re: #236 Daniel Ballard

A pastor has his rights like you and I. If his speech is restricted at the pulpit with the threat of taxation we have diminished that right.

No, because, in their official capacity in whatever church they serve, pastors/preachers/priests/etc. represent that very church to their members and to the public. Outside of that, as a private person, they can do what ever they want, AFAIK, so long as they don’t trade on that appeal to authority.

If a Catholic priest speaks out for immigrant rights, does his church than lose the exemption? I would say not.

That example is a non-starter anyway, because the IRS rules specifically exclude campaigning on issues (as opposed to candidates) as a reason to revoke 501c3 status; a church can preach immigrant rights all the want, but when they specifically endorse a candidate, that’s where the issues start.

I don’t see how that can be enforced objectively or fairly.

Sure it can, because the basic rules for 501c3s in regards to political advocacy seem fairly simple to follow to me.