Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act (Would allow free speech from the pulpits of America.)

[Happy2BMe]

Returning freedom of speech to our nation's Houses of Worship.

HR 235 was introduced to liberate clergy from the muzzle imposed by the absolute ban on all speech that may be regarded as "political," and thereby enable them to speak out on all vital and moral and political questions of the day. It will free houses of worship from the fear and anxiety and uncertainty created by the threat that the IRS will impose financial penalties or revoke tax-exempt status altogether.

KEY POINTS
To Understanding the Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act

• Above all else, HR 235 is about recognizing the need to return a stolen right from our nation's houses of worship. Prior to 1954, churches were free to speak out about any and every topic - without government limitations.
• Since the "Johnson Amendment" the IRS has had a gag order over houses of worship that forbids religious leaders to speak out on the moral issues of the day. If found in violation of this law, the church, mosque or synagogue would be in jeopardy of losing their tax-exempt status.
• HR 235 will do nothing more than allow religious leaders to educate their flock on the moral issues of the day, whether considered political or not. This legislation has to do with the issue of speech and nothing else.
• Those in opposition of this legislation have perpetuated the lie that there is no need for such a bill - claiming that there is no law that challenges the freedom of speech of our churches. That propaganda is a blatant miscommunication of reality.
• The truth is simple: pastors, priests, rabbis and clerics are forbidden to speak out on any topic that could be deemed "politically partisan." The IRS has even gone so far as to issue "code words" to tip them off to illegal activity. Words such as "pro choice," "pro life," "liberal," and "conservative" uttered from a pulpit even in an educationally motivated speech can warrant an investigation by the IRS.

• Even beyond the infringement on free speech, current law is unconstitutional merely by the fact that it is unequally enforced. Day after day, Democrats make headlines standing in the pulpits of America's churches. Ironically, the IRS rarely opens an investigation to such clear-cut violations of the law in the more liberal churches. Instead, the conservative churches are the ones intimidated into silence.
• To have allowed the IRS to stand in judgement over our men and women of the cloth for the last 50 years is incomprehensible! First Amendment rights clearly state that, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech..." If we believe in the Constitutional rights of our religious leaders, then we must come together and support HR 235 .
• HR 235 boasts 165 cosponsors, both Democrats and Republicans. More than two dozen groups from all walks of faith have also submitted their written endorsement of this essential legislation.

[Paleo Conservative]

Well said. I'm agin' it not because I think spewing political crap in church is something the government should do something about, but because the government should not be involved in any regulation of political speech, and I don't see why churches should get off easier than the CWA or NAACP or some other charity.

But there is already an unconstitutional law regulating that speech. We need to repeal that law!

[MeekOneGOP]

And hom many dozens and dozens of times during the height of the 2004 election campaign did we see John Kerry and Kompany bellowing their liberal sermons from pulpits all over this nation .....

Man, no KIDDING!!

As Grampa Dave says:

Mastah Kerry, the Devil has impregnated you with one of Je$$e
HyJack$on's love children! After you give birth to Je$$e's love
child, it will call you MaMa!

[Navydog]

The current restrictions on the Freedom of speech in churches was inserted into the IRS tax code in 1954 by none other than Senator Lyndon Johnson. It the time it was probably a good idea. Communist infiltration of the churches was a known fact. Now days it's a matter of leveling the playing field.

[Happy2BMe]

#23 - LBJ