A provision in the tax code, known as the Johnson Amendment, protects the integrity of tax-exempt organizations, including houses of worship, by ensuring they do not endorse or oppose political candidates. Tax-exempt organizations can, however, speak out on political, social, and moral issues.
This popular law among religious and denominational organizations, charitable nonprofits, faith leaders, and the American public prevents political parties and candidates seeking power from using houses of worship as their partisan tools. After all, no one wants their congregations to be torn apart by politics.
According to Pew Research, 76% of the public agrees that churches should not come out in favor of one candidate over another during elections. Opposition to partisan campaign endorsements by houses of worship spans all political perspectives.
More than 100 religious and denominational groups, more than 4,500 faith leaders, and more than 5,800 nonprofit organizations urged Congress to keep the Johnson Amendment.
Houses of worship cannot endorse or oppose candidates or political parties, but they can speak out on social and political issues, and many do. Despite complaints from religious extremists, there has been no reported situation where a church lost its tax-exempt status or was punished for sermons delivered from the pulpit.
