Pulpit Freedom Sunday Is This Weekend

The Washington Post reports that 1,400 pastors will be participating in Pulpit Freedom Sunday this weekend. Sponsored by Alliance Defending Freedom, the day is designed to challenge the Internal Revenue Code provisions that bar 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations (including churches) from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Sponsors of Pulpit Freedom Sunday ask pastors to preach from their pulpits on Sunday in accordance with biblical Truth and church doctrine about one or more candidates. The IRS is unlikely to be able to respond with enforcement actions against offending churches because a 2009 court decision required the IRS to enact new regulations determining who can authorize church tax inquiries, and proposals issued by the agency in response have not yet been adopted. (See prior posting.)