prohibited? What about voter guides and voter registration? A. Churches can't participate in a political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elected office. This includes providing or soliciting financial support, distributing biased voter education materials, or leading a biased voter registration drive. Churches may provide unbiased guides aimed at educating voters, such as a compilation of candidates' positions, based on their responses to questions posed or a neutral compilation of their positions on issues. These guides should include all candidates for an office, cover a broad range of issues, and show no bias in issues presented. Churches may conduct voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives provided they are not biased for or against any candidate, political party, or voting position. They should not be presented in cooperation with any political party or target members of a party. Communications about these drives should be limited to urging people to register or to vote. Q. May churches distribute legislators' voting records? A. Yes, under certain circumstances. A compilation of voting records of all members of Congress (or other legislative body) on a wide range of issues is permissible, provided it contains no editorial comment or indication of approval or disapproval. Q. What about churches distributing voter education materials prepared by a candidate, political party, or political action committee? A. No, since these materials are considered inherently biased, distribution would violate the political campaign intervention. Q. Can churches discuss the issues during election campaigns? A. Yes. They need not restrict or alter discussion of issues that are not linked to support for candidates or opposition to them. The fact that candidates may align themselves to one side or another of an issue does not restrict organizations in discussing that, but they may not communicate preferences for or against a particular candidate. |             |
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