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The "Houses of Worship"
act |
| RELIGIOUS LEADERS SAY:
OPPOSE H.R. 2357 & H.R. 2931
[9-13-02]
Dear Representative,
We, the undersigned religious and
denominational organizations, are writing to urge you to oppose both
H.R. 2357, "The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection
Act," introduced by Rep. Walter Jones, and H.R. 2931, "The
Bright Line Act," introduced by Rep. Phillip Crane. Both of these
bills would lead to partisan political activity in our nation's houses
of worship.
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. Both H.R. 2357
and H.R. 2931 would lift important safeguards, and allow houses of
worship to use their tax-exempt contributions for political purposes and
to endorse candidates.
Religious leaders, denominational offices and
faith-based organizations are against H.R. 2357 and H.R. 2931 for many
ethical reasons: Current law upholds the integrity of houses of worship.
Churches, synagogues, temples and mosques should not be used as
political headquarters or as a means of partisan fundraising for
political activities. Tying churches to partisan activity demeans the
institutions from which so many believers expect unimpeachable decency.
This bill is unwanted and unneeded by America's
clergy. In a recent Gallup/Interfaith Alliance Foundation poll, a full
77% of clergy were opposed to their fellow clergy endorsing political
candidates. Another poll conducted by The Pew Research Center for the
People and the Press and The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life,
found that 70% of Americans feel that houses of worship should not come
out in favor of one candidate over another during political elections.
The bill is predicated on false assumptions about
existing law. Supporters of these bills have argued that their enactment
is necessary to allow religious leaders to speak out on issues of
interest to their congregations. The reality is that religious leaders
have an absolute right to use their pulpit to address the moral issues
of the day. The only things tax-exempt houses of worship may not do is
endorse or oppose candidates, or use their tax-exempt donations to
contribute to partisan campaigns. Current law simply limits groups from
being both a tax-exempt ministry and a partisan political entity.
This bill would open a dramatic loophole in the
nation's campaign finance laws. Donations to houses of worship are tax
deductible because the government assumes that their work is
contributing to the common good of society, not a political party or a
partisan campaign. As such, contributions to churches are tax deductible
and donations to political candidates and parties are not. Therefore,
these bills would create a significant new loophole in our nation's
campaign finance laws with serious ethical and legal implications.
For these reasons, we urge you to oppose H.R. 2357 and
H.R. 2931.
Sincerely,
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Church of the Brethren Washington Office
Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quaker)
General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America
Interfaith Alliance Foundation, The
NA'AMAT USA
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
National Council of Jewish Women
Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office
Seventh-day Adventist Church, General Conference
Soka Gakkai International -- USA Buddhist Association
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness
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