Overview
- The IRS filed a joint motion with two Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters asking a federal court to exempt houses of worship from the 1954 ban on candidate endorsements.
- In its legal filing the agency contends that pulpit endorsements qualify as private religious communications—akin to family discussions—and not prohibited campaign intervention.
- The carve-out applies only to religious organizations and does not extend the exemption to secular nonprofits as the plaintiffs initially sought.
- A judge in the Eastern District of Texas has yet to rule on the proposed consent judgment, leaving the formal exemption’s fate undecided.
- Campaign finance advocates warn the ruling could fuel increased church politicking and open a pathway for undisclosed donations through tax-exempt congregations.