OMB Watch - The History of Church Electioneering

OMB Watch - The History of Church Electioneering: " Promoting and protecting nonprofit advocacy for a stronger democracy
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Published: 05/27/2005

The History of Church Electioneering
Houses of worship have been involved in America's political process since our nation's birth, and they will continue to play an important and increasing role in our society's evolution. The nation's courts and laws have upheld the rights of religious entities--and all charitable organizations--to participate in the political process, while simultaneously upholding the separation of Church and State.
However, organizations and the courts continue to wrangle with questions regarding the exact nature and scope of political activity in which houses of worship may participate. Attention to this issue has increased greatly through introduction of H.R. 235, the Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act, sponsored by U.S. Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC). The legislation would allow tax-exempt houses of worship to intervene directly in partisan political campaigns by endorsing and opposing candidates for public office. "