AMERICAN ATHEISTS ACTION ALERT

September 2, 2002
Updated: September 27, 2002

CONGRESS READY TO ACT ON
HOUSES OF WORSHIP ELECTIONEERING
BILLS

Background: Congress is set to vote on the Houses of Worship Political Protection Act, HR 2357 this Tuesday, october 1. Representatives need to hear from you NOW on this important measure!

Two measures -- just in time for the upcoming elections, and the presidential race in 2004 --would give churches and other houses of worship unprecedented powers to begin openly endorsing political candidates, campaigning, and lobbying to influence legislative issues ... all the while retaining their special privileged, tax-exempt status. Organized religion already does many of these things, but churches are (in theory, anyway, and under IRS rules) limited in how far they go in trying to influence our political system.

* HR 2931, the so-called Bright-line Act, would permit churches and other religious groups to use up to 20% of their annual untaxed income for lobbying efforts. Another five percent could be donated directly to candidates. The measure was introduced by Rep. Phil Crane (R-Illinois) and has major cosponsors including Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and Charles Norwood (R-Geoirgia). The measure is also being supported by Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition and other religious right groups.

* HR 2357 is disingenuously titled the "Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act," and is sponsored by North Carolina Republican Rep. Walter Jones. This bill is designed, "To amend the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986 to permit churches and other houses of worship to engage in political campaigns." It already has seventy-one endorsers in the House.

Concerns: Churches and other religious entities may not engage in overt, partisan political campaigning. Over the years, though, houses of worship have "pushed the envelope," or simply established "shadow committees" which do all of the things which political advocacy groups do -- give money to candidates, pressure lawmakers over legislation. Sometimes, the more blatant church violations are caught, such as when the Church at Pearce Creek in New York ran newspaper advertisements telling people to vote against Bill Clinton because of his stand on abortion.

Other borderline cases include efforts by Roman Catholic leaders to bully lawmakers with the threat of excommunication and damnation if they fail to vote the "church line" on issues like abortion. Catholic officials have engaged in blatant issue advocacy campaigns on behalf of voucher aid to religious schools. And nearly all of the nation's religious organizations have campaigned for their own, self-serving "special rights" legislation, such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), the Religious Liberty Protection Act (RLPA) and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.

What you can do: Congress needs to hear from you now so we can stop this legislation! Visit out sections on CONTACTING CONGRESS and TIPS ON WRITING. Please write your Congressional Representatives -- a letter has far more impact than an e-mail. Telephoning is also an effective way to communicate.

Make your letters concise, polite and to the point. Ask your Representative to respond with his/her position on these proposed bills.

Talking Points:

* These proposals would, if enacted, seriously alter the balance in the separation of church and state. Americans -- religious and non-religious -- already enjoy personal rights which allow them to support political candidates and speak out on issues.. These bills address a "problem" which does not exist.

* Churches and other houses of worship would be tempted to use their spiritual influence over congregants. Many Americans, including those who are religious, express concerns that permitting religious groups to dictate political choices goes far beyond acceptable limits.

* Already, our political system is plagued by a problem of "soft money" and large, wealthy entities bankrolling political candidates and causes. Permitting a greater role for organized religion -- and still maintaining tax exemptions -- compounds that problem.

* Many Americans feel that religious groups already enjoy excessive political clout. Do we need to divide the nation further along religious lines? What happens when competing churches appeal to God on behalf of different candidates and causes?

* How will houses of worship be monitored to guarantee that they are complying with these guidelines? Many churches feel it is an invasion of privacy to "open their books" to government agencies. It would be wrong to rely on an "honor system" for churches, while still auditing non-religious political groups, private individuals, businesses and other cause organizations.

For more information: Additional information will be posted on this web site. You may also learn more about HR 2931 and HR 2357.

Spread the word! Circulate copies of this Action Alert!