Protecting Free Speech for Houses of Worship
It has been a busy week in Washington. The filibuster issue clearly on the front burner. But I wanted to update you concerning an important meeting that I had yesterday with Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina. For a number of years now, Congressman Jones has sponsored legislation called the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act" which would allow religious leaders to speak freely from the pulpit on moral and political issues of the day.
Congressman Jones told me his measure continues to receive bi-partisan support on Capitol Hill. The ACLJ has always been supportive of this measure. I have always said the IRS has no business muzzling pastors with the threat of removing their tax exempt status if they speak out on political issues of the day.
The measure would change the IRS code which currently places speech restrictions on tax-exempt groups. Our legislative team has worked on this measure and I have written extensively about this issue.
I will keep you posted as this legislation moves forward.