Eliminate or restructure 501(c)3 for churches

[malange42 (Mark Langenberg)]

The vast majority of churches in America are 501(c)3 organizations. They become so to obtain tax-exempt status but in doing so they are restricted from “how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct” . Most pastors interpret this restriction as a prohibition from endorsing specific candidates, or making pointed political commentary, even when a given political race has one candidate who, from a policy perspective, aligns very well with the beliefs of the church and the other candidate’s policies are diametrically opposed to the beliefs of said church. This is a form of election interference. And a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The 501(c)3 either needs to be eliminated as a requirement for churches to maintain tax-exempt status, or the language of the 501(c)3 needs to be modified to make it clear that there are no restrictions on what pastors may say from the pulpit, or in social media, as protected under the First Amendment.