After decades of IRS threats and bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo, churches can now speak their minds about political candidates from the pulpit, and the left is losing its mind over the notion that Americans might actually hear free speech in church again.
At a Glance
- IRS announces it will not enforce Johnson Amendment restrictions against churches endorsing political candidates in worship services
- Move comes as part of a legal settlement with Texas churches and religious advocacy groups
- Secular watchdogs and nonprofit advocates warn this opens the door to churches acting as unregulated political entities
- The decision reignites fierce debate over free speech, religious liberty, and the future of tax-exempt status
IRS Gives Churches the Green Light to Speak Up
No, you’re not hallucinating—after 70 years of bureaucratic silence and IRS intimidation, churches are now free to tell their congregants exactly what they think about political candidates, right from the pulpit. On July 7, 2025, the IRS filed a court document that essentially says, “Go ahead, pastors, speak your mind—just do it inside your church walls.” This is part of a proposed settlement with two Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters, who had the audacity to sue the IRS for the right to exercise their First Amendment freedoms. The IRS now claims that when pastors speak to their own flock during worship, it’s just a “family discussion,” not prohibited political campaigning. In other words: common sense finally seems to be infecting the federal bureaucracy, and the usual suspects are in full panic mode.
The Johnson Amendment, that relic from Lyndon B. Johnson’s era, barred churches from endorsing or opposing political candidates if they wanted to keep their tax-exempt status. For decades, it was wielded like a club against religious leaders who dared to mention the word “election.” But the IRS rarely enforced it, especially in churches, likely because even the most zealous bureaucrat knows you don’t pick a fight with the First Amendment unless you want to lose. Now, thanks to a lawsuit in Texas, the IRS is finally admitting what everyone suspected: they don’t have the stomach—or the legal ground—to police what pastors say to their own congregants.
Secular Activists and Nonprofit Lobbyists Sound the Alarm
The uproar from the left was as predictable as sunrise. Groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation immediately declared this a recipe for disaster, warning that churches will become “unregulated political action committees subsidized by taxpayers.” Never mind that the IRS has never seriously enforced the Johnson Amendment against churches, and never mind that secular nonprofits are still bound by the rules. The real fear here is that Americans might actually hear clear, unapologetic opinions about the direction of our country—straight from the pulpits that shaped the nation in the first place.
The National Council of Nonprofits, always eager to defend the “integrity” of the nonprofit sector (translation: keep churches quiet), warned that this move could erode the public’s trust in charities everywhere. They fear that churches will funnel tax-deductible dollars into political campaigns, turning Sunday mornings into campaign rallies. But here’s a news flash: churches have been the backbone of American civic life since the founding. The real scandal is that it took this long for the IRS to admit it can’t muzzle them without trampling the Constitution.
A New Precedent—But Only for the Faithful?
The IRS’s new interpretation is technically limited to the churches involved in the lawsuit—at least for now. But make no mistake, this is a precedent with teeth. Religious leaders across the country are watching, and many will feel emboldened to speak out on the issues that matter most to their communities, without fear of IRS reprisal. Meanwhile, other 501(c)(3) nonprofits—secular charities, advocacy groups, and the rest—are still muzzled by the Johnson Amendment. Expect more lawsuits, more debates, and a whole lot of hand-wringing from the folks who think government should be the only voice in the room.
Opponents of the move are already warning of a future where churches become political fundraising machines, but that’s a scare tactic as old as the amendment itself. The fact is, Americans know how to think for themselves, and they don’t need the IRS telling their pastors what to say. If anything, this decision restores a little dignity and common sense to a sector that’s been browbeaten by bureaucrats for far too long. The separation of church and state was never meant to be a gag order on pastors—it was meant to keep government out of church, not church out of public life.
The Battle Over Speech and Freedom Moves to the Courts
The proposed settlement now awaits approval in federal court. If the judge signs off, the IRS’s new interpretation becomes official policy for the churches in question—and sets a powerful example for the rest. Legal scholars are quick to point out that the Johnson Amendment remains on the books; Congress would have to repeal it to make this change permanent for every church in America. But enforcement is what matters, and without the IRS willing to police the pulpit, the amendment is little more than a paper tiger.
For conservative Americans frustrated by years of government overreach, runaway spending, and the endless parade of woke nonsense, this is a rare victory. It’s a reminder that sometimes, even in Washington, common sense and constitutional values can win the day—if you’re willing to fight for them.
