Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
4:41 am Tuesday, August 14, 2001

Protecting free speech in churches

By Staff
August 5, 2001
In 1954, a law was enacted that has had a chilling affect on free speech in churches all across America.
The law gave the Internal Revenue Service the power to punish churches if they were viewed as "participating in or intervening in" political issues or activity.
While many good and reasonable people may disagree about the role of religion in politics, I think we can all agree that limiting the right to free speech within a church is a bad law and it is time to give churches back their absolute right to free speech.
If the IRS decides a church has violated the 1954 law's ban on political speech, they can and have  penalized churches by revoking the tax exempt status for houses of worship or imposing fines on them. Here's an example of what the IRS considers to be a forbidden, political activity by a church:
Political activities
If a preacher makes a statement about a social and moral issue it can be viewed as political activity. Because it is difficult to discuss important social issues that are inherently political, without seeming to side with one candidate or party, clergy cannot so much as speak out on vital moral issues of the day without fear of IRS punishment.
Ultimately, the IRS' standards of enforcement are entirely arbitrary. If a minister says that he believes people should support prayer in schools, he can be seen as endorsing a candidate who shares that position.
The line between speaking out on issues and endorsing or opposing a candidate is unclear and left up to the IRS's to decide. Many religious leaders have shied away from speaking out on social issues at all due to their political nature.
I am co-sponsoring legislation in Congress titled the Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act sponsored by U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones of North Carolina.
The bill will restore the Constitutional right of houses of worship to participate in political debate and determine for themselves what they can and cannot say in church. The legislation is gaining momentum in Congress because churches all across America wish to participate in their civic responsibility of being informed citizens who participate in the political process.
Lift the ban
By lifting the IRS' absolute ban on political speech, the legislation will allow houses of worship to participate in our democracy without fear that the government will penalize them for doing so. After all, if the right to free speech of the religious can be restricted, who will be limited next?
Some may ask if this legislation will "politicize" religion. It will not. The government's role is not to define what religion is and how it applies to people's lives. Wherever injustice occurs, religion may motivate people to enter the political realm and the government may not then decide that religion is overstepping its bounds.
If religious people are prohibited from speaking out on political issues if they so choose, the result is the government's interference with religion which the Constitution does not allow.
Throughout all of America's history, houses of worship have been tax-exempt. The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act will restore the rights of religious people  not give them special privileges. Free speech should mean free speech, whether it is done in the home, the workplace, or the church.
U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Write him at 427 Cannon Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515, or call (202) 225-5031.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025