Letter: ‘It’s time for politically active churches to lose their tax-exempt status’

Washougal resident Anne Haller believes all citizens should be concerned about the growing trend of pastors giving explicit voting advice to their congregations

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

It’s time for politically active churches to lose their tax-exempt status.

All citizens should be concerned about the growing trend of pastors giving explicit voting advice to their congregations. This practice undermines the separation of church and state and is in direct conflict with their tax-exempt status.

The principle of separation of church and state is a cornerstone of our democracy, designed to ensure that religious institutions do not wield undue influence over political affairs. Pastors using their pulpits to recommend specific candidates or political parties, are blurring the line between religious guidance and political campaigning. This is unconstitutional and in direct violation of their tax-exempt status.

Religious organizations benefit from tax-exempt status under the condition that they refrain from participating in political campaigning. The IRS guidelines: are clear: tax-exempt organizations, cannot endorse or oppose political candidates. This misuse of their platform should lead to rejection of their tax-exempt status.

Pastor’s Pick is a national organization driving this effort. Local churches are distributing a complete list of recommended WA candidates to their congregations. If they want to do that, they should pay taxes like any other business. Let’s stop pretending that religious leaders don’t have a political agenda.

People look to their religious leaders for moral advice now they’re getting their ballot choices from them too. This is not what the founders of our country intended and it’s not what the church’s monies should be spent on unless they are willing to pay taxes to the city, county, state and country. Let’s keep church and state separate.

Anne Haller
Washougal