IRS backs Christian media group arguing against rarely enforced tax exemption law

·ReligionIRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit shouldn’t risk losing tax-exempt BY Fatima HusseinBY The Associated PressBY Fatima HusseinBY The Associated Press The Christian media group and others filed suit against the IRS last August

Patrick Semansky—APThe IRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt

In a joint court filing int to end an case against the IRS, the tax collection agency and the National Religious Broadcasters Association — a Evangelical media conium — and other plaintiffs have asked a federal court in Texas to stop the government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the plaintiffs

Tax code that hibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates

The Christian media group and others filed suit against the IRS last August, stating that the amendment violates their First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, among other legal tections

On Monday, the IRS and plaintiffs wrote that the Johnson Amendment should be interpreted “so that it does not reach communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith. ” The New York Times was first to report the news of the court filing

The IRS has generally not enforced the Johnson Amendment against houses of worship for speech related to electoral

President Donald Trump has said he wanted to get rid of the Johnson Amendment and signed an executive order in 2017 directing Treasury to disregard the rule. “I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution,” Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in 2017, which is a high-file event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries

Representatives from the IRS and the National Religious Broadcasters Association did not respond to an Associated Press request for

Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to remove the Johnson Amendment

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