IRS, lyndon b. johnson and Churches
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The IRS made headlines this week with a quiet but significant policy shift: Churches can now formally endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status. At first glance, this looks like a monumental change in the balance between religion and politics.
"Ours is not a blue or red diocese, but a purple one, and above all, a Christian one." 2 News Oklahoma's Braden Bates shares what led to the 70-year-old rule change.
On Monday, the IRS revoked a long-standing rule that stripped tax-exempt status from churches that endorse political candidates. From a horse-race view of elections, this may not make a difference. While conservative pastors may have technically avoided the words “vote for Donald Trump” or “vote for Republicans” in the past,