Conservative Coalition Tests Limits of Church Politicking Rules

Following on the heels of an Internal Revenue Service announcement that it would crack down on church politicking rules this year, a coalition of nonprofit conservative groups plans to hold training sessions to enlist pastors in Pennsylvania to encourage their congregations to vote in the upcoming November elections, reports The New York Times.

While IRS rules allow churches to register voters and express views on political issues, federal law forbids churches and other tax-exempt organizations from supporting a specific candidate or party.

According to the newspaper, “Experts in tax law said the sessions, organized by four groups as the Pennsylvania Pastors Network, could test the promises by the tax agency to step up enforcement of the law that prohibits such activity by exempt organizations.”