[2-27-03]

From the Presbyterian Washington Office

During the last session of Congress, a denominational majority within the religious community, opposed the Jones Bill which would have given churches the ability to support or oppose political candidates or parties. A similar bill is back. Below, is a sign on letter that will be going out soon. You may want to contact your member of the House to offer your opinion on this. You may take the letter below, make it your own and send it to your Representative as an email. Go to the Home page of the Washington office at www.pcusa.org/washington . On the right hand side in the black margin, you can type in your zip code and compose your own email letter to your Representative on this topic.

====================

RELIGIOUS LEADERS SAY: OPPOSE THE JONES "HOUSES OF WORSHIP FREE SPEECH RESTORATION ACT" H.R. 235

Dear Representative,

We, the undersigned religious and denominational organizations, are writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 235, "The Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act," introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC). As religious leaders, clergy and organizations representing people of faith and good will, we believe the Jones bill would turn the inner sanctuaries and pulpits of America's houses of worship into partisan political rally halls.

You may remember that Representative Jones offered a strikingly similar bill in the 107th Congress, entitled the "Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act" which failed overwhelmingly by a vote of 178-239 under "suspension of the rules" on October 2, 2002. Though H.R. 235 represents a modified version of that legislation, there remain significant concerns about its implications for both our nation's houses of worship and the integrity of our political process.

As H.R. 235 may be considered by the full House in the coming weeks, we wanted to make you aware of our continued concerns and opposition to this legislation.

Current federal law states that houses of worship, like other 501(c)(3) organizations, cannot legally engage in partisan political activities and retain their tax-exempt status. This provision of federal law has served as a valuable safeguard for the integrity of both religious institutions and the political process. H.R. 235 would lift these important safeguards, and allow houses of worship to keep their tax-exempt contributions while endorsing their favored political candidates.

Religious leaders, denominational offices and faith-based organizations oppose H.R. 235 for many ethical reasons:

For these reasons, we urge you to oppose H.R. 235 and any similar legislation that seeks to alter the tax code as it pertains to houses of worship.

Sincerely,

American Jewish Committee American Jewish Congress Anti-Defamation League Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs Central Conference of American Rabbis Episcopal Church, USA General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America Interfaith Alliance Foundation, The National Council of Jewish Women National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) Soka Gakkai International -- USA Buddhist Association Union of American Hebrew Congregations Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations United Church of Christ Justice & Witness Ministries

For more information, contact:

Elenora Giddings Ivory, PC(U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, #104, Washington, DC 20002.

202-543-1126, fax 202-543-7755.