Written by Don Byrd
The Iowa City Press-Citizen editorial board takes on the idea of churches violating IRS regulations purposefully by endorsing candidates for office.
The IRS code is clear. All section 501(c)(3) organizations “are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.”
If church leaders don’t want to abide by the restrictions that every other 501(c)3 organization has to abide by, then they should not try to claim the tax benefits that every 501(c)3 organization enjoys.
