Appeals court case could help define how federal restrictions on political activity apply to churches and other tax-exempt organizations
The Justice Department has sided with Christian organizations in an ongoing federal appeals court dispute involving enforcement of the Johnson Amendment.
The case involves the National Religious Broadcasters and other organizations challenging restrictions on political campaign activity by tax-exempt religious organizations.
The Justice Department told the Fifth Circuit that a lower court was wrong to reject a previous agreement under which the government would not enforce the Johnson Amendment against certain communications by churches to their congregations during religious services.
The government’s position does not embrace every argument advanced by the organizations challenging the law. The Christian groups are seeking a broader ruling concerning the Johnson Amendment’s constitutionality, while the Justice Department is asking the appeals court to resolve the dispute on narrower grounds.
Source: Bloomberg Tax
