A Taxable Separation of Church and State

By: Christopher Stanley

ORLANDO, Fla. – Michael Murphy, former Op-Ed Editor for the Orlando Sentinel, spoke to students at Valencia last Thursday about the role of religion in political campaigns. The forum was hosted by Students for Liberty, a student organization dedicated to promoting personal and economic liberty. Murphy spoke about the tax exemption status given to houses of worship and other non-profit organizations with the stipulation that they refrain from partisan politics.

"At the end of September dozens of clergy nationwide challenged Internal Revenue Service rules that prohibit church from politicking by supporting or opposing candidates," he said. Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code states that the recipient of said tax exemption status may not be an action organization. According to the IRS website, "it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates."

The Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance aimed at defending religious freedom, held Pulpit Freedom Sunday on Sept. 28. The purpose of Pulpit Freedom Sunday was to challenge the IRS code that would negate tax exemption status for any non-profit organization endorsing a candidate or political position. According to the Alliance Defense Fund, it is "simply about overturning an unconstitutional regulation."

"At first it seems simple: if a church wants to endorse a candidate, it's the church's business, right?" Murphy said. "But then you stop and think a little: tax laws don't stifle free speech; it applies conditions for tax exemptions." Murphy posed that if the rule were eliminated, people could have a tax deductable contribution to a church's partisan political efforts. "…the IRS cannot afford to forgive and forget – and neither can the American people," Murphy said.

Chantal Vouziers, a student at Valencia and a contributor to the Valencia Voice, said "there should be restrictions on politicians speaking about religion. It shouldn't be one way and not the other." Murphy disagreed. "Absolutely not," Murphy said. "It's free speech the other way because politicians aren't taking money."

Another student at Valencia, Alex Barrett, said that he did not attend church that often, but when he did, he'd never heard anything about politics. "I'm not used to associating the two," he said.

Murphy recalled one of the rules of the Orlando Sentinel during his 28 years as editor: speak out but don't proselytize. "A pastor who thinks it would be a great idea to elect John McCain can wear out his sneakers going door to door in his neighborhood saying so. He just can't do it in his capacity as pastor," he said. "His free speech is not being 'stifled' when he can say anything he wants on his own time."