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The Internal Revenue Service included a critical clarification in a court filing last week concerning pastors and politics. In sum, the IRS stated that a pastor or church speaking about political issues and even candidates to its members does not violate the tax code or jeopardize the church’s tax-exempt status. In this episode, I review what this does and does not mean for churches, as well as some practical considerations for churches following this clarification. Also, I review several key Supreme Court cases and include some thoughts on the legal and cultural trends they represent. Key Cases:
- Link to court filing concerning pastors and politics:
- Review of Catholic Charities Bureau V. Wisconsin Labor
- Review of Medina v. Planned Parenthood
- Review of United States v. Skrmetti
- Review of Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services
- Review of Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond
- Review of Mahmoud v. Taylor
- Review of FSC v. Paxton
- Review of Trump v. CASA, Inc.
Key Takeaways:
- Deference to states and the democratic process.
- The importance of standing up for truth amidst cultural pressure and uncertainty.
- The importance of and opportunity for legal innovation.